Daisy's dream start in huge Eagles upset; Swans shake off spicy ...

The 2024 AFLW season is officially underway.

The Swans claimed a hard-fought 15-point win over Collingwood in the season opener before a Daisy Pearce-led West Coast set records in their shock one-point win over Richmond.

But the opening night wasn’t without controversy, with Magpie Tarni White set to come under scrutiny for her hit that sparked a massive fight in the first match of the double header.

Every game of the 2024 AFLW season is live and ad-break-free on Fox Sports and Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

See the two match reports below.

ULTIMATE AFLW GUIDE | Every club’s off-season moves, key contenders and league changes

GAME ONE – SYDNEY 8.2 (50) def COLLINGWOOD 4.11 (35)

Who else but Swan Chloe Molloy to get us underway in AFLW season 2024?

The Sydney star managed to lose her opponent inside the opening minutes and nail her set shot from just 15m out.

But moments later Grace Campbell had the equaliser in a red-hot first term.

The Pies had the ball locked in their front half, but weren’t able to capitalise. And despite all the territory, a quick transition from the Swans saw Lucy McEvoy convert.

“Collingwood would be pulling their hair out,” commentator Erin Phillips said.

The Pies put themselves in front to start the second while Sabrina Frederick saved her side another blow when she was left alone on the goal line to deny Sydney.

But the Swans wouldn’t be denied seconds later when Montana Beruldsen pinched the footy and snapped truly.

At the main break, scores were level 18-all – but Sydney had three straight goals to the wasteful Pies’ 2.6.

Collingwood’s Brittany Bonnici had a whopping 10 contested disposals to half time – six clear of the best Swans player.

Tempers boiled over in a physical third term as Sydney put their foot down to pull away.

Two spot fires broke out in seconds after back-to-back big Collingwood hits.

Swan Maddy Collier stayed down after Tarni White got her late, before Muireann Atkinson collided with Sydney’s Chloe Molloy.

“Massive bump on Maddy Collier,” Abbey Holmes said.

“She’s walking from the ground in the hands of the doctors.”

Atkinson came off second best in her head clash with Molloy that Fox Footy’s Daniel Harford felt was accidental.

“She just runs into Chloe Molloy. It’s just clumsy more than anything else,” he said.

“Nothing malicious in that one I don’t think.”

The Irish recruit was later ruled out of the match after failing her HIA.

Down by four goals in the final term, it was Stacey Livingstone – the Collingwood veteran defender in her 67th game – who nailed her first AFLW goal in what is now her ninth season to bring the Pies back from the brink.

Alana Porter then set up the thrilling finish when she got on the end of a brilliant transition play – after Sydney thought they’d iced it down the other end with a shot on goal deemed touched by Sarah Sansonetti in the square.

But the Pies ran out of time as their inaccuracy came back to bite them at full time, falling 8.2 (50) to 4.11 (35).

GAME TWO – WEST COAST 6.4 (40) def RICHMOND 5.9 (39)

Former Tiger Jess Hosking ensured it was West Coast on the board first when she drilled a pass to Amy Franklin – and the big forward made no mistake from 45m.

And Hosking was back in the thick of the action when she landed the second blow herself in a stunning start for the 2023 “easy beats”.

After winning just eight quarters for the entire last season, it was the Daisy Pearce-led West Coast who claimed the opening term.

“AFLW icon Daisy Pearce already having an immediate impact in her first quarter as a coach,” Fox Footy’s Kelli Underwood praised.

“Richmond sleepwalking through their opening quarter of the season.”

And Richmond’s Perth horror show didn’t improve in the second term as Katie Brennan cannoned her set shot from just 10m out on a slight angle into the post.

Ill-discipline was costing the visitors as Hosking again made her former side pay.

“She was delisted and thought her career was probably done and Daisy gave her a call,” Underwood said of Hosking.

“Two goals going into tonight from 53 games – she’s kicked two goals in the first half of footy!”

The Tigers coughed up another goal from a free kick in a move sure to leave coach Ryan Ferguson “tearing out his hair” as the Eagles jumped out to a 22-point lead at half time.

“At the moment they are all at sea and West Coast are dominating this game,” ex-AFLW coach Daniel Harford said.

Remarkably the Eagles’ 5.1 half time score is a record high for the club.

But that’s where West Coast’s night stalled.

The third term turned into an arm wrestle between both sides, as only Tiger Poppy Kelly broke the deadlock – after a ball chip technology goal review.

Despite West Coast still holding a 33-17 lead at three quarter time, the momentum was with Richmond.

And they continued to close in the final term.

Star Tiger Brennan had repeat shots on goal but couldn’t convert before teammates Jemima Woods and Maddie Shevlin made the Eagles pay for defensive errors to close the margin to just two points.

And when Eagle Belinda Smith failed to see Emelia Yassir closing and was caught cold, it was the Tiger who put Richmond in front with less than three minutes to play.

But just as the game looked to have slipped from West Coast’s grasp, Kellie Gibson showed a cool head to go back just outside the square and nail her side’s only goal for the second half as the Eagles held on for a one-point win.

The win is the first for rookie coach and AFLW great Daisy Pearce who made the massive call to relocate her young family to Perth.

It’s also the first time West Coast have defeated Richmond in their AFLW history.

“It’s a great story for the competition,” Fox Footy’s Daniel Harford said post-match.

“They’ve been a disaster to be quite frank.

“What a great momentum shifter it’s going to be.

“It’s a great thing (having Pearce in charge) not only for that team, but for that football club.

“It’s been an ordinary footy club for a rough couple of years.”