West Coast’s AFLW campaign is off to a less than ideal start, as they wilted in the midst of a pressure cooker performance from GWS to slump to a 12-point defeat.

The Eagles struggled to turn their inside 50 advantage into goals as the Giants’ in-your-face performance frustrated West Coast and allowed last year’s 17th-placed team to claim an upset 8.6 (54) to 6.6 (42) victory over Daisy Pearce’s side.

The pill was a red-hot commodity throughout as both sides brought an intensity to the contest, resulting in less space than a crowded dancefloor.

But when the ball was in dispute, the Giants’ pressure rattled West Coast as the hosts laid an extra 22 tackles.

And while the Eagles enjoyed 15 more inside 50’s than their opponents, they were far more inefficient than GWS, who were clinical on their own entries as Rebecca Beeson and Tarni Evans kicked three goals each.

Bella Lewis tried to will her side to victory to little avail as she tallied 27 disposals, seven inside 50s, five score involvements and five clearances, but Charlie Thomas (24 touches) was the only other Eagle to record more than 17 disposals as Ella Roberts was somewhat restricted by a Grace Kos tag.

Both sides traded early goals, Evans’ reward for running down Zoe Wakfer quickly answered by an Amy Franklin major up the other end.

Georgia Garnett’s clever finish from an acute allowed the Giants to take the lead, only for the Eagles to snatch it back in the last second of the quarter when Lauren Wakfer won a ruck tap on the goal-line and the on-rushing Kellie Gibson scrambled the Sherrin over the line.

The biggest difference between the Eagles’ first and second quarters was they were able to turn forward pressure into scoreboard impact early, but unable to sustain it as the half progressed.

West Coast’s inside 50 efficiency was 87.5 per cent in the opening term, but it had dropped to 42.1 per cent by half-time.

And when the Giants were able to find some space, their outside speed was damaging and Evans’ composed finish allowed GWS to lead by four at half-time.

Roberts tried to turn the game in her side’s favour as she won the second half’s opening clearance and then turned a lionhearted contested possession from Zoe Wakfer into a goal and the Eagles’ first lead since quarter-time.

But Beeson answered the challenge and kicked two goals in quick succession, the second a long-range effort to give the Giants a 10-point buffer.

Then Evans created some separation on Zoe Wakfer to mark and kicked her third of the game. Just like that, the Giants had kicked three goals from their first three forward 50 entries in the third quarter.

West Coast were not happy as the Giants stymied their ball movement and tensions boiled over as the teams headed to the sheds at the end of the third term, with GWS holding a 16-point lead.

Beeson’s third and a friendly bound off Mikayla Pauga’s speculative effort put some daylight between the two teams and although Keeley Skepper and Isabella Shannon added goals to keep the Eagles in the game late, the damage was already done.

SCOREBOARD

GWS GIANTS 2.1 3.3 6.5 8.6 (54)

WEST COAST EAGLES 2.4 2.5 3.6 6.6 (42)

Goals — GIANTS: T Evans 3 R Beeson 3 G Garnett M Pauga. EAGLES: A Franklin K Gibson E Roberts K Skepper I Shannon C Thomas.

Best — GIANTS: T Evans R Beeson A Parker T Lucas-Rodd C McCormick. EAGLES: I Lewis C Thomas L Painter C Riggs J Britton.

Umpires: M Baigent C Brackering S Vanderschoot. Crowd: TBC at ENGIE Stadium.