NARRM has used a second-quarter demolition to continue its undefeated start to the season, kicking seven unanswered goals through the middle stages to beat a desperate Waalitj Marawar team by 37 points at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.

Trailing by 11 points late in the first quarter, the Demons kicked 10 of the next 13 goals to make another powerful statement as they stake their claims in 2026, winning 12.9 (81) to 6.8 (44).  

EAGLES V DEMONS Full match details and stats

Cleaner with the ball and more organised across the ground, Narrm further cemented its status as the main challenger to North Melbourne this season, staying clear in second after a super impressive 4-0 start to the season.   

For the winless Eagles, Sunday's loss matches the club's worst ever start to a season after also going 0-4 in 2021, 2022 and 2023 before registering their first win, with the team hosting Grand Finalist Brisbane at Mineral Resources Park in round five. 

Demons midfielder Eliza McNamara was the star on Sunday, dominating through the crucial second quarter and finishing with a game-high 32 disposals and two goals in a classy performance, while Tyla Hanks worked hard both ways to finish with 29 and 13 tackles.

Tayla Harris, Maggie Mahony and Alyssia Pisano all booted two goals in an incredibly even performance, while star midfielder Kate Hore (22 and six clearances) put the finishing touches on by dancing through traffic in the final minute to boot the goal of the day.

Waalitj Marawar star Ella Roberts (26 and nine clearances) worked tirelessly for her team, while Charlotte Riggs competed hard when in the ruck. Lucia Painter was at her most dangerous when inside 50, with Abbygail Bushby providing a highlight with her early running goal.

"Really proud of the group. Any time that you can get away together on the road and put in a performance like we did today … it is really good recognition for the work they are doing," Demons coach Tom Wilson said. 
 
"I just thought our intensity across the whole ground after quarter time looked a bit more like us.
 
"I felt at times that we were a little bit clunky and fundamentally off, but our ability to stay really well connected and making sure that we came back to what was required in that moment was really important, and I thought our leaders were outstanding."

The Eagles played the best quarter of their season to start Sunday's clash, using their pressure as the foundation and then dominating field position with 12 inside 50s to three.

While Riggs battled away in the ruck and Lauren Wakfer pushed forward for a goal, Waalitj Marawar had a different look and used long kicking to put Narrm’s backline under pressure, with Bushby slotting a brilliant running goal on the run from 40m to put the home team 11 points up.

There were missed opportunities for the Eagles to go further in front, and Georgia Gall cut the margin to six points at the first break when she was paid a free kick inside 50.

The game completely flipped in the second term as the Demons got on top in the contest, worked the ball quickly to the outside, and dominated inside 50s (14-4) to kick five unanswered goals.

McNamara was superb with 11 disposals and a goal for the quarter, setting up several others as Harris, Hanks, Megan Fitzsimon and Pisano all hit the scoreboard in a dominant term that opened a 26-point lead at the main break.  

Waalitj Marawar needed to respond and at least broke even through the third term, with former Carlton forward Keeley Skeeper snapping a nice goal and young star Painter converting from a tight angle.

Mahoney made sure Narrm maintained its edge, however, booting a pair of crafty goals to ensure the Demons kept their four-goal edge at the final break, and powering away from there to register a convincing win with three final-quarter goals to one.

Eagles coach Daisy Pearce said the team would generate take some positives from Sunday's performance, including the strong start, but the loss had delivered another reminder about the need to lift intensity within games. 
 
"We'll come away from this game with big chunks of it that give us the belief that we can [compete], but we'll keep working on the reasons why it didn't happen today," Pearce said. 
 
"I don't think we've regressed. I think the first couple of weeks we were off with our defensive system and we were probably playing a bit too one-on-one, but the last two weeks the way we've been able to defend the ground has been much better. 
 
"If anything it's probably a good little lesson for us. While you try and add parts to your game, you've still got to water your core and make sure that part of the garden keeps growing as well."

Riggs shows ruck strength  
The Eagles threw more responsibility to young ruck Charlotte Riggs on Sunday and would have been impressed with the young tall's efforts, particularly through the opening quarter as the Eagles controlled stoppages and won the centre clearances 5-1. Riggs was a big reason for that with her tap work, but also her follow-up efforts at ground level, laying a crunching tackle at one point. The second-year Eagle was up against the experienced Georgia Campbell but didn't back down, with her constant improvement on show. 

Class of star on show in ultimate finisher 
Sunday's win had a lot to do with the Demons' experience, persistence and grunt work, but they made sure they finished the job with some pure class. Midfield jet Kate Hore produced the moment of the match with less than a minute remaining, roving at a forward 50 stoppage and then dancing through traffic to snap a superb goal. It was a reminder of the undefeated Dees' class in a game full of tough, blue collar moments.  

Next up
Waalitj Marawar remains at home and takes on Grand Finalist Brisbane on Saturday in a must-win clash. The Eagles last met the Lions in 2024 in a match they lost at Mineral Resources Park by 45 points. Narrm returns to Melbourne and will host Yartapuulti at Casey Fields having lost to the Power by two points last season at Alberton.

WAALITJ MARAWAR     3.1   3.1   5.5   6.8 (44)
NARRM                         2.1   7.3   9.5   12.8 (81)

GOALS
Waalitj Marawar: L.Wakfer 2, Thomas, Skepper, Painter, Bushby    
Narrm: Pisano 2, McNamara 2, Mahony 2, Harris 2, Hanks, Hore, Gail, Fitzsimon

BEST
Waalitj Marawar: Roberts, Riggs, Painter, Bushby
Narrm: McNamara, Hanks, Purcell, Hore, Harris, Mahoney  

INJURIES
Waalitj Marawar: Nil
Narrm: Goldrick (knee)  

Crowd: 1,497 at Mineral Resources Park