Port Adelaide maintained its AFLW finals aspirations with a narrow four-point victory over West Coast at Alberton Oval on Saturday. The Power held a 3.8 (26) to 3.4 (22) lead at the final siren, improving their season record to 4-5 and keeping alive their hopes of finishing in the top eight.
From the outset, Port Adelaide led and managed to repel persistent challenges from West Coast, particularly in the second half when the contest turned into a tightly fought defensive struggle. Despite the Eagles holding clearances (25-15) and forward entries (24-14) advantages through the third quarter, Port Adelaide’s defense, anchored by Teagan Germech who contributed 16 disposals and four marks, remained resilient.
The final quarter intensified as both teams vigorously contested possession, but no goals were recorded. West Coast came close to seizing the lead midway through the last term when Amy Franklin’s long-range kick narrowly missed, marking the Eagles’ final attempt on goal.
Key to Port Adelaide’s success was their overwhelming pressure throughout the game, particularly in tackles, where they outnumbered West Coast 72 to 35. The Power also dominated aerially, taking more than double the contested marks (10 to 4). Abbey Dowrick was instrumental across the ground, amassing 25 touches, nine clearances, eight tackles, and contributing a goal. Ruck Matilda Scholz dominated with 30 hit-outs and collected 15 disposals.
West Coast’s Ellie Roberts produced a strong effort with 21 possessions, including 13 contested, alongside six clearances. She received solid support from Jaide Britton, who gathered 19 touches. A key moment for Port Adelaide came in the third quarter when Lauren Young secured a contested mark under heavy pressure from two West Coast players, preventing a critical turnover.
West Coast had a notable moment when Keeley Skepper kicked an impressive goal from 30 meters while under pressure, narrowing the margin to three points. However, the Eagles were fortunate in that sequence, as a preceding play saw Germech halt Kayla Dalgleish with a tackle that should have resulted in a free kick for holding the ball.
The Power will look to build on this win as it faces Brisbane, Collingwood, and St Kilda in the closing rounds, matches that provide a strong opportunity to secure a top-eight finish. Conversely, West Coast, which saw its four-game winning streak ended, now faces a challenging schedule against Geelong, Sydney, and Hawthorn, all teams around or within the finals bracket. This leaves both teams in a precarious position as the season approaches its conclusion.