West Coast’s AFLW side produced a promising display in Saturday night’s pre-season clash with the Western Bulldogs. The match finishing in a hard-fought draw under lights at Mineral Resources Park.
In challenging wet conditions, the Eagles showed their growth and maturity across four quarters, leading for much of the contest before the Bulldogs stormed home to level the scores late and secure a 28-all stalemate.
The match saw the welcome return of star trio Ella Roberts, Alison Drennan and Jess Rentsch. While new recruit Lucia Painter and injury replacement player Courtney Lindgren also impressed, each making their mark in the blue and gold.
West Coast set the tone early with their pressure and tackling intent, dominating the opening term and creating multiple forward entries through fast, slingshot ball movement.
Lindgren capitalised on the early dominance with her first goal for the club, rewarded for a strong tackle deep inside 50.
Kayla Dalgleish followed soon after to give the home side a 14-point lead at the first break.
All-Australian Ella Roberts looked at home immediately, reading the play beautifully and asserting herself in the game, while Courtney Rowley and Emma Swanson provided plenty of drive.
The Eagles continued their strong form into the second quarter, locking the ball in their forward half and denying the Bulldogs access to the corridor.
Abbygail Bushby added a third unanswered goal, while relentless Jess Rentsch, absorbed pressure and continued to move the ball forward for the Eagles.
West Coast went into half time with a 19-point advantage, having kept the Bulldogs goalless to that point.
The visitors responded after the main break, with Heidi Woodley opening their account early in the third term.
Despite a lift in intensity from the Bulldogs, the Eagles again steadied through a clever finish from Roxanne Roux, who roved a contest and converted to extend the margin back to 19-points.
The Bulldogs clawed one back late through Alice Edmonds, trimming the deficit to 12-points and setting up a tense final term.
West Coast’s defence was tested as the Bulldogs increased their physicality in the last quarter, and goals to Louise Stephenson and Emma McDonald tied the game in the dying minutes.
Both sides pressed for a match-winner in the closing stages, but the scores remained locked at 28 apiece when the final siren sounded.
While the result was shared, the Eagles will take plenty of positives from the match as they build towards round 1 of the 2025 NAB AFLW season.
West Coast opens its campaign against the Gold Coast Suns at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Thursday night, with the match set to bounce at 7.15pm.
WEST COAST 2.2 3.2 4.4 4.4 (28)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.1 0.2 2.4 4.4 (28)
GOALS
West Coast: Lindgren, Dalgleish, Bushby, Roux. Western Bulldogs: Woodley, Edmonds, Stephenson, McDonald.
BEST
West Coast: Roberts, Rentsch, Thomas, Painter, Lindgren, Swanson. Bulldogs: Blackburn, Fitzgerald, Grant, Wilcox, Carruthers, Grigg, McDonald, Woodley, McKee.
