Rovers maintained a five-goal buffer for most of the Saturday game but faced their toughest test when the Demons’ late flurry of goals leveled scores with minutes remaining.

Composure late in the match – mainly from defenders Jess Rohan and Stacy Dunkley – secured a Rovers triumph.

Pender tipped the victory to inspire her side onwards in 2017.

“You could see in our faces after the game, everybody was just lifted up,” she said.

“We’re keen to get more wins on the board. That’s exactly what we want."

Pender, a second-year mentor, praised the influence of the club’s new recruits in the maiden win.

“Everything is blending really well. We’re pretty much a completely new team,” she said. “You can have seven superstars but that (doesn’t make a great team).”