Defensive pressure from both sides was outstanding

In the first quarter, whenever the Eagles tried to transition the ball into their forward half the suns were always on the ball to get the intercept or to make a clean transition out of trouble.

While in the second quarter the momentum was all the Eagles way, with Emma Swanson leading from the front, with 5 tackles going into half time, and able to get reward for her effort.

Belinda Smith was a star in defence preventing the Suns from scoring with several intercept marks.

The likes of young gun Serene Watson starred in defence for the Suns, being able to keep the Eagles goalless for 95% of the game. Watson finished the game with 15 touches.

Kalinda Howarth doesn’t need high numbers to make an impact

Howarth isn’t one of those players that needs 25 disposals to make a huge impact. Her goal in the first quarter proves that.

She is one of those players that can make something out of nothing, and she demonstrated that talent by grabbing the ball out of the pack and snapping it through for a goal.

 She was also able to set up her teammates for a goal, again making something out of nothing and selling some candy to allow Jordan Hickey her first ever AFLW major.

Putting away two goals in one minute, she singlehandedly put the Eagles to the sword. When the ball is with Howarth, the Suns are in safe hands.

Howarth finished the game with four goals and continued to push her case for the NAB Rising Star as well as being one goal behind the leading goal kicker.

The Eagles are lacking Polish

It was a pretty even contest for most of the game, but the suns were able to capitalise on their opportunities in the forward half, giving them a 14-1 lead at half time.  

The Eagles had plenty of chances in the forward half but they couldn’t get reward for effort, as they were lacking a lot of polish inside 50. Massive credit must go to the Suns defenders for not letting the Eagles forwards get a sniff.  

The Eagles were able to lock it in their inside 50 late in the game, but were unable to convert on the score board.

West Coast were finally able to put a goal on the scoreboard with five minutes to go thanks to Hayley Bullas.