AFLW: West Coast Eagles look for defensive boost to help make western derby history

West Coast are determined not to be bullied by their crosstown rivals, with the Eagles eyeing what could be their best chance to break their derby duck.

The Eagles have never beaten Fremantle in the AFLW competition in eight attempts, but they have been slowly closing the gap to the Dockers in recent seasons.

In their last clash, the Eagles stormed back in wet weather on the back of an Ella Roberts masterclass to take a slender lead into the final quarter, marking the first time they’ve ever led a derby heading into the final change.

However, a late Hayley Miller goal dashed their hopes as they fell seven points short.

But after recovering from a poor start to the season, the Eagles come into this weekend’s clash with three straight wins under their belt and know another would put them right back into contention for finals.

Fremantle themselves are clinging onto finals in eighth after their win over Adelaide, with forward Amy Franklin saying it only raises the stakes for Sunday’s clash.

“It’d be massive for the club,” Franklin said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of momentum over the past couple of rounds but so have Fremantle.

“It’ll be a really big game, but I think we’re going into it confident.”

With the Dockers coming off their equal highest score of the season agaisnt the Crows, the Eagles will be on high alert, particularly after Kiara Bowers showed her top form having ripped apart derbies in the past.

The Eagles have made just one change from the team that beat Essendon on the road, with Zoe Wakfer recovering from concussion in a huge boost for their defensive stocks while Beth Schilling has been managed.

Coach Daisy Pearce said their defensive work is what has been the driver of their season turnaround and could be what helps finally earn WA bragging rights.

“I think the way we’re defending as a team’s come a long way,” she said.

“We’d gone a bit too one-on-one, whereas now we’ve had a bit of time in our defensive system and players that were new to playing it have had some exposure to it.

“I just feel like that part of our game’s improved and off the back of that we’re keeping the ball in our front half a bit better.

“We feel like our game’s building and we’re getting more and more confidence and clarity in what we need to go after week to week.”