Collingwood was left with a sweet and sour taste after a breakthrough AFLW victory against West Coast.
The Magpies’ 27-point victory at their Victoria Park home on Sunday was the final opening-round breakthrough by an AFLW foundation club, after GWS Giants claimed a narrow win against Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.
But the Pies now have a nervous wait on scans with gun onballer Bri Davey helped off with a left leg injury in the third quarter.
Davey, who missed most of the 2018 season after severely damaging her right knee, was making her Collingwood debut after the former Carlton skipper made the switch to their neighbouring rivals in the off-season.
Coach Steve Symonds would only confirm a “lower leg” injury and add “we’ll hope we get a positive scan.”
The home team set up the 5.8.38 to 1.5.11 triumph by outscoring the Eagles into the wind in the third quarter and ex-netball star Sharni Layton put the seal on the win with a mark and goal midway through the final period.
“As the game extended, we started to get up and going with our pressure game. It was important that they executed under pressure and I thought they did that today,” Symonds said.
Former Matildas goalkeeper Davey was working her way into the play early in the second half when her left leg buckled in a marking contest.
She was left writhing on the turf, clutching her knee and play was halted before she limping off between two trainers.
The Magpies had blown open the contest when skipper Steph Chiocci kicked a crucial goal on the run to what was effectively the non-scoring end midway through the third term.
West Coast had first use of a stiff breeze and the visitors always threatened but struggled to breach the Magpies’ defence held together by Alana Porter and Stacey Livingstone.
Eagles coach Luke Dwyer said he was heartened by the improvement of his team in what was only their third game together.
“Collingwood brought some good pressure and we’ll look at that. We had some opportunities inside 50 and we didn’t finish off, but at least we were getting it down there,” Dwyer said.
The Eagles eventually broke through when vice-captain Dana Hooker was on target with a quick kick out of a pack for the opening goal after four minutes. But the Eagles generally didn’t take full advantage of their 9-0 inside 50 count.
The Magpies looked far more dangerous going forward and they would have been encouraged by the marks inside 50 stat that had been a problem in previous seasons.
