AFLW: West Coast Eagles thrash Collingwood to break club record for most wins, keep finals dream on track

West Coast have discovered the brave new world and celebrated the most wins in a season during their short history following a comprehensive 45-point win over Collingwood at Mineral Resources Park.

The Eagles’ finals dream is within their grasp after they kicked five unanswered goals in the first half yesterday to blow the game open and then continued to hold Collingwood goalless to win 8.14 (62) to 2.5 (17). It was the greatest winning margin in club history.

But the victory came at a cost following an ugly knee injury to Courtney Rowley.

Ella Roberts starred yet again with 27 disposals, including 13 in the second quarter, as she inspired her team. She also had six clearances and one goal in another best-on-ground performance.

It’s often said that the most challenging part of finding a new world is taking the shortest step. It may be short but the significance is large. That seemed to weigh on West Coast in the first quarter.

The Eagles started nervously and a series of errors proved extremely costly.

They were determined to attack and took the game on, but Collingwood made them pay on the rebound.

Roberts charged down the field bouncing the ball and looked set to drive it inside 50. But she ran too far and it wasn’t long before Eliza James kicked Collingwood’s first goal.

Then there was confusion in the middle of the ground that meant no Eagle went after the ball. And when Bella Lewis fumbled the footy after taking a bounce and then handballed straight to Brittany Bonnici, the Eagles looked rattled.

Collingwood were cleaner. Sabrina Frederick’s composure set up a goal for Kalinda Howarth and when Howarth then found Ash Centra close to goal, the Magpies had the chance to go 17 points up.

But Centra missed and the Eagles seized their chance to hit back.

West Coast kicked two goals in 90 seconds courtesy of a Lauren Wakfer mark and set shot, followed by Mikayla Western receiving a 50m penalty, allowing her to nail another chance.

Suddenly, scores were level at quarter time.

The Eagles changed the game with their pressure in the second term. They tackled with aggression and made Collingwood wilt.

Jess Rentsch set the standard shortly after Rowley was helped from the field.

She laid a brutal tackle on Georgia Knight and then followed up in the next passage of play with a bump on Carly Remmos which left the Magpie doubled over and staggering to the bench.

When Georgie Cleaver and Zoe Wakfer gang tackled Frederick moments later, it was clear the Eagles meant business.

That type of attitude nearly always gets rewarded. Roberts set up Lauren Wakfer and she kicked truly.

Then Western’s pressure kept the ball in West Coast’s half and the Eagles capitalised when Roberts received a high tackle inside 50.

One minute later, Roberts’ class got the Eagles into space and Amy Franklin snapped another major, leaving West Coast ahead by 20 points at half-time.

Collingwood’s hopes rested on them starting well in the second half. But from the moment Charlotte Riggs fought desperately in a one-on-three in the opening minutes, it was obvious the Eagles weren’t going to release the pressure.

The Magpies had five inside 50s without scoring and then West Coast took the ball forward and nailed their only real chance through Franklin.

West Coast just had too many winners. Lauren Wakfer gave them a massive presence, Georgie Cleaver was resolute in defence and Western’s pressure stood out.

The Eagles led by 28 points with one quarter remaining and the only question now was how much they would win by.

Riggs made it seven goals in a row after just 90 seconds to continue Collingwood’s pain.

West Coast were stingy. They just didn’t want to concede anything and kept fighting hard whenever the Pies got the ball forward. It took a holding-the-ball free kick to Grace Campbell to finally give Collingwood a chance to kick a goal. But she missed the set shot.

When Kayley Kavanagh snapped her first ever goal, the Eagles started a party and then she had another chance moments later but missed the set shot.

The 5-3 record means West Coast are now seventh on the ladder. But they face a tough run to end the season with games against Adelaide (6th), Geelong (10th), Sydney (9th) and Carlton (4th) to finish the season.

Two of those games are at home though and the Eagles have a perfect record at Mineral Resources Park this season.

They’ve got plenty of motivation too. It’s one thing to enter the new world by winning the most games in your history. But the real joy will come when they play finals and this Eagles team is on track to achieve genuine history.

WEST COAST 2.2 5.5 6.7 8.14 (62)

COLLINGWOOD 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.5 (17)

Goals – WEST COAST: L Wakfer 2 A Franklin 2 M Western E Roberts K Kavanagh C Riggs. COLLINGWOOD: E James K Howorth.

Best – WEST COAST: E Roberts L Wakfer M Western B Lewis J Rentsch . COLLINGWOOD: B Bonnici A Centra L Williamson L Cronin.

Injuries – WEST COAST: C Rowley (knee).

Umpires: G Simmonds M Adams J Orr.