SOUTH Fremantle has snapped a five-game losing streak to post its second win of the season, defeating Subiaco by 40 points on Friday night. The Bulldogs moved up to fifth place on the table ahead of another clash with West Perth next week in the standalone Round 9 match, whilst in other West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s clashes, East Fremantle remained undefeated with a 32-point victory over Peel Thunder, and Claremont took care of Swan Districts by eight goals.

South Fremantle got the job done in captain Lauren Vecchio‘s 100th game, defeating Subiaco by 40 points to bring up the Bulldogs’ second victory of the season. In what had been a long time coming since their Round 1 win over West Perth – and a five-game losing streak which included a loss to Subiaco – the Bulldogs stepped up from the first bounce to do all the heavy lifting in the first quarter. They slotted five goals to zero, and then kicked a goal each quarter over the next three terms to win 8.2 (50) to 1.4 (10).

Vecchio starred in her milestone match, laying a game-high 12 tackles, as well as recording 21 disposals, three marks and three inside 50s. Kiara Templeman managed a team-high 23 disposals, as well as two marks, four tackles and five inside 50s, whilst Rosie Anderson laid eight tackles to go with 15 disposals, three marks, six inside 50s and two goals for the teenager’s best game of the season. Fellow youngsters Molly O’Hehir and Noa McNaughton also impressed, as Poppy Stockwell and Casey Byrne each slotted two goals from 11 disposals. Meanwhile a familiar face in new colours ran out, with ex-Peel Thunder premiership player Shannon Whale playing her first match since the 2020 WAFL Women’s Grand Final, this time in the red and white.

The Subiaco duo of Jayme Harken (24 disposals, three marks and four tackles) and Tarnica Golisano (23 disposals, four marks and nine tackles) again found plenty of the footy, with Madizen Wilkins (19 disposals, two marks and five tackles) and Tess Lyons (22 hitouts from 10 disposals and two marks) rounding out a strong midfield group. Madison Dodd also impressed once again out of defence with 15 disposals, two marks and five tackles.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 5.1 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 8.2 (50)
SUBIACO 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 (10)

GOALS:

South Fremantle: P. Stockwell 2, R. Anderson 2, C. Byrne 2, N. McNaughton, K. Sprylan
Subiaco: D. Lee

RMC BEST:

South Fremantle: L. Vecchio, K. Templeman, R. Anderson, N. McNaughton, P. Stockwell
Subiaco: T. Golisano, M. Wilkins, J. Harken, T. Lyons, M. Dodd

Peel Thunder also had a milestone in the form of Greta McKinley‘s 150th game, but the home side could not get the job done despite sticking with the ladder leaders East Fremantle for three quarters. Trailing by just eight points at the final break – and with just three goals kicked to that point in the match – Peel could not withstand a final term charge by the Sharks who piled on the last four goals of the match to finish with a comfortable 32-point victory.

East Fremantle’s ball-winners maintained their consistency throughout the season, with Sharon Wong (23 disposals, two marks, eight tackles and two inside 50s), Beth Beckett (20 disposals, four marks, six tackles and three inside 50s) and Ashleigh Gomes (18 disposals, three marks and four tackles) all busy. Larissa Versaci (18 disposals, six marks, four tackles, two inside 50s and a goal) and Mylee Leitch (17 disposals, five tackles and a goal) both hit the scoreboard, with Marni Alston the sole multiple goal kicker with two.

For the Thunder, Kira Phillips kicked their only goal for the day, with competition leading goalkicker Kate Bartlett held goalless, but she still had 11 disposals and five marks. McKinley managed 18 disposals, five marks and four tackles on her big day, whilst Bailey Molloy grabbed a game-high seven marks to go with her 17 disposals. Chloe Wrigley (24 disposals, six marks and five tackles) and Ebony Dowson (23 disposals, six marks and three tackles) found plenty of the ball.

PEEL THUNDER 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 (9)
EAST FREMANTLE 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 6.7 (43)

GOALS:

Peel Thunder: K. Phillips
East Fremantle: M. Alston 2, J. Teakle, L. Versaci, M. Leitch, T. Teakle

RMC BEST:

Peel Thunder: B. Molloy, E. Dowson, G. McKinley, C. Wrigley, E. Bilcich
East Fremantle: B. Beckett, S. Wong, A. Gomes, L. Versaci, Z. Fish

Claremont created some separation inside the top two with a big seven-goal victory over third placed Swan Districts. The Tigers took an early lead and maintained it through the first half to hold a 22-point advantage at the main break. In what was a dominant five goals to one third quarter, the home side broke the game open and despite a goal not being kicked in the final stanza, ran out 42-point winners, 9.6 (60) to 2.6 (18).

Sasha Goranova managed the 18 disposals, two marks and seven tackles in the win, with Madeleine Scanlon (17 disposals, five marks and two inside 50s) and Kobi Nichols (18 disposals) also finding plenty of the ball. Through the ruck, Matilda Dyke (14 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, 22 hitouts and two inside 50s) and Sarah Garstone (15 disposals, seven marks and six hitouts) impressed, whilst Tessa Doumanis slotted four goals from eight disposals.

For the Swans, Isabella Edgley was best-on with 17 disposals, five marks and four tackles, whilst Amber Ugle-Hayward also picked up 17 disposals, and laid four tackles and had three inside 50s. Sophie Proudfoot (13 disposals, two marks, two tackles and 13 hitouts) and Aimee Ralph (16 disposals, three marks, four tackles and seven hitouts) both battled well in the ruck.

CLAREMONT 3.4 | 4.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 (60)
SWAN DISTRICTS 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.6 (18)

GOALS:

Claremont: T. Doumanis 4, E. Campo 2, E. Smith, C. Wright, C. Ortlepp
Swan Districts: C. Zappara, S. Proudfoot

RMC BEST:

Claremont: S. Goranova, M. Scanlon, S. Garstone, M. Dyke, T. Doumanis,
Swan Districts: I. Edgley, S. Proudfoot, A. Ralph, A. Ugle-Hayward, D. Liddle