WAALITJ Marawar has come from behind for the second straight week, standing up under pressure to beat Yartapuulti by 19 points in a bruising wet-weather clash at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.
The Eagles trailed by 19 points early but chipped away at Yartapuulti before surging in the final quarter to kick five goals to one when the game was on the line, winning 10.4 (64) to 7.3 (45).
Second-year coach Daisy Pearce received a massive reception as she walked through the crowd late in the game as the Eagles moved to 3-1 and proved they are a tougher, fitter and more skilful outfit in 2025.
Co-captain Bella Lewis was inspiring in the final term, booting two critical goals and finishing with 22 disposals, while midfielder Courtney Rowley dominated the centre square with 26 and seven clearances.
Superstar Ella Roberts (25 and five clearances) grew into the game and played a crucial hand late to set up Lewis, with Georgie Cleaver leading the backline brilliantly all day.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Yartapuulti, which was beaten 149-130 in contested possessions and failed to match the Eagles’ intensity late in the game as the home team ran in waves and got more numbers to every contest.
Ruck Matilda Scholz suffered a dislocated finger but played through pain, while Ashleigh Woodland was one player who relished the contest, finishing with 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions and seven clearances.
Fresh off a club-record 68-point win against Gold Coast, Yartapuulti travelled west with confidence and made a fast start after adjusting to the slippery conditions quickly and kicking the first three goals of the game.
They went long and direct and had some help when the Eagles lapsed on the goalline and allowed Ella Heads’ set shot to bounce through from long range.
The Eagles had several impressive handball chains through the midfield but were a little too cute with the ball and couldn’t connect going inside 50. Charlotte Riggs finally got them going with a brilliant running goal from 40m.
The adjustment came in the second quarter as the rain got heavier, with the Eagles tackling hard and then moving the ball without fuss to draw the game level after a long set short from young star Lucia Painter.
Yartapuulti responded late, however, and took an 11-point lead into the main break after Indy Tahau got free over the top to boot her second goal.
Waalitj Marawar had the better of the third quarter and continued to excel in the contest, with the backline holding up brilliantly to concede one goal from the Power’s 12 entries.
The margin was just four points at the final change after Lauren Wakfer pounced on a handball and kicked a brilliant running goal, with the game up for grabs before the Eagles late surge.
Little separated the teams in contested ball at the main break (71-69), but it became a gulf in the second half as the Eagles won the count 78-61 and laid the foundations for the fightback.
Charlotte Riggs produced the play of the day early for Waalitj Marawar, standing tall in the midfield to intercept and then turning on the jets. The first-year Eagle called on all her athleticism and versatility, handballing to teammate Kayla Dalgleish and then calling for it back and streaming inside 50 to convert on the run from 45m.
It was another example of the growing skill of the AFLW’s new breed, with Riggs kicking her first AFLW goal in fine style in just her second game.
The Eagles have a blockbuster Western Derby to look forward to and appear well placed to win their first clash against Fremantle in AFLW history, with the team’s squaring off next Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
WAALITJ MARAWAR 1.0 3.3 5.4 10.4 (64)
YARTAPUULTI 3.1 5.2 6.2 7.3 (45)
GOALS
Waalitj Marawar: Riggs 2, Lewis 2, Britton, Bushby, Gibson, Painter, Rowley, Wakfer.
Yartapuulti: Tahau 2, Goody, Heads, Houghton, Sowden, Woodland.
BEST
Waalitj Marawar: Rowley, Lewis, Cleaver, Roberts, Drennan, Gibson.
Yartapuulti: Woodland, Tahau, Scholz, Syme.
INJURIES
Waalitj Marawar: Nil
Yartapuulti: Scholz (dislocated finger)
Crowd: 1,597 at Mineral Resources Park