Eagles hold off comeback leaving Bombers still to break their season duck

WEST Coast has put more distance between itself and its 0-4 start, winning its third game in a row and in doing so, consigning Essendon to yet another loss.

The winless Bombers, who now sit at 0-7, started hot and finished strong, but the damage was done by the Eagles in the middle two quarters as their talented brigade of young guns set up the 6.9 (45) to 4.11 (35) contest.

BOMBERS v EAGLES Full match coverage and stats

Essendon was up for the fight early, attacking each contest with pace and intent, but West Coast managed to hold on and ride out the storm.

Once the initial heat was absorbed with only minimal damage on the scoreboard (a Steph Cain goal to open proceedings), the Eagles wrestled back control and were able to start playing on their own terms rather than chasing the Bombers’ handball chains around the ground.

West Coast’s skills were on full display from the second quarter onwards, moving the ball mainly by foot with accurate kicks and elite contested marking ability leaving Essendon in their wake.

Ella Roberts (31 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances, 717 metres gained) was everywhere, breaking away from packs with her burst speed and hitting up longtime friend Amy Franklin (one goal, six marks) in the forward line with practiced ease.

The Bombers threatened again late, kicking the last three goals of the game to get within 10 points, but they’d left their run too late.

Eagle Jaide Britton (two goals) was particularly effective on the run, while co-captain Bella Lewis’ tenacity was evident at both stoppages and 1v1s.

West Coast’s defensive positioning and willingness to run hard to make a contest meant every time Essendon tried to advance forward it was cut off, with the ball rarely making it into the Bombers' forward 50 after the first quarter.

Maddy Prespakis (27 disposals) fought valiantly but too few of her teammates were prepared to go with her in the guts, while Steph Wales (13 hitouts, three clearances) got the better of a rotation of Eagles challengers (Charlotte Riggs, Sarah Lakay and Lauren Wakfer) in the ruck.

Adding injury to insult, Bombers forward Zoe Prowse left the field during the second quarter with a foot injury and did not return.

Rowley’s returnYoung talent Courtney Rowley returned from her second ACL injury on Friday against Essendon and showed just why she’s so highly rated. Rowley’s attack on the footy belied her 163cm height, with the 23-year-old not taking a backwards step when approaching contests and even taking a clutch defensive mark in the second quarter. She finished with nine disposals and seven intercept possessions in her first game since round eight, 2025.

Prespakis v LewisMaddy Prespakis’ impressive start to the season had clearly caught the attention of Daisy Pearce, who sent the tough-as-nails Bella Lewis to quell the influence of the star mid at times throughout the game. Prepsakis still found plenty of the footy, finishing with 27 disposals, but her influence waned as the game wore on. Lewis on the other hand managed to impact the game in her own right with 18 disposals, three tackles and four clearances.

Up nextThe Eagles head back to WA next week after an extended stay in Melbourne, hosting Fremantle in the Western Derby on Sunday at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, while the Bombers hit the road, travelling to Henson Park to face Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

ESSENDON 1.3 1.4 2.4 4.11 (35)WEST COAST 1.0 5.5 6.8 6.9 (45)

GOALSEssendon: Cain, Wales, van de Heuvel, ToogoodWest Coast: Britton 2, Bushby, Lakay, L.Wakfer, Franklin

BESTEssendon: Prespakis, Wales, ToogoodWest Coast: Roberts, Lewis, Franklin, Thomas

INJURIESEssendon: Zoe Prowse (foot)West Coast: Britton (TBC)

Crowd: 1,874 at Windy Hill