Reward for effort.
That was the key takeaway for West Coast AFLW coach Daniel Pratt after watching his side survive Gold Coast’s late surge and hold on for a one-point win on Sunday.
Having faced arguably the toughest opening to the season of any side – coming up against three of the top four teams as well as the Giants after consecutive weeks of travel – the Eagles had won admirers for their gutsy performances.
But they hadn’t won, and it was pleasing for Pratt – in his first victory as coach – to see his players and staff celebrate a brave triumph at Mineral Resources Park.
“It feels good. It’s been a lot of effort and work from the girls to get to this point,” Pratt said post-match.
“We’ve had lots of injuries along the way – I think we got down to our last player on the list playing against Freo (in round two) – and then you lose (Aisling) McCarthy during the week and the girls were able to fight like they did, especially in the back end of that game, it was really pleasing.
“Reward for effort is the thing I’m most happy for for them.”
Pressed all day by an equally desperate Suns side also looking to break their duck in 2021, West Coast’s defence had to stand tall against a wave of inside 50s (34-20).
When the Eagles did break free into space they looked dangerous, and booted their highest score in their brief history in the 5.4 (34) to 4.9 (33) win.
Only installed as coach shortly before pre-season, Pratt hasn’t had a long period to work with his players to instil his gameplan, but every week he was seeing progress and the pay off in round five was worth the wait.
“Pre-Christmas we had 10 players training and then January we started getting some girls back (from injury),” he said.
“The education and building a brand and culture and our gamestyle has been difficult with that, but they’ve been first-class in how they want to learn.
“They turn up every day so attentive and they want to get better. For them to find a way to win, it wasn’t exactly how I saw it happening, but they found a way to win which was great.”
West Coast was down a rotation early when defender Tayla Bresland (hamstring) went off but the team dug in, with Maddy Collier outstanding down back, while the engine room was superbly led by skipper Emma Swanson and Mikayla Bowen.
Young gun Bowen racked up 21 disposals and snapped a brilliant late goal to give West Coast enough breathing space in another significant step forward in her blossoming career.
“Her development has been really good, even last year watching her from afar,” Pratt said.
“Because she’s getting so much of the ball she’s putting herself in positions to really learn about the game and she just keeps working so hard.
“She’s an emerging leader within our group. She wants to be a leader and she played like a leader today.”
Pratt expected gun onballer McCarthy (knee) and tall forward Andrea Gilmore (concussion) would be available for a return RAC Derby at Optus Stadium this Sunday against a powerful Dockers outfit.
