Richmond stormed back from a 22-point half-time deficit against West Coast on Friday night at Mineral Resources Park but left their run too late, going down by one point in heartbreaking fashion. 

Daisy Pearce's West Coast era has started with triumph albeit by the narrowest of margins, after Eagle Kellie Gibson goaled with 43 seconds remaining to restore the Eagles' lead, after Richmond had appeared to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after kicking three final-term goals to hit the lead.

Pearce's Eagles held on despite some nervy moments to win 6.4 (40) to 5.9 (39), beginning her time at the helm of the battling WA side with victory, having previously only recorded seven wins across their five AFLW campaigns.

West Coast had led all game before Emelia Yassir put Richmond ahead with three minutes left after catching Belinda Smith holding the ball, following on from majors from Jemima Woods and Maddie Shevlin.

Gibson, however, kept her cool to restore their lead from Abbygail Bushby's pass, marking 10m out and taking her 30 seconds to slot the winner.

The result belied the Eagles' ordinary pre-season form, that included 32-point and 56-point defeats to St Kilda and Fremantle respectively.

West Coast’s Round 1 victory offers hope for the WA side, although they faded in the second half with Gibson’s goal their only major after the long break.

But prior to that, Pearce's side looked good, booting five first-half goals to open up a significant buffer, led by Jess Hosking (15 disposals and two goals) and Charlotte Thomas (24 disposals), Ella Roberts (20) and Isabella Lewis (19).

That came without captain Emma Swanson (groin soreness) along with off-season recruit Roxy Roux (hand), with Pearce blooding five debutants.

Reigning AFLW best and fairest Monique Conti was brilliant for Richmond, particularly after half-time, finishing with 30 disposals including 18 contested possessions.

Amy Franklin slotted a 45m set shot to get the ball rolling, before Hosking – taking on her former side – added a second.

In the second quarter, Richmond started to gain some ascendancy but continued to fluff chances with captain Katie Brennan hitting the post, plus ill-discipline didn't help.

Hosking kept haunting her former club, capitalising on a holding infringement to open up a 16-point lead. Goals from Gibson and Mikayla Western before the main break established a game-high 22-point half-time lead.

If Richmond was going to fight back, it would need the first goal of the second half and it got that through dominant ruck Poppy Kelly, after a review under the new microchip technology for the first time.

Richmond had 11-5 inside 50s for the term, with Conti having 10 disposals alone for the quarter, but West Coast's defence showed composure when under pressure to hold on to a 16-point lead at the final change.

The Tigers spurned early chances in the fourth but after missing all their set shots for the game, Woods and Shevlin converted theirs at the right time, before Yassir put them ahead, only for Gibson to have the last say.

First ever score assist
History was made in the third quarter with the first ever score assist system utilised under the AFLW's new microchip technology for Richmond ruck Kelly's goal. The process was relatively seamless, requiring barely 30 seconds with the right decision made based on replays. Tougher reviews will come.

WEST COAST          2.1     5.1     5.3     6.4 (40)
RICHMOND             0.2     1.3     2.5     5.9 (39)

GOALS
West Coast: Hosking 2, Gibson 2, Western, Franklin
Richmond: Yassir, Woods, Shevlin, Kelly, Jones