PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 31: Isabella Lewis of the Eagles gets tackled during the AFLW Round 12 match between West Coast Eagles and Carlton Blues at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on October 31, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
UPDATE: The West Coast Eagles’ aspirations for an AFLW finals appearance have all but vanished following a devastating 20-point loss to the Carlton Blues on July 14, 2023. With this defeat, the Eagles now face an uphill battle, needing an upset on Saturday to remain in contention for the top eight.
In a match that held critical implications for their season, the Eagles entered needing a win against Carlton, as they were tied with Adelaide and Fremantle, both of whom are set to face off on Sunday. Additionally, Sydney is favored to secure victory against the struggling Essendon on Saturday, further complicating West Coast’s hopes.
After a strong start, where the Eagles kicked the opening goal through Lauren Wakfer, the momentum shifted dramatically. The scores were level at the final change, but Carlton’s talent shone in the critical moments, outscoring West Coast four goals to one in the final quarter.
From the outset, the Eagles demonstrated promise, with Ella Roberts making an immediate impact. However, as the match progressed, both teams struggled to break through tight defenses. An unfortunate missed call by the umpires denied Carlton a potential goal, allowing West Coast to hold a narrow lead at quarter time.
The pressure intensified in the second quarter, with neither team able to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Carlton’s Keeley Sherar finally broke through to score their first goal, but West Coast responded with a goal from Charlotte Riggs, retaining a slight advantage at halftime.
As the match progressed into a nail-biting third quarter, the conditions worsened with rain falling steadily. The Eagles managed to level the scores just before the three-quarter time break, but they couldn’t maintain that momentum.
In a crucial fourth quarter, Carlton took control. A free kick awarded to Tara Bohanna led to a goal that shifted the momentum firmly in Carlton’s favor. With just moments remaining, Erone Fitzpatrick and Darcy Vescio sealed the game with goals, leaving West Coast reeling.
“It’s disappointing to lose at such a critical moment,” said West Coast coach. “We fought hard, but we just couldn’t execute when it mattered.”
The final score read Carlton 6.6 (42) to West Coast 3.4 (22), effectively ending the Eagles’ finals dream for this season. Fans are left to ponder what could have been as the team now watches the remaining matches with their fates hanging in the balance.
With the Eagles’ season nearing its end, the focus now shifts to how they can regroup and prepare for future challenges. Stay tuned for updates on their upcoming matches and the implications for the rest of the league.
