WEST Coast young gun Ella Roberts produced a best on ground performance in her side’s win over Gold Coast on Thursday night, with two first quarter goals and among 24 touches, eight marks and four tackles. The talented West Australian tore the game apart early, then was able to play a key role in setting up debutant Lucia Painter for three third term majors, sealing the 5.5 (35) to 2.8 (20) result.

Eagles coach Daisy Pearce said pre-game that anyone who loved footy would enjoy watching Roberts, and it took a mere 20 minutes for her words to be justified – not that anyone had any doubt prior to that. A first term that resulted in 11 disposals, four marks and 2.1 had everyone amazed at a jaw-dropping performance from a player who has only got better each year.

“It’s a good day as a coach when Ella Roberts starts the game that way,” Pearce said. “She’s an incredible talent, Ella and I think we saw today she’ll be able to sustain that high level for longer periods of time now because she’s another one now who’s starting to put the pieces in place around her talent which is her hard work and diligence off-field so it was good to see her start the game that way.”

While her first term was rightfully praised, Pearce also pointed out her third term – of seven disposals, two marks and two inside 50s – set the tone for the Painter party.

“I thought she had a really good third quarter as well without it being her finishing the work,” Pearce said. “I thought her work rate and intensity around the ball was one of those reasons which is why we were able to get those deep entries and allow Lu to go to work. “To be able to have those two work in tandem mid/forward is going to be a good lever to be able to pull.”

Even opposition coach Rhyce Shaw was in awe. When asked about Roberts’ first quarter, he joked she was “not a bad player”.

“She did a good job, I think she had 10 touches in that first quarter, and we put a little bit of time into her late, but we’ve got to be mindful that we’re taking care of the way we play first and you don’t want to be too negative,” he said. “We did a pretty good job in the second half of quelling her but she’s a good player and she finds her moments and takes them.”

Pearce was posed a question of where Roberts’ standing in the game is, and if she can reach the heights of being among the top players in the league.

“Well if she’s not there already, she won’t be far away,” Pearce said. “The beauty of her is she just loves getting out there and playing footy. “She’s 20 years-old, she’s got a lot of talent, she loves getting around her teammates, she is a good teammate, I think she’s halfway there if she’s not already there. “And given the work that she’s putting in, and her increasing understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete, you know the sky’s the limit. It’s pretty exciting where her ceiling is.”