Great Southern trio part of West Coast Eagles breakthrough first victory of 2022 AFLW season

The West Coast Eagles have finally broken through for their first AFLW victory of the season, breaking a 330-day drought after edging out St Kilda by two points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Tuesday.

The Eagles ended their 24-day Victoria hub in style, the win also doubling as their first triumph on the road before returning home to WA.

Great Southern trio Sophie McDonald, Parris Laurie and Belinda Smith were all part of the victorious Eagles side that hung on, 2.10 (22) 2.8 (20).

Smith and Laurie played a vital hand in the victory being named among their best as the Eagles pulled off a series of clutch tackles at the death to hold on.

Pingrup-raised defender Smith finished with 12 disposals, six intercepts, three marks and three tackles.

Laurie, a Denmark product, was also influential as she had 13 hit-outs to go with 10 touches, three clearances, three marks and two tackles.

Albany key defender McDonald had four touches and a tackle in the win.

The Eagles dominated the first term with the aid of the breeze finishing with 14 inside-50s to one, but the Saints kicked the only goal off the boot of Jessica Martin.

Aimee Schmidt kicked a superb snap goal for the Eagles first in the second term and then when Kellie Gibson goaled they had opened a handy eight-point buffer.

Caitlin Greiser kicked a great set shot from a tight angle to end the first half for the Saints as they reduced the margin to one-point at the main break.

Neither side kicked a goal in the second half but the Eagles held on in a tense final term.

The ball was camped in the Saints’ forward 50m during the final moments of the match but the Eagles’ defence held firm under intense pressure.