The West Coast Eagles got off to a positive start in their Indigenous Round clash on Sunday with Narrm Football Club, but faded against the reigning premiers, suffering a 70-point defeat.
The Eagles 2.0 (12) and Narrm 11.16 (82) endured scorching 34-degree conditions at Mineral Resources Park, the visitors withstanding the heat to take the four points on the road.
Narrm’s Alyssa Bannan opened the scoring for the game, but some effective Eagles ball movement in transition resulted in a converted set shot on goal from Kellie Gibson to open West Coast’s account.
Narrm responded in turn, adding another two quick goals to their tally before finishing off the quarter with a fourth, with Bannan finishing with three goals in the first period.
The Eagles upped their defensive pressure in the second, keeping Narrm goalless for the term and adding one of their own, off the boot of crafty midfielder Courtney Rowley.
It was a blistering third quarter for Narrm, turning up the heat and piling on four goals, keeping West Coast scoreless and holding a daunting 46-point lead heading into the final term.
Narrm held no punches in the fourth, piling on an additional three goals, comfortably returning to the winners list after last week’s loss to Adelaide, their first defeat in 14 games.
Exciting Eagles defender Charlie Thomas was outstanding for her side, finishing with a game-high 28 disposals and a game-high eight marks, while young star Ella Roberts impressed with 26 disposals, five marks and five tackles.
Bannan finished with a superb five-goal display to be Narrm's best player, with Eden Zanker and Kate Hore booting two goals each.
The Eagles travel to Windy Hill to face Essendon in round eight.
WEST COAST 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 (12)
NARRM 4.1 4.3 8.10 11.16 (82)
Goals
West Coast: Gibson, Rowley
Narrm: Bannan 5; Hore, Zanker 2; A Mackin, Sherriff
Best
West Coast: Thomas, Roberts, B Smith, Gooch, Lewis
Narrm: Bannan, B Mackin, West, Hore, Hanks
Crowd
TBC at Mineral Resources Park
