THE West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition resumed for Round 3 on the weekend and we took note of some of the top State Academy players to run out for their respective teams, as well as some other mature-age players who impressed.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

South Fremantle:

#1 Noa McNaughton

The talented Under 16s State Academy forward had a number of “almost” chances once again this week, kicking a goal but looking lively at ground level. McNaughton kicked a goal off the deck against four defenders. A few times she had some chances but slipped an inopportune times or was run down before she could get boot to ball. Though she could not always get away a clean possession, McNaughton still played well across the game and finished with 10 disposals, five tackles, two inside 50s and a goal.

#5 Jess Verbrugge

The outside runner certainly had q better time with the umpires this week, winning three frees for and none against after zero and five respectively in Round 2. She caught the eye on a number of occasions dashing down the ground, particularly in the middle two quarters. Showing the dare and courage to take the game on really helped South Fremantle maintain momentum in its forward half, and Verbrugge ended up with 13 disposals, two tackles and three inside 50s.

#9 Lauren Wakfer

The AFLW Academy ruck had an impressive game, taking control after quarter time when she had been having a good battle with Tess Lyons. She was our WAFL Women’s Player Focus for this week, but overall she had some strong numbers with 15 disposals, five marks, five tackles, 20 hitouts and three inside 50s for the match.

>> LAUREN WAKFER PLAYER FOCUS

Others:

Wing Tanika Bradley played once again and provided a fierce attack on the ball, amassing 10 touches and seven tackles, as well as winning three frees for her work. Though not as prolific as the week before, Bradley still had an impact with her pressure.

Subiaco:

Nil.

Others:

Madison Dodd has the WAFL Women’s debut to remember, being an outstanding talent in the defence, and amassing 18 disposals, three marks, three inside 50s and beating her opponent one-on-one multiple times. The bottom-age talent certainly caught the eye and might give State selectors something to think about if her form continues.

Swan Districts:

#2 Tara Stribley

The Swan Districts wing had a prolific game in terms of her running, getting on the end of a couple of goals to finish impressively across the board. Both goals came from her high work rate from up the field to deep forward, with the first coming from a snap in the last few minutes of the opening term, and her second major coming the last term thanks to a handball receive in the goalsquare. Stribley had a couple of other chances, but predominantly worked between the arcs, accumulating the ball with ease and even taking some bounces along the way to try and break the game open. Despite her efficiency at times being hit and miss, Stribley was still one of the more impressive performers for the home side, slotting two goals from 17 disposals, five marks, three tackles and two inside 50s.

#6 Tyla Fitzgerald

Got involved with a flying shot on goal in the opening minute of the game from half-forward but it just missed for one behind. She was rather unlucky five minutes later to be pinged for holding the ball, but not long after that she was able to get clear using strength for a fend off. A nice piercing kick in the third term inside 50 looked good but just went over the head of her forward, but then she nailed a goal on the run getting behind the defence. She set up a goal to Bushby late in the third term with a kick to the danger zone as well, and recorded 12 disposals, four marks and three inside 50s for the match.

#11 Jaime Henry

Playing her familiar role out of defence and even moving further afield during the game to spend some time winning the ball through the middle and on the wing, Henry was a prolific accumulator in the match. She was able to win a number of intercept possessions time and time again, and was effective defensively. Though her kicking was a little more hit and miss than her usual ultra-consistent approach, Henry still ticked a lot of boxes in the game and was strong overhead and always looked to try and open the game up with her kicking. She finished with 17 disposals, four marks and five tackles in the win.

#14 Abbygail Bushby

A lively forward, Bushby kicked a couple of goals in the second half to join the parade of goalkickers for the black and whites. She slotted one with the last kick of the third term, and then another from point blank range running in to with the last kick of the game. Throughout the match she worked up the ground, and though she was slow to react in some situations, when she had it she was able to use it well. Bushby collected 12 disposals and had two tackles to go with her two majors.

Others:

Emma Nanut played her role when she had ball-in-hand, recording 11 disposals and two marks. Dynamic forward Taylah Edwards (14 disposals, four marks, six inside 50s and two goals), captain Jessica Cox (27 disposals, six marks and four inside 50s) and on debut, 22-year-old Ruby Mahony caught attention with 18 disposals.

West Perth:

#9 Kayla Van Den Heever

The standout player for West Perth throughout the game, Van Den Heever was everywhere through the middle trying her best working off half-back to drive the ball forward. She had more touches (17) than any of her teammates, and scored the first behind in the team’s history at the three-minute mark of the game. She reads the ball in flight well and uses her body efficiently to get in front. In the second term she had a clean ball win at ground level, spun and was able to execute the handball under pressure. She has a crack and goes in hard, whilst able to stand up in the tackle. Though not always pinpoint with her kicks, she has a good technique and had plenty of positives to take away from the performance.

#32 Liliana Grassenis

Not winning a heap of the footy, but also not wasting much at all, Grassenis was a lively player in defence. She possesses good strength and was able to get her hands free to pass it to a teammate in the opening term, then next contest she fended off another to get the ball on her left. She tracks the ball with good effort and laid a fantastic tackle in the final term when an opponent was running into goal. She was not rewarded for it, but received it back and kicked down the middle. Grassenis picked up nine disposals and three tackles in the loss.

Others:

Under 16s State Academy prospect Megan Norbury recorded nine disposals, three marks and four tackles as the other State Academy player in the Falcons side.

Claremont:

#9 Emily Elkington

The classy midfielder caught the eye, starting on a wing as per usual, then cracking in at the stoppages when required. One of the valuable Claremont ball-users, Elkington worked her way into the game after applying great pressure in the opening quarter. She came alive in the opening two minutes of the second, running hard inside 50, receiving the handball, straightening up and composing herself to slot the goal off her right after evading an opponent. She competed really well one-on-one around the ground and spread well, setting up a goal later in the second term as well. Elkington is a clean user of the ball by hand or foot and is one to consider for the West Australian clubs. Her impact was far greater than her 10 touches, four marks, four tackles and a goal might statistical suggest.

Others:

Claremont had a couple of additional State Academy members run out with Mackenzie Webb recording hte eight touches playing in her familiar defensive role, whilst Jorja Elisseou made her debut with the League side after playing Rogers Cup and then Reserves in subsequent weeks. She kicked a behind late in the game which could have put her side in front, but she was under pressure at that point. outside the Academy, Ella Smith came good in front of goal this week with two crunch goals to accompany her 12 touches, whilst Claire Ortlepp is as readymade of a defender that could step up to the next level as anyone else.

East Fremantle:

#7 Georgie Cleaver

The athletic bottom-age AFLW Academy ruck shared the load with Marni Alston on her way to 13 hitouts, 11 touches, four marks, four tackles and three inside 50s. She won her fair share of taps when called upon to do so, and intercepted a number of possessions at half-back, taking a good grab late in the third term to hit a teammate inside 50. She took another good mark not only after but the kick was turned over. An overall solid game from the developing tall.

Others:

The Sharks had a trio of other State Academy members run around, with Under 16s talent Taya Chambers making her debut and picking up 13 disposals and three marks. Also in the game, Alli Nokes competed hard in defence for eight touches and two marks, whilst Zippy Fish had a quiet game with the Under 16s future talent just having the three touches playing between forward and the wing. Top-age talent Mylee Leitch – though not technically a part of the State Academy this year – had 11 disposals, three marks and slotted two goals in an important role up forward.