The Daisy Pearce AFLW era at West Coast has started in dramatic fashion, with the Eagles blowing a big lead before kicking a late goal to snatch a one-point win.
West Coast led by 33-9 early in the third term of Friday night’s match, but four unanswered goals from Richmond put the visitors in front with just three minutes remaining.
But there was one more twist to come, with Eagles speedster Abbygail Bushby powering the ball forward following a teammate’s dropped mark to find a running Kellie Gibson at the top of the goalsquare.
Gibson made no mistake with her set shot, with the goal lifting West Coast to the 6.4 (40) to 5.9 (39) win at Perth’s Mineral Resources Park.
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West Coast players mobbed Pearce after the win in what marks a special start to her tenure.
Pearce has been set the task of turning around the fortunes of a West Coast outfit that had posted just eight wins across the previous five seasons.
Eagles midfielder Jess Hosking, who was delisted by Richmond at the end of last year, starred against her former side with two goals from 12 disposals.
Isabella Lewis (19 disposals, 340m gained), Ella Roberts (20 disposals, three clearances) and Charlotte Thomas (24 disposals, 509m gained) were also prominent for West Coast.
For Richmond, Monique Conti (30 disposals, five clearances, 584m gained) was best afield, while Grace Egan racked up 22 possessions and six clearances.
West Coast forward Amy Franklin kicked things off with a powerful mark and a booming 45m set shot.
Hosking added a second for West Coast to give the home crowd something else to cheer about.
Richmond struggled to create opportunities in the first quarter, and they fluffed their best chances.
Richmond’s struggles continued in the second term, with Katie Brennan’s set shot from 15m out also hitting the post.
Hosking continued to haunt her former side by nailing her second goal of the match with a 35m set shot.
Richmond’s first goal didn’t arrive until the 14-minute mark when Jones’ quick snap went through.
But the reply was instant from West Coast, with a bustling Mikayla Western setting up Gibson for a goal, before Western got one for herself when she was unnecessarily shoved by an opponent while on the turf.
The ill discipline summed up Richmond’s half, with the visitors giving away two 50m penalties in the second term alone as West Coast headed into the long break with a 31-9 lead.
The Tigers dominated territory for most of the third quarter, but they were only rewarded with one goal – via ruck Poppy Kelly.
But Richmond found their groove in the fourth quarter, kicking three goals to hit the lead, only to suffer late heartbreak.
Earlier, Sydney bolstered their AFLW credentials by defeating foundation club Collingwood by 15 points in the season opener.
With scores level at the main break, the Swans produced a four-goal third-quarter flex to set up an 8.2 (50) to 4.11 (35) victory in front of 5489 fans at North Sydney Oval on Friday night.
Swans co-captains Chloe Molloy (two goals) and Lucy McEvoy (one goal, 17 possessions) led from the front as the hosts overwhelmed their opponents with quick ball movement.
Ball magnet Laura Gardiner (23 disposals) was outstanding in the contest, well-supported by Sofia Hurley (15) and Breanna Tarrant (nine intercept possessions).
Sydney coach Scott Gowans issued a warning to rivals following their win.
“We’re an outside running team, and if you’re going to play us, bring your runners, because you’re going to have to run,” Gowans said.
The win by Sydney, in their third AFLW season, gives new Magpies coach Sam Wright much to think about.
Former North Melbourne utility Wright was handed the reins after Collingwood parted ways with Steve Symonds in November following a disappointing 11th-placed finish in 2023.
“We haven’t put a ceiling on what we want to achieve,” Wright said.
“This year, we’re more focusing on building sustainability throughout our system and throughout our culture.
“So there’s there’s no expectations, and I think that’s a great part about this year.”
Brit Bonnici (24 touches) was a shining light for the Magpies while skipper Bri Davey watched from the sidelines after failing to prove her fitness following an off-season ankle reconstruction.
Sabrina Frederick also impressed in the ruck for the Magpies and took 25 hit-outs to 13 against All-Australian star Ally Morphett, who was returning from a foot injury.
Molloy gave Collingwood debutant Mureiann Atkinson a baptism of fire after marking directly in front of goal to kick the opening major of the AFLW season.
Grace Campbell replied quickly for the Magpies but McEvoy slotted another to build a four-point lead at the first break.
Collingwood rallied to dominate territory in the second term but wasted chances in front of goal, kicking 1.4 to 1.0 to level the scores.
Campbell momentarily stole the show after Sydney’s Tanya Kennedy sent the ball with a thundering kick directly into the Magpies forward’s face from point-blank range.
The 28-year-old was able to return to play.
But Collingwood’s Tarni White faces a nervous wait after a high bump left Maddy Collier, in her first game since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament last year, concussed.
Atkinson was also ruled out with concussion when her head clashed with Molloy’s at the other end just minutes later.
The two incidents sparked fiery scenes at North Sydney Oval, with two simultaneous scuffles breaking out.
“Now we’ve got two spotfires going at once – we’ll need a split screen!” Channel 7 commentator Jason Bennett exclaimed.
“Two really solid hits in the space of 30 seconds!”
Molloy shrugged off the collision to slot her second goal of the evening, helping launch Sydney to a 23-point lead in the third term.
Wright shuffled the magnets for the final quarter and sent full-back Stacey Livingstone forward.
The move paid immediate dividends, with Livingstone scoring her first goal in 67 matches before Alana Porter reduced the margin to 10 points.
But an after-the-siren goal from Bec Privitelli restored Sydney’s margin to 15.
(AAP)