CLAREMONT leads all-comers when it comes to representatives in our West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s Team of the Week for Round 12. The Tigers had half a dozen representatives in the side, with fellow winners East Fremantle and South Fremantle both having five apiece. Swan Districts (four) was the best of the losers, with Peel Thunder (three) and West Perth (one) rounding out the squad.
Claremont’s victory over Swan Districts was the highest quality game of the round, with a total of 10 players from that match in the squad of 24. Claremont captain and onballer Ella Smith was named vice-captain of our side, named onball with ruck Matilda Dyke. Up forward, Mikayla Western and Sarah Garstone are at half-forward, with Madeleine Scanlon in the back pocket, and exciting Under 16s talent Claudia Wright on the bench. Experienced forward Brooke Whyte was also named as an emergency.
South Fremantle skipper Lauren Vecchio captained the Team of the Week this week after a terrific 27-disposal performance in the Bulldogs’ win over West Perth. She lead from the front and earned the captaincy band for Round 12, named in the midfield with teammate Liusaidh Gilchrist. Other Bulldogs in the side are Under 16s utility Molly O’Hehir, and forwards Poppy Stockwell and Kahra Sprylan.
East Fremantle also had five players in the Team of the Week from Round 12, with midfielder Ashleigh Gomes, winger Abbey Amaranti and forward Larissa Versaci in the side again. Defender Hayley O’Donnell and key forward Julia Teakle also made it into the 24-player squad. Midfielder Sharon Wong was also one of three emergencies.
Swan Districts picked up the four players in the Team of the Week after a strong start before being overrun by the Sharks. Reliable defender Lauren Osborne and utility Aimee Ralph have been named in the defensive half of the ground, whilst midfielders Naomi Baker and Jessica Cox made the side on the bench in what was a strong week for midfielders.
Peel Thunder only had the three players for Round 12, highlighted by forwards Aisha Wright and Kate Bartlett who were both lively in a scrap of a game, whilst Cassie Davidson tried hard in the defensive half of the ground. Ebony Dowson also made it in as first emergency. West Perth defender Kaitlyn Roper made her first Team of the Week after a big opening half against the Bulldogs.
2022 WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 12
B: Madeleine Scanlon (Claremont) – Cassie Davidson (Peel Thunder) – Lauren Osborne (Swan Districts)
HB: Hayley O’Donnell (East Fremantle) – Aimee Ralph (Swan Districts) – Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle)
C: Liusaidh Gilchrist (South Fremantle) – Ella Smith (Claremont) (vc) – Abbey Amaranti (East Fremantle)
HF: Mikayla Western (Claremont) – Sarah Garstone (Claremont) – Larissa Versaci (East Fremantle)
F: Aisha Wright (Peel Thunder) – Kate Bartlett (Peel Thunder) – Kahra Sprylan (South Fremantle)
R: Matilda Dyke (Claremont) – Lauren Vecchio (South Fremantle) (c) – Ashleigh Gomes (East Fremantle)
INT: Naomi Baker (Swan Districts) – Jess Cox (Swan Districts) – Kaitlyn Roper (West Perth) – Poppy Stockwell (South Fremantle) – Julia Teakle (East Fremantle) – Claudia Wright (Claremont)
EMG: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) – Brooke Whyte (Claremont) – Sharon Wong (East Fremantle)
