Five things we learnt from West Coast’s pre-season scratch match against Essendon

West Coast’s pre-season preparations ended on a high with a nine-point win over Essendon at Mineral Resources Park. ELIZA REILLY looks at the five things we learnt, including a positional switch and how a new recruit fared.

West Coast had a solid pre-season outing against Essendon. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

West Coast’s pre-season preparations ended on a high with a 6.7 (43) to 5.4 (34) win over Essendon at Mineral Resources Park.

After a hefty loss to Fremantle last week, the Eagles bounced back and kicked three first quarter goals to make a hot start.

And despite Essendon’s resistance, West Coast had the legs in the last quarter and ran out nine-point winners.

Here are the five things we learnt.

It was Lauren Wakfer’s first unofficial appearance for West Coast. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

1. Wakfer’s role

All eyes were on Lauren Wakfer in her first unofficial appearance for West Coast after missing the entirety of last season recovering from an ACL injury. The top two draft pick was one of the most highly sought after prospects in WA, prompting the Eagles to pounce even though Wakfer would be unable for her first season. The other point of intrigue was how Wakfer was going to fit into West Coast’s best 22 given that she is more than talented enough to be playing AFLW football but the Eagles already have a dominant ruck in Sarah Lakay. The answer appears to be a carefully weighted split between attack and the ruck. Lakay is still West Coast’s number one ruck for now and started each quarter in the middle. But Wakfer was rotated through roughly halfway during each quarter. Wakfer had some nice moments in traffic, she got first hands to the ball more often than not in the ruck and she was a solid target up forward and she’ll be better off for the exposure.

Shanae Davison is back from an ACL injury. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

2. Davison’s new fit

Another Eagle who missed last season with an ACL injury, Shanae Davison looks set to finally give the AFLW world a taste of her long-awaited potential – albeit in a new role. The Swan Districts product has had an injury-interrupted career to date, playing just nine AFLW games. Most of those have been as a forward with Davison known for her strong pressure at ground level. Now, Davison looks set to take her talents to the wing after starting there against Essendon. Davison’s defensive running was impressive, helping her defenders get an outnumber. But she was also an important link going forward. She deserves a clean run at it and her run back with the flight to make a contest in the last quarter was impressive and courageous.

Recruit Amy Franklin got a run. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

3. Recruit’s day ends early

Eagles fans got their first look at new recruit Amy Franklin as the forward played her first unofficial minutes in blue and gold after making the switch from Fremantle in the off-season. Franklin started up forward in a tall Eagles’ attack alongside Kellie Gibson, Dana Hooker, Ella Roberts and Lauren Wakfer. West Coast struggled at times to get clean entries into attack, reducing Franklin’s aerial ability. And after a half of football and a handful of touches, Franklin was pulled from the game and spent some time on the exercise bike as her teammates returned to the field. Franklin’s pre-season has been slightly injury-interrupted but there’s still time to build chemistry with her teammates. Franklin was spotted with ice on her shin post game and Bella Lewis appears to be the only other injury concern, ending her day with ice on her knee.

Kate Bartlett kicked two classy goals. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

4. Bartlett on song

One of the most pleasing aspects of West Coast’s win was that Kate Bartlett was able to find twice. Now enjoying her second opportunity at the Eagles after failing to play a game on her first stint with the club, Bartlett was the WAFLW’s leading goal kicker across two season at Peel Thunder. But that deadly accuracy dropped away at AFLW level, kicking 3.12 with the Eagles last season. Bartlett’s case of the yips appears to be over, kicking two classy goals including a true kick in traffic in the first quarter.

5. The fast start

One of West Coast’s biggest weaknesses last season was slow starts. The Eagles were notorious for letting their opponent get off to a flyer and from there it was a constant fight to get a foothold back in the game. But whatever the Eagles have done over the off-season appears to address their sleepy starts looks to have paid off. West Coast were clean and quick in a dominant first quarter, running Essendon off its feet. And the Eagles took a three-goal lead into the first break as reward. Ella Roberts was excellent and will punish any lack of respect this season, kicking two goals. Bartlett kicked West Coast’s third and the Eagles backline held strong, ensuring the best possible start was achieved. It was most beneficial in the final term when the young and fit Eagles edged ahead, ensuring their early work didn’t go to waste.

Originally published as Five things we learnt from West Coast’s pre-season scratch match against Essendon