West Coast’s AFLW side have recorded their first victory of 2026 in magnificent style, toppling Brisbane by five points to claim one of their best wins in club history.

After starting their season by being on the wrong end of four consecutive losses, a visit from the powerhouse Lions — who have played in each of the last three grand finals — shaped as the firmest of tests.

But a performance which was marked from intensity from the first siren to the last and manic physical pressure powered them to a stunning 6.10 (46) to 6.5 (41) upset.

Ella Roberts once again relished the freedom of being spared from a tight tag, leading the way with a 33-disposal, 11-clearance, eight-tackle effort.

And after her side pledged to provide their superstar more support in midweek, she had plenty of running mates in the midfield.

Co-captain Bella Lewis (19 disposals, two goals) continued a fine start to the season, while 19-year-old ruck Charlotte Riggs (19 disposals, 11 hit-outs) edged her battle with a much more senior opponent in Brisbane’s Tahlia Hickie.

West Coast’s first-ever win over Brisbane represents a significant step forward for an Eagles side coach Daisy Pearce insisted had made progress, despite their winless start to the year before beating the Lions.

For the second time in as many weeks, West Coast struck first against a more-fancied opponent, with a clever snap from Kayla Dalgleish getting them on the scoreboard within the game’s first 30 seconds.

And although the Eagles did not capitalise on a dominant first term as they may have, a brilliant Keeley Skepper dribbler from deep in the pocket and Amy Franklin soccering a loose ball through ensured they took an eight-point lead into the first break.

The Lions, who stayed in touch in the early exchanges through Dakota Davidson and Eleanor Hartill converting set shots, lifted their pressure in the second term and had proceedings mostly hemmed in their own half.

A classy finish on the run from Sophie Conway gave Brisbane their first lead of the day as half-time approached, but West Coast showed they were up for the challenge by hitting back immediately through co-captain Bella Lewis.

Franklin gave the Eagles the perfect start to the second half, pinning Breanna Koenan holding the ball and slotting her second goal.

Just as they did throughout the first two terms, West Coast continued to bring plenty of pressure after the main break, with key forwards Franklin and Lauren Wakfer and stars Lewis and Roberts applying particularly bone-crunching tackles.

Both teams appeared to tire as the game wore on, and the Eagles were forced to confront a major test of their nerve and maturity when Brisbane did the bulk of the attacking early in the final quarter.

What was West Coast’s first inside-50 entry of the term was kept alive by Roberts applying a huge tackle on Brisbane star Belle Dawes, and Lewis profited on a high-contact free kick at the ensuing stoppage to extend their advantage further.

Having been forced to defend grimly for much of the ensuing minutes, the Lions were able to hit back with an end-to-end slingshot finished off by Shanae Davison.

West Coast remained happy to attack when under the pump but appeared to go into their shells after the former Eagle’s intervention, and were punished when Shannon Campbell drew the visitors back inside one straight kick.

And when the Lions broke from the centre immediately after, it was Roberts who stepped up, laying a huge run-down tackle emblematic of the defensive endeavour which ensured her side desperately clung onto their lead in the closing stages.

SCOREBOARD

WEST COAST 3.3, 4.6, 5.9, 6.10 (46)

BRISBANE 2.1, 4.3, 4.4, 6.5 (41)

Goals - WEST COAST: A Franklin 2 B Lewis 2 K Skepper K Dalgleish.

BRISBANE: C Mullins E Hartill D Davidson S Conway S Campbell S Davison.

Best - WEST COAST: E Roberts A Franklin B Lewis C Riggs K Skepper.

BRISBANE: J Ellenger T Hickie A Anderson S Conway C Mullins.

Injuries - BRISBANE: L Postlethwaite replaced in selected side by A Fearn-Wannan. WEST COAST: A Bushby (groin).

Umpires: J Kondhalkar H Ryan A Ramsay. Crowd: 1511 at Mineral Resources Park.