PEEL Thunder is back in third spot after a big win over West Perth in Round 11 of the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition. Meanwhile, East Fremantle held Swan Districts to just one goal in a 40-point victory, whilst in the closest game of the round, Claremont slotted four last quarter goals to come from behind and defeat Subiaco by 13 points.

East Fremantle has maintained its unbeaten streak with a strong 40-point victory over Swan Districts on the road. Holding the third placed Swans to just one behind in the first three quarters – goalless in the first half – the Sharks scored 3.4 themselves to lead by 21 points at the final break. Quashing any doubt that they could finish the job off, the Sharks slotted the first three goals of the final term to lead by 40, before Aimee Ralph kicked the Swans’ first 11 minutes in the last term. A response by Ashlee Atkins saw the winning margin remain at 40 and the team from the East remain at the top of the table.

The Sharks only had 17 more disposals, but 34 more inside 50s as Ashleigh Gomes again lead the way with 23 disposals, five marks, five tackles and four inside 50s. Larissa Versaci slotted two goals from 22 touches, four marks, three tackles and four inside 50s, whilst Beth Beckett might have caught the umpire’s attention with five frees agains, but also had 19 disposals, three marks, three tackles and three inside 50s. Laura Catherine took control in the ruck with 30 hitouts to go with 10 touches, four marks and two tackles, whilst Julia Teakle also slotted two goals.

The experience of Lauren Osborne in the back half was important for the Swans as she picked up 22 disposals and three marks, whilst Jessica Cox battled hard on her way to 22 disposals, five marks and eight tackles. Emily McGuire and Isabella Edgley combined for 36 disposals in the game, whilst Ralph also had 14 disposals, seven marks, two tackles and five hitouts to go with her goal.

East Fremantle hosts Claremont next Saturday at Northampton, whilst Swan Districts travels to Joondalup to take on West Perth on Sunday.

SWAN DISTRICTS 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 (7)
EAST FREMANTLE 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 7.5 (47)

GOALS:

Swan Districts: A. Ralph
East Fremantle: J. Teakle 2, L. Versaci 2, A. Atkins, M. Ross, M. Alston

RMC BEST:

Swan Districts: L. Osborne, I. Edgley, E. McGuire, J. Cox, A. Ralph
East Fremantle: A. Gomes, L. Versaci. B. Beckett, L. Catherine, M. Leitch

Though it was not quite the 118-point beating of a few weeks earlier, Peel Thunder still had no worries knocking off the winless West Perth, this time in Joondalup. The Thunder took control from the get-go, and kicked five goals in each half of action, not allowing the Falcons to score until the final term. West Perth had a spirited last quarter, only conceding the 2.2 whilst booting 0.2 themselves. In fact for the whole game, the Falcons did not concede more than three goals in a quarter which was a critical improvement against the reigning premiers during Peel’s 10.12 (72) to 0.2 (2) win.

Peel Thunder had a number of incredible performers, with winger Jaide Britton producing her best performance of the season on her way to 25 disposals, seven marks and three inside 50s, with the other ‘JB’ in Jade Briggs picking up 27 touches, eight marks, four hitouts, four inside 50s, seven tackles and kicking a goal. Gracie Fenton amassed a season-high 30 touches too, with five tackles and seven inside 50s, whilst Kate Bartlett (five goals) and Kira Phillips (three) combined for eight of the Thunder’s 10 goals. Ebony Dowson, Chloe Wrigley and Ebony Bilcich also found plenty of it.

For the Falcons, two defenders picked up 20-plus disposals with Jessica Roper being important back there taking five marks, laying five tackles and picked up the 20 touches, whilst Karla Stagg had the 23 disposals and two hitouts. Megan Norbury was lively on the wing once again on her way to 17 touches, whilst Kaitlyn Roper and Keely Byrne were also amongst the Falcons’ best on the day.

Peel Thunder has the bye in Round 11, whilst West Perth is back at Pentanet Stadium to host against Swan Districts.

WEST PERTH 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 (2)
PEEL THUNDER 3.2 | 5.5 | 8.10 | 10.12 (72)

GOALS:

West Perth: Nil.
Peel Thunder: K. Bartlett 5, K. Phillips 3, E. Hardie, J. Briggs

RMC BEST:

West Perth: J. Roper, M. Norbury, K. Byrne, K. Stagg, K. Roper
Peel Thunder: J. Britton, J. Briggs, K. Bartlett, G. Fenton, E. Dowson

Claremont came from the clouds in the last quarter thanks to a three-goal effort from Ella Slocombe to run over the top of Subiaco and ensure the Tigers kept tabs on East Fremantle. The home team kicked the first goal of the game to lead by three points at quarter time, but then did not score again until the third minute of the final term. It meant Subiaco had scored 2.5 since Claremont’s opening major to captain Ella Smith, but the inaccuracy hurt the Lions, with Claremont slotting four final term majors – three to Slocombe and a second to Smith to record a 13-point win, 5.2 (32) to 2.7 (19).

Slocombe was effectively somewhat of a super sub, not having a touch in the opening three quarters, then slotting three goals from each of her three kicks in the last term. Smith had more of an influence throughout the contest, picking up 18 disposals, four marks, four tackles, two inside 50s and slotting 2.1. The return of Jasmin Stewart proved important as she recorded an equal game-high 22 disposals, as well as eight marks. Also busy, defender Rachel Ortlepp took seven marks and had 19 disposals, working well alongside sister Claire (16 disposals, three marks and four tackles). Winger Katherine Orme as well as Brooke Hongell also found plenty of the ball.

Abbey Dowrick returned home to Subiaco and immediately had an impact, picking up 22 disposals, two marks, six tackles and eight inside 50s in the win, kicking a couple of behinds to start the game too. She provided much needed support to the reliability of Jayme Harken (20 disposals, two marks, five tackles and three inside 50s), Tarnica Golisano (16 disposals, three tackles) and Madizen Wilkins (15 disposals, 11 tackles and two inside 50s), whilst the experience of Tiah Toth and Maggie Maclachlan was also important.

Claremont takes on East Fremantle next week in the much anticipated top of the table clash for Round 11, whilst Subiaco hosts South Fremantle at Leederville Oval, both games on Saturday.

CLAREMONT 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.2 (32)
SUBIACO 0.3 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 2.7 (19)

GOALS:

Claremont: E. Slocombe 3, E. Smith 2
Subiaco: H. Corlett, K. Pocsidio

RMC BEST:

Claremont: J. Stewart, R. Ortlepp, E. Smith, K. Orme, C. Ortlepp
Subiaco: A. Dowrick, T. Toth, J. Harken, T. Golisano, M. Wilkins