EAST Fremantle is on the board in the the 2022 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s season, with a strong seven-point win over Swan Districts. The Sharks joined reigning premiers Peel Thunder, and Claremont as the three undefeated sides in the competition, whilst South Fremantle still sits third with 1-1 thanks to the Bulldogs’ huge Round 1 win over West Perth.

East Fremantle kick-started its 2022 WAFL Women’s season on a high with a nail-biting seven-point win over Swan Districts at New Choice Homes Park, 6.3 (39) to 4.8 (32).

The Swans started well to kick the opening goal of the game from Fremantle-listed Ashley Sharp, but the black and whites had not made bang for their buck with four consecutive behinds prior to that. The Sharks took control in the second term, kicking two goals – the only two of the term – through Zippy Fish and Julia Teakle – to lead by three points at the main break. Both sides added a goal in the next term, with only a behind to Tara Stribley the difference between the sides for the visitors to lead by a point.

Though Hope Ugle-Hayward kicked one early in the fourth, back-to-back goals from Leanne Gubbins and Tayla Bresland handed the home team back the goal-buffer. A rushed behind to the Sharks in the last five minutes gave them a handy point, still giving them the lead when Tyla Fitzgerald kicked truly in the 13th minute of the final term. It would not be enough though as Teakle kicked her third a couple of minutes later, and the Sharks got up by seven points.

East Fremantle was clinical with its chances, scoring nine times from 17 inside 50s despite being smacked in both the hitouts (39-18) and inside 50s (30-17). Beth Beckett and Ashleigh Gomes recorded more disposals than anyone else in the blue and white with 16 touches, whilst Teakle slotted the three majors from 13 disposals and four marks. Alex Williams was also impressive in defence with 13 disposals, the same as Amber Kinnane who also laid seven tackles.

For Swan Districts, Ugle-Hayward returned to the side in style, being one of the black and white’s best amassing 19 disposals, six marks, five tackles and slotting a goal. Captain Jessica Cox helped herself to 19 disposals and laid five tackles, whilst Emma Nanut had a big first half and Bianca Webb also accumulated plenty of the football.

East Fremantle travels to Revo Fitness Stadium to take on the undefeated Claremont, whilst Swan Districts hosts newcomers West Perth at Steel Blue Oval.

EAST FREMANTLE 0.1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 6.3 (39)
SWAN DISTRICTS 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 4.8 (32)

GOALS:

East Fremantle: J. Teakle 3, T. Bresland, Z. Fish, L. Gubbins
Swan Districts: A. Bushby, A. Fitzgerald, A. Sharp, H. Ugle-Hayward

RMC BEST:

East Fremantle: J. Teakle, A. Gomes, B. Beckett, A. Williams, A. Kinnane
Swan Districts: H. Ugle-Hayward, J. Cox, B. Webb. E. Nanut. A. Bushby

A five-goal haul from reigning competition leading goalkicker Kate Bartlett has helped Peel Thunder get across the line against South Fremantle after a spirited effort from the Bulldogs. The visitors took it right up to the reigning premiers for three quarters, before the more experienced Thunder put the foot down and slotted four last quarter goals to run away 8.6 (54) to 3.6 (24) winners.

In a fairly even contest for the most part, the Thunder just possessed the ball and played keepings off, with 57 per cent of possession, and 60 more disposals than their opposition. Early on it looked like South Fremantle might produce an upset with back-to-back goals to open the match. Noa McNaughton and Lauren Wakfer both slotted majors, with Wakfer also kicking a second early in the second quarter. In response, Bartlett and Jaide Britton slotted first term goals, and though the Bulldogs seemed to be in the lead, it was never entirely convincing with the Thunder attacking.

When Bartlett kicked her second goal in the second quarter, the scores were level again, and the Thunder never conceded the lead. A series of six consecutive behinds over the next 25 minutes would force the game into an arm-wrestle, until Bartlett kicked a late on in the third term for the home side to go up by that margin. The final term is where the more experienced side flexed its muscles with four goals – including two more to Bartlett – with youngster Jorja Haines kicking her first League goal, as did Bailey Molloy – after a near-miss earlier in the game – and the Thunder won by five straight goals.

The Thunder midfield shone with Gracie Fenton and Chloe Wrigley fierce on the inside, whilst Britton broke the game open on a number of occasions. Up forward, Jade Briggs played a good linking role between midfield and attack, as Bartlett finished with 5.2 from 17 disposals, two marks and seven tackles. Ebony Dowson (27 disposals, three marks and three tackles) and Kaitlyn Srhoj (15 disposals) were also among the best Thunder players.

For the Bulldogs, Casey Byrne did brilliantly on spearhead Kira Phillips racking up 17 disposals, the same among as consistent ball-winner Tahlia Holtze. Also among the best were Lauren Vecchio and Jess Verbrugge, whilst Wakfer was busy through the ruck and up forward, and the likes of youngsters, McNaughton and Tanika Bradley looked classy with ball-in-hand.

Peel Thunder heads into Round 3 with the bye after back-to-back wins, whilst South Fremantle hosts Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

PEEL THUNDER 2.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 8.6 (54)
SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:

Peel: K. Bartlett 5, J. Britton, J. Haines, B. Molloy
South: L. Wakfer 2, N. McNaughton

RMC BEST:

Peel: K. Bartlett, E. Dowson. J. Britton, C. Wrigley, G. Fenton
South: C. Byrne, T. Holtze, L. Vecchio, L. Wakfer, J. Verbrugge

Claremont joined Peel Thunder as the other side to win both its games to start the season, getting up over Subiaco by a comfortable 45-point margin at Leederville Oval. The two teams came into the match with mixed Round 1 results after the Tigers got up over Swan Districts, whilst the Lions dropped what looked to be a certain win heading into the final minute, against the Thunder. In the Round 2 contest, Claremont slotted the first three goals of the game, and then the last four to come away with the 7.11 (53) to 1.2 (8) victory.

Claremont had all the attacking early, before Subiaco had some chances, but it was inclusion Katherine Bennett who kicked the first major after trying to dribble it home, then recovered, received the handball off Brooke Whyte and slammed it home from the goalsquare. Whyte herself had a chance late but missed to the right for the visitors to go up by eight points at the first chance.

The midfield was clicking with Ella Smith working hard in there alongside the likes of Madeleine Scanlon, Sarah Garstone and Katherine Orme. Though the Lions managed to peg back an early third quarter goal through Jessica Ritchie, it would ultimately not be enough, as Bennett and Garstone’s goals either side of the three quarter time break would push it out to a straight five kicks. That was the goal that broke the camel’s back as the inside 50s rained down in the final term, and whilst the Tigers were not as accurate as they could have been – kicking 3.4 – still did enough to come away with the comfortable win.

Claremont had plenty of outstanding players with Scanlon (18 disposals, four marks), Bennett (17 disposals, two goals), Smith (16 disposals, six marks and six tackles) and Garstone (14 disposals, one goal) all impressing. Orme spread well and hit the scoreboard, with Whyte finishing with the two majors. For Subiaco, Jayme Harken was a standout with 22 disposals, seven marks and five tackles behind the ball, alongside Maggie Maclachlan (16 disposals, three marks) and Beth Schilling (12 disposals, four marks).

Claremont hosts East Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium in Round 3 on Sunday, with Subiaco travelling to Fremantle Community Bank Oval to take on South Fremantle as the Lions search for their first win.

SUBIACO 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 (8)
CLAREMONT 1.3 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 7.11 (53)

GOALS:

Subiaco: J. Ritchie
Claremont: K. Bennett 2, B. Whyte 2, S. Garstone, K. Orme, M. Western

RMC BEST:

Subiaco: J. Harken, B. Schilling, M. Maclachlan, L. Filocamo, N. Anderson
Claremont: K. Bennett, M. Scanlon, E. Smith, S. Garstone, B. Whyte