WA women create history with win over VictoriaSaturday, June 6, 2015 - 12:05 PM - by Chris Pike

WESTERN Australia created history at Domain Stadium on Friday beating Victoria for the first time in an open-age State game, and it took a thriller for it to happen with the Black Swans holding on for a four-point win in a frantic finish.

WA had never previously beaten Victoria in an open-age State game, but the two sides did battle at Domain Stadium on Friday afternoon and put on quite a show for those who came early to watch ahead of the Fremantle and Richmond AFL clash later that night.

In the end, it was WA who recorded the 8.4 (52) to 7.6 (48) victory but it came down to the dying seconds with Victoria having a chance to snatch the win through Emma Kearney, but a superb defensive effort from WA's Tayla Bresland for WA was enough for the home side to hold on and win.

WA captain Kara Donnellan was named best on ground for her outstanding all-round performance and it backed up her being named the best player in the AFL women's match between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at the MCG as well.

West Australian coach Michelle Cowan named young midfielder Brianna Green as her best player in the game. Kiara Bowers and Jessica Wuetschner kicked two goals each for WA as well in the eventual victory.

Victoria had a host of star performers as well with none better than No. 1 women's AFL draft pick Daisy Pearce while Moana Hope was terrific with four goals as well.

WA was able to get the first clearance of the game out of the middle, but it was Victoria who kicked the opening goal less than three minutes into the contest courtesy of Ellie Blackburn.

WA then got on the board thanks to Chelsea Randall when she took advantage and ran into an open goal. The home side then added their second before Victoria again hit the scoreboard and ended up leading at quarter-time by eight points.

The Black Swans then made a fast start to the second quarter and kicked the only two goals of the term and that saw WA holding a one-goal advantage heading into the main break.

Victoria was able to level scores up again to open the second half but WA quickly regained the lead. Wuetschner then got on the board as well with a goal to give WA its biggest lead of the match by 12 points shortly before three quarter-time.

However, a goal for Victoria just before the break from Moana Hope again brought the visitors to within one straight kick at the last change.

When Hope kicked  another early in the last term, again scored were all tied up before some brilliant vision by WA captain Donnellan sent a handball into space for Ebony Antonio, who got the ball on to Swanson who kicked a goal to put the home team four points in front.

Wuetschner then nailed her second goal of the game to put WA 10 points in front before Victoria got a goal back late in the game to again make the margin four points, which is where it would remain after some desperate defending from the Black Swans to hold on for the historic win.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA        2.0    4.3    6.3    8.4    (52)
VICTORIA            3.2    3.3    5.3    7.6    (48)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Goals: Bowers, Wuetschner 2; Randall, Phillips, Frederick-Traub, Swanson.
VICTORIA – Goals: Hope 4; Blackburn, McWilliams, Kearney.
Best on ground – Kara Donnellan (WA).
WA best and fairest – Brianna Green.
Victoria best and fairest – Daisy Pearce.

Photos by Phil Barnes