IN the latest edition of our WAFL Women’s State scouting notes for Round 4 of the 2023 season, we highlighted nine players across the four games who stood out as either current or prior members of the 2022/23 WAFLW State Academies, while mentioning others who also showed signs in their respective matches.

STANDOUT:

#1 Noa McNaughton (South Fremantle)

The clever forward had a day out at Fremantle Oval, slotting five goals from seven scoring shots. She was unbeatable inside 50 and arguably could have finished with an even bigger haul than five, plucking seven marks from 15 disposals. She was clean, classy and her usual evasive self and looked dangerous every time she went near it to produce a career-best game in the red and white.

OTHERS:

Swan Districts had a quartet of players from the State Academy, with top-age talent Jaime Henry bullocking her way to 16 disposals and five tackles, while Carys D’Addario booted two goals from seven disposals and three marks. Indiana West (nine disposals, six tackles and four inside 50s) and Lily Paterson (six disposals) also had some nice moments.

STANDOUTS:

#6 Eva O’Donnell (Claremont)

An outstanding performance from the bottom-ager who booted three goals and looked incredibly dangerous every time she went near it inside 50. She will be our Player Focus for the week which will detail her full performance, but O’Donnell racked up 20 disposals, eight marks and had four inside 50s with that scoreboard impact.

#15 Olivia Crane (Subiaco)

Playing a new role on the wing as opposed to half-back, Crane covered the ground well and was still able to win the ball in each third of the ground. Though she has had higher numbers in other games, she was still one of Subiaco’s best with 14 disposals, four marks and eight tackles to star for the Lions.

OTHERS:

Madison Dodd is a top-ager who was one of her side’s best, collecting 16 disposals and laying three tackles in the loss.

STANDOUTS:

#1 Megan Norbury (West Perth)

The winger worked hard across the course of the ground, and those her typical polish was not as high as it could be, she was able to accumulate disposals with ease, finding space to run into. She was relatively clean off the deck, with just that final execution being a bit off par, but her work to stretch the opposition’s running capacity and catch them off guard was very good.

#9 Kayla Van Den Heever (West Perth)

Named in the bests for the Falcons, Van Den Heever was solid across the board playing a more handball-friendly role in this match. She had the 15 disposals, of which 12 of them were handballs, indicating her highly contested nature. She put her body on the line and fed it to her outside runners, while also laying eight tackles in the game. Doing the team things, Van Den Heever was just consistent throughout the game in her attack on the contest.

#32 Liliana Grassenis (West Perth)

Continuing to compete with her value far outweighing her statistical numbers. She goes up for the big marks and even if she cannot clunk it, she will bring it to ground and keep the ball alive in the forward half. When required, she applies that defensive pressure and has the switch to turn defence into offence. Grassenis finished with 10 disposals, two marks and three tackles. The forward also set up a number of goals with her plays and vision inside 50.

#13 Kaitlyn Srhoj (Peel Thunder)

Returning for her first game since being concussed in Round 1 after getting crunched against Swan Districts, Srhoj was one of her side’s best running hard on the wing. She was a little rusty with her execution, but she still took the game on and finished with a team-high 18 disposals. Srhoj’s ability to hold her line and burst away to disrupt the opposition was something few and far between for her side, but she was a shining light in the loss.

OTHERS:

Peel Thunder bottom-ager Holly Britton was the most impressive of the rest, spending more time in midfield than her usual pigeonholed forward role. The natural inside midfielder had 11 disposals and three marks, covering the ground well. Evie Cowcher was down on her output with 11 disposals, four marks and six tackles, but still did some nice things even though she made some uncharacteristic fumbles which was credit to West Perth’s forward pressure. Dakota Sexton (nine disposals) similarly had some eye-catching bursts, while Kate Newson (five disposals, eight hitouts) tried hard in the ruck.

STANDOUT:

#7 Georgie Cleaver (East Fremantle)

In her third game back from injury and what was clearly her best of the season, Cleaver managed 16 disposals, five marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and a couple of shots on goal. She could have finished a little cleaner but overall her confidence was back up and her hands looked good in the air. She played a little further afield in Round 4 than she has in previous weeks, and that resulted in her winning more of the ball.

OTHERS:

Zippy Fish did not have a great deal to do in defence given the ball was up the other end, but held a strong line. Her fellow defender Taya Chambers was in a similar boat, as the pair had some eye-catching moments en route to nine disposals each. Tiani Teakle looked lively in her first League game of the year, missing a couple of gettable chances but always dangerous, while top-ager Anjelique Raison booted two goals playing deeper forward again and having some stints in the ruck. For the Royals, Ruby Burgess had 12 hitouts, while Holly Gill also played in the match.