SWAN Districts has won the 2021 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s Grand Final rematch with a handy 17-point victory over Peel Thunder after being challenged midway through the third term. The Swans joined Claremont and East Fremantle as the other winners of Round 5, defeating South Fremantle and West Perth respectively.

After a scrappy first half, Claremont stormed away from South Fremantle to slot the last six goals of the game and run out 41-point winners of the Bulldogs. The Tigers looked mostly in control early but could not capitalise in front of goal, and it almost seemed like that might have hurt them. When the Bulldogs kicked back-to-back goals through Mia Whitelaw and Ella Ward, the home side got within a point at the eight-minute mark. From that point on though, the visitors took control with three late goals, then another three in the final term to come away with the 8.9 (57) to 2.4 (16) victory.

In what was an even team effort, the Tigers had 96 more disposals than the Bulldogs, lead by Katherine Orme who racked up 26 touches, four marks and booted a goal. Mikayla Western (20 disposals, six marks, three tackles, two inside 50s and 1.3) was particularly influential in the last term, setting up two of her teammates, then slotting one herself. She looked to break the lines and was part of a dangerous forward line that included the strong marking Brooke Whyte (17 disposals, six marks and three goals). Madeleine Scanlon (18 disposals, four marks, two tackles and three inside 50s) and Sasha Goranova (17 disposals, two marks and three tackles) both impressed, whilst bit-part ruck Matilda Dyke was admirable in the ruck after Adele Arnup went down in the opening minute of the game.

In her first game back for 2022 in the red and white, Liusaidh Gilchrist made up for lost time with a team-high 18 disposals, four marks, two tackles and three inside 50s, whilst Kiara Templeman had the 16 touches and four tackles. State Academy members Lauren Wakfer (14 disposals, two marks, eight tackles, 18 hitouts and four inside 50s) and Molly O’Hehir (12 disposals, three marks) both caught the eye, whilst Zoe Wakfer (13 disposals, three marks, three hitouts and two inside 50s) also stepped up coming into the side.

South Fremantle and Claremont both play next Sunday at 2pm, with the Bulldogs travelling to face East Fremantle, whilst the Tigers host Peel Thunder.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 0.2 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 2.4 (16)
CLAREMONT 1.0 | 2.5 | 5.7 | 8.9 (57)

GOALS:

South: E. Ward, M. Whitelaw
Claremont: B. Whyte 3, K. Bennett, E. Campo, K. Orme, T. Thorogood, M. Western

RMC BEST:

South: K. Templeman, L. Gilchrist, L. Wakfer, M. O’Hehir, Z. Wakfer
Claremont: B. Whyte, M. Western, K. Orme, M. Scanlon, S. Goranova

East Fremantle maintained its unbeaten streak against the winless West Perth in a rather predictable result. The Sharks had 28 scoring shots to the Falcons’ one, but the young Falcons side can take plenty out of the final term, where they restricted the home side to just one major (albeit with seven behinds). Though it was another tough loss, the Falcons did manage to hit the scoreboard in the third term for their second major of the year, with Chanel Scott this time adding her name to the club’s history. In the end though, the Sharks were far too experienced, running out 12.16 (88) to 1.0 (6) winners.

The usual suspects were everywhere for the Sharks, with Larissa Versaci kicking 1.2 from a match-high 27 disposals, as well as six marks, six tackles and three inside 50s. Ashleigh Gomes was not far behind with 26 touches, five tackles and four inside 50s, as the winners had 11 individual goalkickers and a further three players who added behinds to their name in an even spread. Amber Kinnane (16 disposals, three marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and two goals) was the sole multiple goalkicker, whilst Sharon Wong (22 disposals, seven tackles, two inside 50s and one goal), Beth Beckett (21 disposals, four marks, five tackles and four inside 50s) and Georgie Cleaver (21 disposals, two marks, two tackles, 12 hitouts, three inside 50s and a goal) all found plenty of it.

For West Perth, Jessica Roper stood out with 20 disposals, three marks and three tackles, equalling Kayla Stagg‘s effort of 20 touches and three marks. Jaymee Duke (17 disposals, five marks and two tackles) also worked hard, as the likes of Liliana Grassenis (10 disposals, two tackles) and Lea Caccamo (12 disposals, three marks) had impact beyond their numbers.

Both teams have home matches next Sunday, with East Fremantle hosting South Fremantle, and West Perth hosting Subiaco.

EAST FREMANTLE 4.2 | 7.5 | 11.9 | 12.16 (88)
WEST PERTH 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 (6)

GOALS:

East Fremantle: A. Kinnane 2, M. Alston, G. Bett, G. Cleaver, D. Fedele, J. Flynn, M. Leitch, H. O’Donnell, J. Teakle, L. Versaci, S. Wong
West Perth: C. Scott

RMC BEST:

East Fremantle: A. Gomes, L. Versaci, S. Wong, A. Amaranti, B. Beckett
West Perth: J. Roper, L. Grassenis, L. Caccamo, J. Duke, K. Stagg

In clearly the game of the round, Swan Districts did enough to pull away from a Peel Thunder challenge and run out 17-point winners in the 2021 WAFL Womens’ Grand Final rematch. The Swans burst out of the blocks to lead by as much as 17 points early in the third term. Three consecutive goals to Peel sharpshooters Kira Phillips (two) and Kate Bartlett (one) had the reigning premiers hit the front in the space of four minutes. But to the home side’s credit, the Swans steadied with a late goal to Ashley Sharp, and they booted three goals to one in the final term to win, 7.8 (50) to 5.3 (33).

Sharp scored a game-high three goals in the win and looked dangerous every time she went near it, as youngster Abbygail Bushby kicked a goal and picked up a massive 27 disposals, as well as five marks, four tackles and six inside 50s to be a standout player on the ground. Also finding plenty of the football was Jessica Cox (18 disposals, four marks, three tackles and two inside 50s) and Emma Nanut (18 disposals, three marks, two tackles and four inside 50s). Hope Ugle-Hayward (15 disposals, five marks, seven tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) and Mel Hardy (nine disposals, two tackles) also caught attention alongside the likes of Ruby Mahony (17 disposals, two marks, five tackles and two inside 50s).

Ebony Dowson was a clear standout for the Thunder with 24 touches, five marks, two tackles and two inside 50s, whilst Cassie Davidson (14 disposals, three marks and three tackles) and Ebony Bilcich (15 disposals, three marks and three tackles) found plenty of the ball. Jade Briggs (13 disposals, two marks and three inside 50s) and Krystal Carter (13 disposals, five marks, four tackles and five inside 50s) both had strong performances, whilst Bartlett and Phillips shared in four of the team’s five goals.

Swan Districts has the bye next round, with Peel Thunder travelling to Revo Fitness Stadium to take on Claremont.

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.6 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 7.8 (50)
PEEL THUNDER 0.1 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 (33)

GOALS:

Swan Districts: A. Sharp 3, A. Bushby, T. Edwards, A. Ralph, H. Ugle-Hayward
Peel Thunder: K. Bartlett 2, K. Phillips 2, C. Wrigley

RMC BEST:

Swan Districts: A. Bushby, J. Cox, M Hardy, R. Mahony, A. Ugle-Hayward
Peel Thunder: E. Dowson, C. Davidson, J. Briggs, E. Bilcich, K. Carter