West Coast succumbed to the tenacious Western Bulldogs in a 32-point defeat in the Eagles’ final home game for AFLW season seven on Saturday afternoon.
Jumped by the Dogs in the opening term, the Eagles were always playing catch up football and were stifled by the visitors’ ferocious tackling and pressure around the contest in the 8.7 (55) to 3.5 (23) defeat.
The Bulldogs’ sixth victory for the season all-but assured a top eight finish – with Nathan Burke’s team a win and percentage clear of Gold Coast with one round to play.
Meanwhile, West Coast will head to Casey Fields to face flag chance Melbourne next weekend still seeking an elusive third win in a season for the first time in the team’s brief AFLW history.
The Eagles’ effort was commendable at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday and many key statistics were relatively even, but the Dogs’ pressure (61-37 tackles) afforded the hosts no time and space, while their class through the midfield and firepower in attack told the story.
Led by Kirsty Lamb (21 disposals) and dangerous Deanna Berry (14, two goals) the visitors dominated field position (35-21 inside 50s), and had the talent up front to take advantage through tall target Celine Moody and Sarah Hartwig (two goals).
West Coast went goalless in the opening half but lifted after the break and the second half featured several highlights, most notably first AFLW goals for debutant Ashleigh Gomes and defender-turned-forward Eleanor Hartill.
Gomes’ vocal support party were in raptures when she was the beneficiary of a down-the-field free-kick in the third quarter, which she duly popped through from 20m out before being mobbed by her teammates.
Hartill isn’t likely to forget her first major after gathering near the boundary and dribbling through a goal of the year contender in the final term.
West Coast superstar Emma Swanson again led the way for her side, running all day in the warm conditions and finishing with a game-high 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions and eight clearances to boost her claims for All-Australian honours.
Speedy defender Belinda Smith (23 disposals) was tireless down back, while Bella Lewis (22, one goal) got going the longer the game went on to continue her impressive season through the engine room.
Young ruck Sarah Lakay (27 hit-outs) won the tap battle against the AFLW’s leading hit-out exponent Alice Edmonds (23) in another hard-working display, while there was again a lot to like from young duo Courtney Rowley and Charlotte Thomas.
DETAILS
WEST COAST 0.3 0.3 2.4 3.5 (23)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.1 3.2 6.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
West Coast: Lewis, Gomes, Hartill
Western Bulldogs: Hartwig 2, Berry 2, Cranston, Bateman, Newton, Brown
BEST
West Coast: Swanson, Smith, Lewis, Rowley, Thomas, Britton
Western Bulldogs: Lamb, Berry, Moody, Edmonds, Hartwig, Prtichard
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Western Bulldogs: McLeod (ankle)
Crowd: 1102
