URGENT UPDATE: The Melbourne Demons delivered a crushing blow to the West Coast Eagles with a staggering 51-point victory at Casey Fields earlier today, showcasing their dominance in the AFLW 2025 season. Led by a sensational performance from Eden Zanker, who scored five goals, the Demons proved too strong for a struggling Eagles side.
From the very first bounce, the Eagles were overwhelmed. They were thoroughly outclassed in clearances and continually outworked by the Demons, who capitalized on their size and physicality. Despite Abbygail Bushby leading the way for West Coast with 24 disposals and five tackles, the team was left scrambling as Melbourne surged ahead with a commanding score of 10.14 (74) to 3.5 (23).
The Eagles’ troubles were compounded when star forward Ella Roberts faced intense scrutiny from the Demons’ defense, while Isabella Lewis was sidelined in the third term due to a hip injury, following a tough tackle. This loss of key players significantly affected West Coast’s performance, leaving them vulnerable against a relentless Melbourne attack.
Co-captain Charlotte Thomas and the Eagles’ backline struggled to contain Zanker, who took full advantage of the extra attention by scoring four goals by the halfway mark of the second term. The absence of Liz McGrath in the ruck was keenly felt, as Lauren Pearce of Melbourne dominated with 20 hitouts and helped secure the Demons’ robust midfield presence.
As the rain fell at Casey Fields, the Demons continued to assert their dominance, scoring three goals before West Coast could even find their rhythm. Coach Daisy Pearce directed her team effectively from the bench, emphasizing the need for improved clearance work. Despite some resistance, the Eagles could not stop the flood of goals from the Demons, who ultimately scored ten unanswered goals in a display of sheer strength.
In a silver lining for West Coast, they managed to claim victory in the final quarter, scoring three goals to none. However, the day was marred further as Jaide Britton suffered a knee injury during a tackle, raising additional concerns for the Eagles as they head into a critical part of the season.
The defeat leaves West Coast’s hopes for a maiden finals campaign hanging by a thread, but they will benefit from having four home games in the remaining six weeks. The team must regroup quickly, as their resilience will be tested in upcoming matches.
SCOREBOARD:
MELBOURNE: 4.3, 7.7, 10.11, 10.14 (74)
WEST COAST: 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 3.5 (23)
Goals – MELBOURNE: E Zanker 5, T Harris 2, K Hore 2, A Pisano.
WEST COAST: S Lakay, K Dalgleish, L Wakfer.
Best – MELBOURNE: E Zanker, E McNamara, L Pearce, T Hanks.
WEST COAST: A Bushby, C Thomas, E Roberts, C Rowley.
Injuries – MELBOURNE: Nil.
WEST COAST: I Lewis (Hip).
Crowd: TBC at Casey Fields.
This decisive match serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the Eagles in their pursuit of success in this fiercely competitive league. Stay tuned for updates as they navigate the remainder of the season.
