LAST year Waalitj Marawar landed in its first finals series across its seven-season history, with fans everywhere excited at what the Daisy Pearce-led side was doing.

Despite a heavy loss in that first final, the overall improvement was clear and the team felt like it was ready to continue into 2026. But that hasn't been the case. Instead, the Eagles sit 0-2, with losses to Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast to open their season.

While they are scoring similarly to last year, it is in the defensive phase that is hurting the Eagles, making them more susceptible to opposition attacking chains, and easy to score against.

The domino effect

Starting in the middle, the Eagles are conceding more centre clearances this year, which opens up the backline to the space that the 5-6-5 anti-density rules are designed to create.

If that quick movement hasn't created a score, once that centre stoppage, and therefore territory, is lost, opposition midfielders are pressing forward to get dangerous in front of goal, drawing their Eagles opponents into the line in the process.

Then, with so many numbers bearing down, the Eagles backline has become shaky in the way it attempts to rebound back out. As this plays out, Waalitj Marawar's forwards edge closer to the play in an attempt to get involved or support their teammates, breaking down the side's structure ahead of the play.

This means that when the ball is effectively rebounded out, the lack of structure in attack means they fall into over-possessing the ball, becoming vulnerable to opposition pressure, or decide to send the ball long to an outnumber.

It is here – the turnover at the Eagles' half-forward line – that has hurt them the most.

Turnover footy

The Eagles are conceding an average of three more goals per game on turnover than they did last year, contributing significantly to the increase from 37.2 average points against last year, to 61.5 this year.

What has dropped away significantly is the side's capacity to defend the opposition through the middle of the ground, slowing that movement and protecting the backline.

And because of that speed on the ball, and clean use allowed, the Eagles are conceding more goals per inside 50 than the last couple of years. Essentially, the ball isn't getting in there quite as often, but it is resulting in a score – generally a goal – far more often.

And this weekend it's do-or-die. No side in AFLW history has gone 0-3 and made finals, and just 4.8 per cent of those who have gone 0-2 have qualified for the post-season. History suggests that a loss this weekend for the Eagles puts the brakes on that continued growth on last year's breakout season.

It all comes from a sense of calm through the middle of the ground, and discipline to maintain structures around the ground.