Fremantle and Kiara Bowers have extended their reign as queens of the West but Dockers utility Ebony Antonio can take her seat on the throne after kicking three goals in a 6.7 (43) to 2.3 (15) win.

Antonio and Bowers created history as the first joint winners of the derby medal, the latter receiving her fourth straight nod as the instigator of West Coast’s continual derby demise.

The reigning AFLW best and fairest winner looks to have returned to season 2022 with the same craving for team success, proving the difference in the midfield with 23 touches, 14 of which were contested, 13 tackles and six clearances.

But Antonio was equally influential, her three goals coming at crucial times while her physicality around the ground and 12 possessions and five tackles came in a variety of positions.

After it looked like Fremantle would return to their 2021 ways and return yet another scoreless first quarter, Antonio conjured a miracle major from deep in the pocket, her tumbling effort beating former teammate turned Eagle Evie Gooch on the line.

West Coast struggled to match Fremantle’s intensity in the first half but burst into the game in the third quarter with two quick goals formed around a much improved effort.

Captain Emma Swanson kicked West Coast’s first goal from close range and her subsequent celebrations injected considerable passion into the highly physical affair.

Swanson is likely to come under scrutiny for giving immediate feedback to opposing captain Hayley Miller, making high contact after the goal.

But it was a small sacrifice to pay to spark some intensity, Swanson leading by example with 23 touches, six clearances and five tackles to finish as the Eagles best.

As Fremantle made their feelings known off the ball, off-season recruit Aimee Schmidt kicked West Coast’s second contending with a howling breeze in the final term, the Eagles couldn’t manage an inside 50 for the quarter as Fremantle ran away with the four points.

Fremantle coach Trent Cooper said the derby win was more significant than the three previous given West Coast’s improvement.

“In some ways it probably has more merit because West Coast are improving,” he said.

“We’ve got quite a young list and had less experience than West Coast on the park today. It’s good for those six debutants to step into such a fierce game and produce.

“Ebony’s finishing, to kick three goals on a day that was difficult for finishing, was outstanding.

“Kiara was just Kiara. I’m lucky to have her in the side and we all are.”

In her first game as captain, Miller was equally influential, kicking two goals to go with 16 touches and nine tackles.

Gabby O’Sullivan relished a new midfield role, collecting 17 disposals and kicking a long-range goal to solidify the result.

For the Eagles, Laurie performed admirably in the ruck while reigning West Coast best and fairest Isabella Lewis was physical in the midfield.

“Every game you play tells you a story and the story it told us today was we weren’t good enough early in the game,” Eagles coach Michael Prior said.

“We can’t wait until after half-time for our effort and intensity to lift.

“Maybe being the first game with full game intensity. Maybe it was the pressure of the game and we need to be cognisant of that.”

West Coast are likely to persist with once All-Australian midfielder Dana Hooker at half-back despite the Eagles losing contested possessions and tackles.

SCOREBOARD

FREMANTLE 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 6.7 (43)

WEST COAST 0.2, 0.2, 2.3, 2.3 (15)

Goals — FREMANTLE: E Antonio 3, H Miller 2, G O’Sullivan

WEST COAST: E Swanson, A Schmidt

Best — FREMANTLE: E Antonio, K Bowers, H Miller, G O’Sullivan, T Toth, S Cain

WEST COAST: E Swanson, P Laurie, M Collier, I Lewis, M Bowen

Umpires: D Johanson, C Jones, T McPhee. Crowd: 5533 at Fremantle Oval.