It could’ve been a runaway game

The first quarter saw the newbies from the west coast blaze onto the field with the same intensity we saw in their first-ever game. They peppered the posts early on with little reward, keeping the scoreboard to a modest 9-2 in favour of the Eagles.

The Bulldogs were able to wrestle back some of the momentum from the second quarter, keeping the home team on their toes. Both sides continued to struggle with accuracy in their forward ends, chipping away slowly at their respective score lines.

In the end, it was the Eagles who stood proudly for the final siren having managed to keep a handle on the Bulldogs in the last few minutes of the game.

The Bulldogs stand stubborn in the midfield

While the teams were fairly evenly matched, the Bulldog’s experience playing together was evident in the midfield, where the chain seemed to break in the Eagles’ defensive line.

The home team struggled to move the ball smoothly from coast to coast and allowed the Dogs to intercept for numerous shots at goal.

Fortunately for the West Coast fans who have been waiting impatiently for a win, the visitors struggled with accuracy down to the final minutes of the game.

Kirsten McLeod narrowly missed her chance to help her side take home the four points when she scored a behind from a spectacular mark inside 50.

The Irish have more to give

Irish imports Grace and Niamh Kelly proved today that they’re continuing to adjust to the Aussie sport. They racked up 16 and 14 disposals respectively, and were responsible for a goal and three behinds.

On top of kicking one of the much-needed goals, Grace was consistently at the right place in the right time today. She was able to read the play, follow the ball, and make meaningful touches that contributed significantly to the Eagles’ victory.

Meanwhile, Niamh seemed eager to prove her speed, demonstrating on a number of occasions how willing she is to jump on her bike and go for a sprint.

Post-match, Grace reiterated how much her and her sister are loving the game and are continuing to learn off each other and their teammates. If this is the result of half a season, exciting things must be in-store for the Irish recruits in weeks and years to come.