West Coast draftee Lucia Painter has described her incredible debut as “surreal” after a three-goal third quarter lifted the Eagles to a 15-point season-opening win over Gold Coast.

Painter set the AFLW world alight with a remarkable third term, kicking 3.1 from four disposals to play a pivotal role in the 5.5 (35) to 2.8 (10) victory at Mineral Resources Park on Thursday night.

Drafted with pick No.7 last year out of the Bendigo Pioneers, big things were expected from the 19-year-old forward-midfielder, but not even Painter could have predicted the memorable start to her career.

“I honestly didn’t expect that,” she told The West Australian.

“The hard work from all the girls rewarded me with the three goals.

“It was surreal to be out here with a bunch of amazing girls. And good competition.”

In front of family who travelled from regional Victoria to watch her run out for the first time, Painter showed her immense talent when she was rewarded a free kick at the top of the goal square early in the third term.

From there she caught fire, booting two more to give the Eagles a 21-point lead into the main break.

“It fell into my lap, that free kick and I was like ‘don’t miss this goal, you’re right in front’,” Painter said.

“It is absolutely amazing. It’s all the hard work from our midfielders and our forwards for creating space for me that it just fell into my lap.

“It was reward for them as well.”

Painter finished with 13 disposals and five tackles, catching the eye in the second term when she was able to find space to have an impact.

“I got myself into good positions. It took me a little bit in the first (quarter) to get into it but once I got into it, I don’t think there was much of me getting out of it,” she said.

“Then getting a bit physical with the Gold Coast girls and the support and lift from my teammates. I couldn’t ask for a better quarter.”

Eagles coach Daisy Pearce said Painter had put a lot of work in during her first pre-season to have an immediate impact.

“Lu’s an incredibly hard worker, she’s super driven, got a lot of talent so when you see her from February to now, the work she’s put in it’s just great to see her go out there and get the reward,” Pearce said.

“She’d be the first to say that a lot of it came off the back of some hard work and other players around her playing their role.

“Lu got the benefits of it tonight which is exciting for a kid on her debut. She’s just getting started.”