West Coast’s finals hopes have taken a hit and they are in danger of falling out of the AFLW top eight by the end of the weekend following a 13-point loss to Port Adelaide.
The Eagles entered the home game at Mineral Resources Park filled with optimism but had no answers to the Power’s strength after quarter time and lost 7.7 (49) to 5.6 (36).
They will now watch on nervously as Essendon plays Gold Coast on Sunday knowing that a Bomber win will cost them their position in the eight ahead of a tough clash with Hawthorn next weekend.
The Eagles looked good early as Ella Roberts produced a stunning first quarter. She had 11 disposals and one goal as Port Adelaide struggled to get the ball past her.
She kept winning the ball in the air and setting up teammates, while the contested mark which set up her goal summed up her game.
West Coast kicked three goals in the first quarter and held Port Adelaide scoreless to take a 19-point lead into the first break.
But the game swung in the second quarter as Port dominated territory and West Coast had no answers.
Gemma Houghton gave the Power a presence inside 50 and her team had 16 inside 50s for the quarter to West Coast’s one. Roberts had only one touch for the term for the Eagles and nothing went right.
Zoe Wakfer bizarrely chose to roll the ball back to Caitlin Wendland after a free kick in the centre square and she made the Eagles pay with a goal from the 50m penalty.
When Ash Saint kicked a goal on the half-time siren after a free kick for holding the ball, Port Adelaide led by one point.
The Power ramped up the pressure with two quick goals to start the third term. as Justine Mules-Robinson made the Eagles pay.
She kicked a classy goal from near the boundary line and followed up with another snap under pressure to give the visitors to 14-point lead.
West Coast finally got the ball forward but their two inside 50s only tricked past the arc. It took Roberts to run the ball forward and take the game on to create an opportunity but Bella Lewis’ shot sailed wide.
It got the Eagles going though. Emma Swanson and Charlie Thomas were active, Mikayla Western had scoring chances but they were frustrated for nearly the entire quarter.
They got the crucial goal they needed when aggressive running from half-back set up Roberts inside 50 and she found Abbygail Bushby who converted a set shot after the three quarter time siren. Now it was just an eight-point game.
Port Adelaide made a damaging start to the final term though as Houghton took a strong mark after just 30 seconds and charged into an open goal.
When Houghton won another big contest moments later, she got the ball forward for Wendland and suddenly Port led by an unassailable 20 points.
PORT ADELAIDE 0.0, 3.2, 5.5, 7.7 (49)
WEST COAST 3.1, 3.1, 4.3, 5.6 (36)
Goals – PORT ADELAIDE: C Wendland 2 J Mules-Robinson 2 G Houghton 2 A Saint WEST COAST: L Wakfer R Roux E Roberts I Lewis A Bushby
Best – PORT ADELAIDE: G Houghton A Dowrick M Scholz C Wendland E O’Dea J Mules-Robinson WEST COAST: E Roberts I Lewis C Thomas E Swanson
Crowd: TBC at Mineral Resources Park
