Blown opportunities in front of goal proved costly for West Coast in the Eagles’ 25-point loss to fellow NAB AFLW expansion side Gold Coast on Sunday.
The Suns, who have two wins and a draw from their past five games, jumped Geelong and Adelaide to sit one win outside the top three in Conference B with the grinding win.
They held their ground at stoppages and outclassed the Eagles when going forward, kicking 5.3 (33) to 1.2 (8) at an empty Mineral Resources Park in Perth.
The loss left West Coast anchored to the bottom of Conference B with one win from six games.
The Eagles won the inside 50 count (29-26), and also had an edge in clearances (13-11), but lacked crucial connection going forward.
Gold Coast sharpshooter Kalinda Howarth was the star, booting four goals, including brilliant back-to-back snaps in the third quarter to separate the teams.
She kicked the opener and a goal on the siren, putting an exclamation point on her day out, which saw her constantly elude the Eagles' defenders.
The Suns' backline was also rock solid all day, keeping the Eagles to 0.2 across the first three quarters.
Eagles midfielder Hayley Bullas kicked her team's only goal when she won a free kick for a high tackle late in the final quarter, staying composed and converting her 30m set shot.
Dana Hooker was the star for the Eagles, racking up 31 disposals and pinpointing targets all over the ground with classy foot skills.
West Coast was bruised and battered by the final siren and looks to have lost Irish rookie Grace Kelly to a left knee injury in the second quarter.
WEST COAST 0.0 0.1 0.2 1.2 (8)
GOLD COAST 1.2 2.2 4.3 5.3 (33)
GOALS
West Coast: Bullas
Gold Coast: Howarth 4, Hickey
BEST
West Coast: Hooker, Smith, Cameron, Swanson, Atkins
Gold Coast: Howarth, Virgo, Stanton, Surman, Dunn, Watson, Ahrens
INJURIES
West Coast: Grace Kelly (left knee)
Gold Coast: Nil
LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Maddy Collier (calf) replaced in the selected squad by Danika Pisconeri
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Nil
