PORT Melbourne celebrated its 50th rebel VFLW match and the same milestone for Eloise Ashley-Cooper with a comprehensive 23-point victory over Williamstown at DSV Stadium to remain unbeaten in its premiership defence.
The Borough dominated the contest from the outset, holding the Seagulls to just one behind to three quarter-time as they went +52 in disposals, +22 in marks, +12 in hitouts and +14 for inside-50s.
It did take 12 minutes for boom recruit Ava Seton to break through for Port’s first goal and the visitors themselves were held to one goal in each of the opening three terms despite having the top five ball-winners on the ground.
Richmond AFLW player Eilish Sheerin starred on debut for the Borough with 24 disposals, six tackles, 11 clearances and seven inside-50s, while Seton followed her game-opening goal with 20 touches, seven clearances and six entries.
The joined Ashley-Cooper (19 disposals) as the three best players on the ground, with Mackenzie Ford having 12 tackles and Stella Reid (15 disposals, six marks, five tackles, one goal) also prominent.
Williamstown, which was marking two of its own milestones in the half-centuries of Nicole Julian and Megan Williamson, gave itself a glimmer of hope when Sharnie Whiting kicked a miraculous goal from the pocket to open the last quarter and cut the margin to 13 points, but it took just four minutes for Port Melbourne ruck Madeleine Patterson to restore the advantage before Emily Harley finished things off.
Ash Thorneycroft and India Barker’s 14 touches were the Seagulls’ most prolific, with Thorneycroft, Williamson and Emily Eaves laying nine tackles apiece.
Williamstown 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 (9)
Port Melbourne 1.2 2.2 3.2 5.2 (32)
