WEST Perth played the best game in its women’s club history, defeating Peel Thunder by 37 points to bounce back into the top four on the WAFL Women’s ladder. Though the Thunder were missing a number of quality players, the Falcons were not without a key omission themselves, and all bought into the gameplan of speed and pressure to play a four-quarter performance to win, 7.7 (49) to 2.0 (12) at Pentanet Stadium yesterday.

The Thunder travelled to West Perth’s home deck minus midfielders Jaide Britton, Chloe Wrigley and Jorja Haines, while the Falcons were minus Bianca Webb from their best side. From the early stages it was clear the home side was switched on as the Falcons peppered the goals with a couple of early behinds, including shots on goal from Emily Bennett that both went wide. The first major came via a nice run down the middle from Jessica Roper to hit up Liliana Grassenis and find Tia Bergin to convert the first major of the game.

In the blink of an eye, West Perth piled on the pressure, and the goals as a normally composed Thunder defence looked rattled. The clean Evie Cowcher and consistent Ebony Dowson had less time and space than usual with a rare fumble from the former at ground level costing a goal as Natasha Spurr ran in and kicked a major, while tall Elissa Price kicked a third close to the quarter time siren to make it a 22-0 start.

Peel Thunder needed a response early in the second term, and they got it via Ebonee Hardie. In a case of right place, right time, Hardie won the ball off a Kira Phillips snap to boot it home from the goalsquare in the opening two minutes. To West Perth’s credit, the run and carry of Jeevna Heer, Grace Betti and Katherine Bennett was too much for the Thunder and the Falcons held the ball in their forward half plenty.

Midway through the quarter, Karry Plummer responded with a clever snap out of nothing, and after a Katherine Bennett miss won the term and headed into half-time with a 23-point lead. Heer and Price were among the busiest players, with Norbury playing more inside and winning her fair share of the ball, and Liliana Grassenis looking tough at half-forward.

Though the scoring dried up in the third term, West Perth did what it needed to do, keep hold of the ball and extend the lead beyond five goals, with Betti slotting a major off a clever Grassenis handball. Midway through the term, frustrations boiled over for the Thunder, with Phillips crashing into Norbury very late and going on report, with the bottom-ager earning a 50m penalty. Her set shot from 15m came off the side of the boot and hit the behind post, but would have the last laugh as the Falcons lead by 31 points with a quarter to play.

Any doubts whether West Perth could hold on for the last 18 minutes were quickly erased when just 90 seconds into the match, Plummer marked inside 50 and put the lead out to a match-winning 37 points. Though Phillips did kick a consolation goal midway through the term, it would be no good, with Spurr getting on the end of a second one at the 12-minute mark to seal the win by 37 points, 7.7 (49) to 2.0 (12).

It was an even team performance for the Falcons, with Katherine Bennett racking up 27 disposals in an impressive game, while Norbury (21), Betti (21) and Heer (18) were all prolific. Price had the 16 touches and 10 hitouts, working hard all around the ground, while the likes of Brooke Hongell and Grassenis had the 12 and 11 touches respectively but were consistent as always. Spurr (two goals from 13 touches) and Plummer (two goals) were the key scorers.

For the Thunder, there were fewer four-quarter performers, though the youth of Srhoj and Cowcher looked good, with Holly Britton playing her best League game so far even spending time on-ball. Ebony Bilcich was consistent en route to an equal team-high 19 disposals with Srhoj, while Krystal Carter tried hard all match.

West Perth has a massive chance to make it back-to-back wins net round taking on the winless Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval, while Peel Thunder have a tough ask to get back inside the top four, up against East Fremantle back in Mandurah.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The other Sunday game was a one-sided affair after quarter time as East Fremantle piled on 8.10 to 0.0 to run away 11-goal winners over East Perth. The Sharks struggled with inaccuracy again but were far too dominant through the midfield as they finished with a whopping 48-7 inside 50 differential.

Beth Beckett and Ashleigh Gomes combined for 53 disposals and two goals in the win, while Georgie Cleaver stood tall inside 50 and Chloe Reilly and Anjelique Raison kicked a couple of majors each.

A five-goal haul from bottom-age small forward Noa McNaughton helped South Fremantle take Swan Districts to the cleaners in a huge 53-point win at Fremantle Oval. The Bulldogs raced out of the blocks to lead by four goals at quarter time, and then kicked on with it to secure the 12.8 (80) to 4.3 (27) win.

McNaughton kicked five majors from 15 disposals and seven marks, as Charli Wicksteed and Tahleah Mulder were busy. Swan Districts captain Jessica Cox (22 disposals, five marks) tried hard, as did Jaime Henry (16 disposals, seven tackles).

In the other Saturday game, another bottom-age small forward in Eva O’Donnell feasted on Subiaco’s defence, booting four goals in Claremont’s 10.8 (68) to 1.2 (8) win over the Lions. The Tigers kept Subiaco goalless until the sixth minute of the final term and never looked like losing with 41 inside 50s to 12.

Along with O’Donnell’s four goals from 20 disposals and eight marks, the usual suspects of Jasmin Stewart (29 disposals), Jayme Harken (23) and Matilda Dyke (21) all kicked a goal and did their chances of an AFLW call-up in tomorrow night’s Overage Draft no harm. For Subiaco, Tarnica Golisano tried hard again with 19 disposals, while teenagers Madison Dodd and Olivia Crane were both busy.