AN eight-goal haul from Kate Bartlett had lead Peel Thunder to a massive 118-point victory over an understrength West Perth outfit in Round 7 of the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition. They were one of two sides to keep their opposition goalless, with East Fremantle getting up over Subiaco, whilst in easily the closest game of the round, Swan Districts knocked off South Fremantle.

Swan Districts has ground out a win over a determined South Fremantle side to remain in third spot on the WAFL Women’s table. The Swans lead by a point at quarter time, but the Bulldogs hit the front through a goal to Kahra Sprylan four minutes into the second. The next 30 minutes belonged to Swan Districts though, as they slammed home five consecutive goals – including two apiece to Ashley Sharp and Courtney Zappara to blow the lead out to 25 points midway through the third term. A couple of consolation goals to the Bulldogs through youngsters Poppy Stockwell and Hunter Cronin reduced the final deficit, but it would not be enough as the visitors won 6.5 (41) to 4.3 (27) to string together their fourth consecutive win, and hand South Fremantle its fifth straight loss.

Jessica Cox continued her fantastic season with 28 disposals, four marks, four tackles and two inside 50s in a best on ground performance, whilst Ruby Mahony (17 disposals, two inside 50s) and Shannan Rene (15 disposals, six marks) both found plenty of the ball. Sharp, Zappara and Aimee Ralph all slotted two goals apiece, whilst Emily McGuire was good in defence with 12 disposals and four marks for the Swans.

For South Fremantle, Liusaidh Gilchrist (16 disposals, three marks and two tackles), Lauren Vecchio (17 disposals, nine tackles) and Kiara Templeman (15 disposals, three marks) all found plenty of the ball. Stockwell (12 disposals, six marks, three inside 50s and a goal) was sensational, whilst fellow youngsters Molly O’Hehir, Rosie Anderson and Noa McNaughton were all impressive.

South Fremantle hosts Subiaco on Friday night at Fremantle Oval, whilst Swan Districts travel to Revo Fitness Stadium to take on Claremont.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.2 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.3 (27)
SWAN DISTRICTS 1.3 | 4.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 (41)

GOALS:

South Fremantle: N. McNaughton, H. Cronin, P. Stockwell, K. Sprylan
Swan Districts: A. Sharp 2, C. Zappara 2, L. Pigram, T. Lee

RMC BEST:

South Fremantle: L. Gilchrist, P. Stockwell, M. O’Hehir, L. Vecchio, R. Anderson
Swan Districts: J. Cox, A. Sharp, R. Mahony, E. McGuire, A. Ralph

Peel Thunder got back to their best in a brutal 118-point thrashing of cellar dwellers West Perth, slamming home 13 first half goals in an ominous signs. By that stage, competition leading goalkicker Kate Bartlett had six, and was on track for all sorts of records. To the Falcons’ credit, they restricted the Thunder to just the one goal in the third term in what was a rather scrappy affair, before four final quarter goals blew the margin out beyond 100 points, with the reigning back-to-back premiers snapping a three-game losing streak in the 18.13 (121) to 0.3 (3) victory.

Bartlett finished with a massive 8.4 from 20 disposals, 10 marks and three tackles in a best on ground performance, though she was hardly alone, with the Thunder midfield taking control. Chloe Wrigley racked up 31 disposals, two marks, eight tackles and four inside 50s in the big win, whilst the likes of Gracie Fenton (23 disposals, two tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) and Ebony Bilcich (23 disposals, tow marks, two tackles and three inside 50s) also stood out. Jade Briggs was back to her damaging best in the forward half with 3.2 from 23 disposals, six marks, nine tackles and four inside 50s.

Under 16s talent Megan Norbury caught the eye with 17 disposals, four marks and 10 tackles in the big loss running hard on the wing, whilst the Roper sisters – Jessica and Kaitlyn – were also amongst the best. Jessica had 21 disposals, two marks and two tackles often kicking out from full-back, whilst Kaitlyn managed the 10 disposals, four marks, seven tackles and two inside 50s. Keely Byrne finished with 12 disposals, three marks and two tackles as another solid contributor.

Peel Thunder hosts East Fremantle on Saturday afternoon, as West Perth earns a second bye this season.

PEEL THUNDER 7.3 | 13.6 | 14.8 | 18.13 (121)
WEST PERTH 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 (3)

GOALS:

Peel Thunder: K. Bartlett 8, J. Briggs 3, E. Hardie 2, K. Carter, G. Fenton, A. Wright, K. Hayes, J. Haines
West Perth: Nil.

RMC BEST:

Peel Thunder: K. Bartlett, J. Briggs, C. Wrigley, E. Bilcich, G. Fenton
West Perth: M. Norbury, J. Roper, K. Byrne, K. Roper, C. Dawson

The second team to go goalless in the round, Subiaco could not find the right rhythm as the Lions surrendered fourth spot after going down to the undefeated East Fremantle. The Sharks had 17 scoring shots to two, and grabbed top spot on the table with the win, keeping a perfect record in the first round of matches against all the other sides. The Sharks slotted four goals in the first half and three in the second, and whilst they did have trouble with inaccuracy, they won the disposal count by 65 (256-191) and the inside 50 count by 26 (43-17) to run away with the 7.10 (52) to 0.2 (2) victory.

The experience of the Sharks really stood tall with Larissa Versaci (22 disposals, six marks, three tackles, five inside 50s and a goal), Ashleigh Gomes (24 disposals, three marks, three tackles and five inside 50s) and Sharon Wong (17 disposals, 10 tackles, two inside 50s and a goal) all busy. Youngsters Mylee Leitch and Zippy Fish were lively in the forward half, combining for 29 disposals and 12 inside 50s, whilst Amber Kinnane (21 disposals, five marks and four tackles) also found plenty of the pill.

For the Lions, the damaging duo of Jayme Harken and Tarnica Golisano continued their wonderfully-consistent season with a combined 36 disposals, five marks, eight tackles and four inside 50s. Helen Taylor (13 disposals, two marks and two tackles) and Madizen Wilkins (11 disposals, three tackles) were also busy through the middle, whilst Jamie Rust tried hard in defence on her way to 17 disposals and three marks.

East Fremantle clashes with reigning premiers Peel Thunder next round after both sides had big wins, whilst Subiaco travels to Fremantle Oval to take on South Fremantle in a must-win match.

SUBIACO 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 (2)
EAST FREMANTLE 2.2 | 4.4 | 6.7 | 7.10 (52)

GOALS:

Subiaco: Nil.
East Fremantle: E. Sanders 2, S. Wong, J. Teakle, L. Versaci, J. Ingram, E. Fiedler

RMC BEST:

Subiaco: J. Harken, T. Golisano, H.Taylor, J. Rust, M. Wilkins
East Fremantle: L. Versaci, A. Gomes, S. Wong, A. Kinnane, M. Leitch