Eagles soar late for thrilling comeback win over Saints
Anna Harrington |
Emerging AFLW superstar Ella Roberts has led West Coast to a remarkable 14-point comeback win over St Kilda in a thrilling end to their extended time on the road.
The Saints led by 17 points at three-quarter time, when coach Daisy Pearce threw caution to the wind and gave Roberts the keys to run free in attack.
It proved a coaching masterclass as Roberts kicked two goals from eight final-term disposals and the Eagles reeled off four unanswered majors to snatch a 6.6 (42) to 4.4 (28) win at RSEA Park.
“Obviously we had to win that last quarter, so just bombing it in deep rather than overusing the handpasses,” Roberts, who finished with 24 disposals and nine marks, told Fox Footy.
“My teammates and my coaches give me a bit of a licence to do kind of what I want down there.
“Without them I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.”
The victory was the perfect antidote to a heartbreaking five-point loss to Essendon last Sunday.
West Coast (2-1) spent the entire week in Melbourne to maximise training time together between games.
“Obviously our last week against Essendon was a bit average,” Roberts said.
“So to be around each other for the week has been really good fun and lots of bonding and stuff like that.”
Roberts had good support from Bella Lewis (22 disposals), Emma Swanson and Jaide Britton (22 disposals).
For St Kilda, J’Noemi Anderson and spearhead Jesse Wardlaw (two goals apiece) were excellent early, while Tyanna Smith (18 disposals, six clearances) and Jaimee Lambert (19 disposals, 10 tackles) were busy.
Wardlaw gave St Kilda an eight-point lead at quarter-time.
Anderson delivered a second-quarter highlight when she watched her long bomb from inside the centre square bounce on the line, but she kept running and managed to get there first to toe-poke it home.
St Kilda led by 11 points at halftime and 17 at three-quarter time.
Pearce moved the magnets around and it paid off almost immediately, with Kayla Dalgleish cutting the lead to 11, before Roberts drew the Eagles within four points with six minutes remaining.
Skipper Charlie Thomas put the Eagles in front, before Roberts and Dalgleish nabbed their second goal each to seal victory.
St Kilda (1-2) next play Hawthorn at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on Saturday, and the Eagles (2-1) host Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.
AAP
