1. The tenacity of these Eagles cannot be questioned. While they have lost their last four matches all have been single digit losses with the exception of the Richmond game last week when two late goals to the Tigers blew the margin out to 19 points. The Eagles are staying in the contest and eventually that will result in more success. Down to the last minute when Emma Humphries nailed a set shot, these Eagles battled it out.

2. Without a dominant marking forward the Eagles need to step up supply levels inside the 50 metre arc. To win games they will need to at least be close to squaring the inside 50 leger, but in the last two games they have been around 50% against their opponents. At just 16 to 31 against Geelong it made a challenging assignment even more difficult. With more opportunity players like Kate Bartlett, Aimee Schmidt and Ella Roberts can hit the scoreboard, but they need more ball in the attacking half.

05:17

AFLW Rd 8 highlights v Geelong

Catch the highlights from our Pride Round clash against Geelong

3. Captain Emma Swanson is pulling together some sort of season. The dynamic Eagles midfielder was again one of the shining lights for her club with 24 possessions, four marks, five tackles and four clearances. With strong support from Dana Hooker, who had 20 possessions, six marks and three tackles the leadership of the team is standing up. In conjunction with the bullocking Aisling McCarthy the senior players are setting a great example for the array of exciting group of youngsters in the squad.

4. The Eagles matched Geelong in most areas around the ball, but Geelong’s efficiency was decisive. Leading the disposal efficiency at 70 per cent compared to 60 per cent from the Eagles proved telling as they were able to get more flow in their game. The Cats also enjoyed more ball with a 212 to 192 total possession advantage and higher connectivity combined with better distribution was a mix that the Eagles could not overcome.

02:47

Prior post match v Geelong

Senior Coach, Michael Prior, spoke to the media following a narrow loss to Geelong

5. At the coalface that aforementioned tenacity was on display. Through Sarah Lakay and Isabella Simmons the Eagles won the hit outs 39-24 and also won the contested possession battle 99-98. The Eagles won the centre clearances five to three, but the tackle count was an area where the Cats were clear winners. Geelong stars Georgie Prespakis (12) and Amy McDonald (eight) had 20 tackles between them as their team enjoyed an 83-50 advantage which prevented the Eagles from getting their running game into action.