THERE were plenty of reasons for both South Fremantle and West Perth to walk away happy from their Round 9 West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s clash. With both sides missing some quality young players, the Falcons still managed to put up their most competitive effort yet, and notched both their highest team score, and lowest score conceded in the 35-point loss. In contrast, the Bulldogs won back-to-back games for the first time in club history, and their third for the 2022 season after the 9.3 (57) to 3.4 (22) triumph.

South Fremantle took home the chocolates thanks to a dominant third term against West Perth in what was the Falcons’ most competitive effort to-date. The Bulldogs only lead by two points at the first break. but added the only two majors of the second term to open up a 12-point lead. The game was still in the balance until the third term rolled around, with the visitors piling on five majors in the 18 minutes to storm to a 42-point lead. Determined not to go out without a fight the Falcons won the final term with the only major of the quarter, for what was ultimately a brave loss, and South Fremantle coming away with the 9.3 (57) to 3.4 (22) win.

South Fremantle had three multiple goalkickers with Casey Byrne slotting three from 11 disposals and two marks, and Hunter Cronin managing two from 11 disposals and three marks. Rosie Anderson backed up her impressive display from the round before with 18 disposals, two marks, three tackles, seven inside 50s and two goals. Also impressive in the victory were Zoe Wakfer (21 disposals, five marks and two tackles), Liusaidh Gilchrist (18 disposals, seven hitouts and four inside 50s) and Lauren Vecchio (18 disposals, eight tackles and six inside 50s). Molly O’Hehir was another Under 16s talent who shone strongly with her run and carry, whilst Ella Ward shared the ruck load with Gilchrist, and Shannon Whale stood up for a second straight game in the red and white.

It was a breakout game for Falcons midfielder Keely Byrne who recorded 24 disposals and three tackles, whilst three others picked up the 20 touches each. Jeevna Heer (20 disposals, three inside 50s and a goal), Grace Betti (20 disposals, four tackles) and Kaitlyn Roper (20 disposals, two marks and two tackles) all contributed. Jessica Roper laid a team-high eight tackles, whilst Jekylah Garlett took five of her side’s 22 marks, to go with 17 disposals. Both Chloe Smoker and Molly Conroy provided good drive inside 50.

Round 10 sees South Fremantle have its second bye of the season after becoming the first team playing eight games, whilst West Perth will try and gain some respect back from the last time the Falcons played Peel Thunder, losing by a whopping 118 points three weeks prior, albeit with an understrength side.

WEST PERTH 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 (22)
SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 | 4.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 (57)

GOALS:

West Perth: J. Heer, C. Scott, J. Colotti
South Fremantle: C. Byrne 3, H. Cronin 2, R. Anderson 2, E. Ward, K. Sprylan

RMC BEST:

West Perth: K. Byrne, J. Heer, K. Roper, J. Roper, J. Garlett
South Fremantle: L. Vecchio, Z. Wakfer, R. Anderson, C. Byrne, L. Gilchrist