IT was a breakthrough round for a number of sides, with Subiaco and Swan Districts grabbing their first wins of the 2022 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s season. They got up over South Fremantle and West Perth respectively, whilst East Fremantle claimed a victory over the undefeated Claremont for the Sharks to sit with Peel Thunder (bye) as the only two sides yet to lose a match.

Subiaco broke through for its first game of the season with an impressive 19-point win over South Fremantle. The Lions booted four of their five goals in the first term, then held on over the next three quarters, as the Bulldogs drew within 13 points early in the final term. Luckily a steadier from Hanna Dethlefsen helped them ice the game and win 5.6 (36) to 2.5 (17) despite nine less inside 50s (24-33). The Lions dominated the opening term, but then the Dogs took control after that, not able to make the most of their inside 50 entries.

That was full credit to the Subiaco defence, with the likes of Madison Dodd (18 disposals, two marks and five tackles) and Jayme Harken (14 disposals, two tackles) both consistent. Tarnica Golisano (23 disposals four marks, six tackles and eight inside 50s was best on ground in the win, whilst Ellie Blackmore (15 disposals, three marks, two tackles and two inside 50s) also stood up. Dethlefsen provided a target up forward with 12 disposals, three marks and a goal for the winners.

South Fremantle’s AFLW Academy ruck Lauren Wakfer again stepped up to the plate, picking up 15 disposals, five marks five tackles,, 20 hitouts, three inside 50s and receiving five free kicks to be the best for the losing side. Fellow youngster Jess Verbrugge came in and had 13 disposals, two tackles and three inside 50s, whilst full-back Casey Byrne (17 disposals, two tackles), and experience in Tahlia Holtze (18 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and five inside 50s) and Lauren Gauci (17 disposals, five marks, four tackles and two inside 50s) impressed.

Subiaco takes on Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval next Sunday, whilst South Fremantle has the bye.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 (17)
SUBIACO 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 5.6 (36)

GOALS:

South Fremantle: N. McNaughton, E. Ward
Subiaco: A. Mulholland, A. Hunt, J. Ritchie, N. Anderson, H. Dethlefsen

RMC BEST:

South Fremantle: L. Wakfer, J. Verbrugge, C. Byrne, T. Holze, L, Gauci
Subiaco: T. Golisano, M. Dodd, J. Harken C. Blackmore, H. Dethlefsen

East Fremantle claimed victory in a battle of the two undefeated sides, with the Sharks holding on to a narrow two-point victory against Claremont. Winning in a tough road game, the Sharks lead at quarter time, trailed at half-time, lead at the final break and then managed to survive a late charge to salute, 4.4 (28) to 4.2 (26). At one stage the Sharks looked comfortable with a nine-point lead at the final change, but a goal to Tigers captain Ella Smith late in the final term, followed by a near miss from youngster and late inclusion Jorja Elisseou had the visitors a little nervous. Luckily they held on to pick up their second straight win and remain undefeated ahead of the clash with fellow undefeated side Peel Thunder next week.

East Fremantle;s Ashleigh Gomes was consistent throughout the match with 14 disposals, three marks, six tackles and three inside 50s, with Sharon Wong (16 disposals, two marks, 12 tackles and three inside 50s) and Beth Beckett (14 disposals, eight tackles and two inside 50s). In the attacking half, Larissa Versaci (12 disposals, five marks and five tackles), was busy, whilst Mylee Leitch and Kellie Gibson booted two goals apiece for the winners.

Working tirelessly in defence, Claire Ortlepp starred for the Tigers, picking up 21 disposals, five marks and three tackles, working hard alongside Sasha Goranova (17 disposals, four tackles) who also found plenty of the ball. Smith lead from the front with two crucial goals from 12 touches and two marks, whilst Madeleine Scanlon (11 disposals, three marks) and returning Eagles player Emily Bennett (nine disposals, four marks and three tackles) also caught the eye.

The Sharks take on Peel Thunder at Lane Group Stadium from 5:30pm on Saturday evening, whilst Claremont travels to Provident Financial Oval for West Perth Falcons’ first home game of the season on Sunday.

CLAREMONT 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.2 (26)
EAST FREMANTLE 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:

Claremont: E. Smith 2, E. Elkington, E. Campo
East Fremantle: M. Leitch 2, K. Gibson, T. Bresland

RMC BEST:

Claremont: C. Ortlepp, S. Goranova, E. Smith, M. Scanlon, E. Bennett
East Fremantle: A. Gomes, S. Wong, L. Versaci, M. Leitch, K. Gibson,

Swan Districts won its first game of the season in emphatic style, dominating West Perth to run out 89-point winners in front of home fans at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday. The Swans had their work cut out for them early as the league’s newest side put up some resistance in the opening term, before the Swans kicked into gear and slotted 13 goals after quarter time. Though the Falcons had some nice passages of play, they were opened up on defence too often, with the Swans having plenty of easy goals out the back, including a number of black and white jumpers running into open goalsquares. By the final siren, the home team had won 15.8 (98) to 1.3 (9), but there was much improvement on the Round 1 defeat for West Perth, kicking the club’s first goal in history, and also having 11 more inside 50s (12 in total).

Captain Jessica Cox was a clear best on ground for the Swans, racking up a mammoth 27 disposals, as well as six marks, two tackles and four inside 50s, doing as she liked through the centre corridor. Ruby Mahony also stepped up to have a big influence on the game with 18 disposals, three marks and three tackles, with both Shanae Davison (18 disposals, four marks, four tackles and two inside 50s) and Tara Stribley (17 disposals, five marks, three tackles, two inside 50s and two goals) lively in the front half of the ground. The 100-gamer Ashley Sharp, and Taylah Edwards were also among the most influential players on the ground.

For West Perth, Kayla Van Den Heever was a very clear standout with her work across the ground, fighting her way to 17 disposals and three tackles, whilst fellow youngster Liliana Grassenis (nine disposals, three tackles) caught the eye in defence. Kaitlyn Roper (16 disposals, three marks and four tackles), Nicole Bombardieri (12 disposals, two hitouts) and Jessica Roper (10 disposals, two tackles and two inside 50s) were also among the better players on the field in the loss.

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.2 | 6.3 | 10.7 | 15.8 (98)
WEST PERTH 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 (9)

GOALS:

Swan Districts: A. Sharp 4, B. Bond 3, A. Bushby 2, T. Stribley 2, S. Dorizzi, T. Edwards, T. Fitzgerald, C. Wicksteed
West Perth: J. Roper

RMC BEST:

Swan Districts: J. Cox, R. Mahony, A. Sharp, T. Edwards, T. Stribley
West Perth: K. Van den Heever, K. Roper, N. Bombardieri, J. Roper, L. Grassenis