WESTERN Australia’s top Under 18s and Under 16s players are out of the WAFL Women’s competition for Round 7 with the former having a weekend’s rest ahead of next week’s championships, while the latter face Vic Metro at Arden Street. It means plenty of changes across the board, with reigning grand finalists East Fremantle hardest hit for its huge match against South Fremantle tomorrow night.

FORM

A battle of the bottom two sides kicks off Round 6 action with the winless East Perth coming up against Swan Districts side that is fresh off its first victory of the season. The Black Ducks took care of West Perth last week and are strong favourites to win against the Royals, with the Royals hoping to cause some headaches under Friday night lights at home.

CHANGES

East Perth has rolled out the changes once again with nine players coming in and out respectively. Among the changes are the return of Tristin Ogonoski, Mahli Turland, Emily Boothman and Eliza Van De Veldes replacing the likes of Makayla Cocking, Holly Gill, Latoya Holdsworth and Chloe Sauzier.

Swan Districts has only made the two minimal changes, with AFLW Academy member Jaime Henry rested and out alongside Emma Nanut, while Naomi Baker and Daisy Rigby come into the Black Ducks side.

KEY PLAYERS

Royals captain Jess Valvasori has been a consistent and critical part of East Perth’s midfield, with defenders Sarah Madden and Lillian Ninyett doing their best to hold down the fort. Ogonoski is a proven goalkicker up the other end when given half a chance.

Ruby Mahony was a productive ball-winner last round against the Falcons, with the midfielder teaming up alongside rotational players such as Tyla Fitzgerald, Abbygail Bushby and Jessica Cox who can roll both midfield and forward.

PREDICTION

Swan Districts found its groove last week and should be too strong here. Henry and Nanut will be big losses for the Black Ducks, but the Royals are still finding their feet and are up against a pretty experienced lineup.

FORM

Subiaco bounced back into the top four with an impressive win over East Perth last weekend to move to two wins and a draw from five games this season. The Lions are a fair way percentage off the top three sides, but also miles clear of the bottom four in the same regard. However a loss here and Peel Thunder will go ahead of the Lions, though the Thunder have lost two on the trot and three of their past four.

CHANGES

Peel Thunder’s depth will be massively tested in the game, with double bottom-age defender Evie Cowcher out for her 16s match this weekend, alongside Under 18s representatives, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Dakota Sexton, Holly Britton and Kate Newson. Coming into the side is Jade Briggs who has the potential to do plenty of damage in the forward half of the ground, alongside Anke Grove and Jessica Ruland.

Subiaco also loses some young talents in Olivia Crane, Madison Dodd, Eva Popovsky and Charlotte Newland, as well as the experience of Beth Schilling and Liana Burchell. Returning to the side are names such as ruck Tess Lyons, Irish talent Meadhbh Moloney and forward Dahna Lee as part of an extended bench.

KEY PLAYERS

Fresh off a best on ground performance in her 150th game, Subiaco skipper Tarnica Golisano will lead the midfield once again with the likes of Tiah Toth and Hayley Corlett playing some great football.

The Lions face off against Briggs, Gracie Fenton and Krystal Carter who will all bring the heat, while captain Ebony Dowson will look to limit the amount of easy marks inside the defensive 50 against the likes of Kate Pocsidio and Kelsey Patterson.

PREDICTION

Subiaco has been in better form and its midfield has been the driving force. Though the Lions have lost some key position talent that might hurt, the quality of the outs for Peel Thunder looks too much. However, at home in Mandurah, anything is possible.

FORM

Suffering its first loss at the hands of Claremont last week after three consecutive wins, South Fremantle will hope to take full advantage of a Sharks lineup missing a host of prime movers. The Sharks have made it four wins on the bounce since an opening round loss to reigning premiers Claremont themselves, but have amassed a higher percentage than the Tigers so are ready to bounce if Claremont does drop a game.

CHANGES

East Fremantle’s outs are significant with Zippy Fish, Anjelique Raison, Natasha Entwistle and Tayah Palmer among those who will run out for Western Australia next weekend. Coming into the clash are Leanne Gubbins, Nadya Browne, Ridma Ratnakele and India Ferrier as part of an extended bench.

South Fremantle will be minus bottom-age young guns Noa McNaughton and Molly O’Hehir, as well as recently drafted Docker, Tahleah Mulder. Top-age talent Rosie Anderson returns to League level in Round 7, while Tanika Bradley, Hunter Cronin and Liusaidh Gilchrist are also among the names returning.

KEY PLAYERS

South Fremantle has a couple of twin towers up forward in Zoe Huggett and Bethany Bond, while Ella Ward has also found herself as a marking target down there. In the midfield, Kiara Templeman and Gilchrist will provide the pressure, as Kloe Bassett and Charli Wicksteed are enjoying impressive years.

The East Fremantle midfield of Ashleigh Gomes, Sharon Wong and Beth Beckett will look to cause plenty of issues for the opposition, with Ashlee Atkins and Chloe Reilly dangerous forwards.

PREDICTION

South Fremantle has a well spread outside on paper, while the top-end talent lost at either end for East Fremantle will really hurt. It comes down to whether the Sharks midfield can dominate the clearances and give their forwardline enough chances, against a South Fremantle side that has been less affected by the Academy omissions.

FORM

After jumping back inside the top four, West Perth was knocked back out of it again following a disappointing loss to Swan Districts, albeit missing a host to first choice players. Though the Falcons will still be minus a few, they will hope to put on a good show against a Claremont side yet to drop a game. The Tigers are 5-0 for the season and would be tipped to make it half a dozen victories on the trot.

CHANGES

West Perth regain the services of defenders, Brooke Hongell and Jessica Roper, as well as Chanel Scott and Laura Butler. The quartet replace Liza Kneebone and Keeley Oakes – who have been named as emergencies – as well as Nadia Parora and Angelina Wodcke.

Claremont will be minus State Academy talents across each of the 2005, 2006 and 2007-born age groups in Ella Slocombe, Eva O’Donnell and Juliet Kelly respectively. The Tigers are also without Fremantle talent Madeleine Scanlon, and Bridie Garlick comes out of the side. Coming into the team as part of an extended bench are the likes of Amalie Moe, Tess Blackburn, Kobi Nichols and Kate Orme.

KEY PLAYERS

West Perth will rely on that defence being on song with Hongell and Roper joining Karla Stagg back there. The link between the midfielder and forwards will also be critical with Emily Bennett and Jeevna Heer ones who have been moving the ball in transition for Katherine Bennett and Grace Betti to create in the front half of the ground.

Claremont’s midfield of Jayme Harken, Matilda Sergeant, Blackburn and Jasmin Stewart is strong and with plenty of rotational options, while Rachel Ortlepp, Andie Payne and Jacinta Valentini have been creative in the front half of the ground.

PREDICTION

Claremont looks too strong in this one, with even the outs overshadowed by some key inclusions. While West Perth will be stronger than in its loss to Swan Districts last week, Claremont is a different beast and it is hard to see the Tigers losing based off the form they are in.