West Coast Eagles re-write history books with win over injury-decimated Collingwood to notch up third AFLW win

West Coast have re-written the history books as they claimed back-to-back wins for the first time and notched up a club-record third AFLW victory for the season after just four games.

The red-hot Eagles (3-1) defeated an injury-decimated Collingwood by 17 points at IKON Park in Melbourne, 5.6 (36) to 3.1 (19), to continue the club’s bright start under new coach Daisy Pearce.

Despite playing their third game in 11 days, West Coast didn’t take their foot off the pedal after the first quarter, with recruits Alison Drennan (25 touches) and Jess Hosking (two goals, nine tackles) continuing to impress.

Young pair Bella Lewis (19 touches, one goal) and Ella Roberts (19 disposals) also starred, while veteran Belinda Smith was inspirational in defence.

Desperate to get their first win of the season, Collingwood brought the heat from the opening bounce, piling on the first two goals in the first five minutes.

The Pies dominated at the stoppage early with ruck Sabrina Frederick giving the hosts first look, while their tackling pressure starved the Eagles’ ability to move the ball.

Star skipper Brianna Davey and damaging midfielder Imogen Barnett combined for 14 disposals in the opening term, as the Pies controlled the inside 50s 11-6.

The Eagles’ defence held up well while at the other end, Hosking converted an important set shot to reduce the margin back to six points at the first break.

The Pies suffered a huge blow early in the second quarter as Davey was ruled out with a concussion following a bruising collision with Roberts. She will miss the club’s next two matches in the 12-day protocols.

West Coast flipped the script from that point on, holding the Pies scoreless in the second term as they piled on the heat with repeat inside 50 entries to equal the count 14-14.

The Eagles took the lead for the first time as forward Kellie Gibson converted a free kick before Amy Franklin waved off a dislocated pinky finger to extend it further.

Lewis was prolific in a busy second quarter, notching up 10 disposals as the Eagles took an eight-point lead into the main break.

The visitors continued their stranglehold in the third, again holding the Pies scoreless with a desperate goal-saving smother from Belinda Smith exemplifying the Eagles’ pressure.

Hosking and Lewis added another two majors to make it five unanswered goals for the visitors.

Grace Campbell provided a brief spark for Collingwood, breaking the goal drought which had stretched back to the first term.

But any flicker of a flame was quickly extinguished, as the Eagles made history with a club record third win and consolidated their spot in the top eight.