Sunday’s clash with Melbourne was the most challenging of West Coast’s inaugural AFLW campaign to date.

The competition newcomers took it right up to the pre-foundation team for the first half, but the Demons surged in the third term and ran away to a 59-point win at Casey Fields.

It was a tough day at the office, but West Coast Eagles vice-captain Dana Hooker stood tall throughout the contest.

The two-time All Australian was never far from the action, willing herself to a team-high 14 disposals, 10 contested possessions and three inside 50 entries.

If she didn’t have the ball in hand, Hooker was putting her body on the line to stop the Demons.

The 29-year-old laid a game-high 10 tackles, just two shy of her career record that, ironically, occurred at the same venue in round one last year.