EAST Fremantle controlled play from start to finish against Peel Thunder and was rewarded with a quarter of the side in this week’s Rookie Me Central WAFL Women’s Team of the Week. The Sharks had a league-high six players in the team, with South Fremantle (five) and Claremont (four) the other big numbers, while Subiaco and Swan Districts both had three.

A couple of teenagers hold the leadership roles in this week’s Team of the Week with Shark and forward Mylee Leitch captain after two goals from 16 disposals and being an impressive player in the forward half of the ground. Vice-captain is South Fremantle’s Renee Morgan who had 23 disposals in the Bulldogs’ tight win over the Swans.

Leitch was joined by five other Sharks, including two in the forward 50 in ruck/forward Georgie Cleaver and the experienced Larissa Versaci. Also in the team is the silky Zippy Fish, midfielder Beth Beckett and tall forward Tiani Teakle.

The Bulldogs had the second most players in the team with five, including three defenders. Bottom-age talent Molly O’Hehir played an impressive game back there, as did Casey Byrne and Kahra Sprylan. Ruck Ariana Hetherington was the fifth representative for the red and whites.

Claremont also had a healthy representation following a big win over East Perth. It was an even spread across the board with Matilda Sergeant and Taylah Orzel making the starting team in the ruck rover and wing positions respectively. On the bench, Jayme Harken and Kobi Nichols round out the Tiger talent.

Subiaco was the other team to come away with the four points, with Tiah Toth and Hayley Corlett both impressing in the front half of the ground and earning starting spots in the team. Forward/midfielder Eva Popovsky was named on the bench, while ruck Tess Lyons was one of three emergencies.

Swan Districts suffered that tight loss to drop to fourth on the ladder ahead of finals, but still showed plenty of promise and had three representatives in the 24-player squad. Defender Demi Liddle was named in the back pocket, Taylah Edwards was named at full-forward, and midfielder Ruby Mahony slotted onto the bench.

Yet again Peel Thunder defenders Ebony Dowson and Evie Cowcher made the team, with the latter even attending some centre bounces and rolling through the midfield. West Perth’s Taylor Ferguson earned a spot on the bench, with East Perth the only side not to have a representative. However, Mel Hardy was named as an emergency, as was South Fremantle’s Liusaidh Gilchrist.

WAFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF WEEK: ROUND 16

B: Demi Liddle (Swan Districts) – Casey Byrne (South Fremantle) – Kahra Sprylan (South Fremantle)
HB: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) – Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle)
C: Taylah Orzel (Claremont) – Renee Morgan (South Fremantle) (vc) – Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)
HF: Tiah Toth (Subiaco) – Georgie Cleaver (East Fremantle) – Larissa Versaci (East Fremantle)
F: Mylee Leitch (East Fremantle) (c) – Taylah Edwards (Swan Districts) – Hayley Corlett (Subiaco)
R: Ariana Hetherington (South Fremantle) – Matilda Sergeant (Claremont) – Beth Beckett (East Fremantle)
INT: Taylor Ferguson (West Perth) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Ruby Mahony (Swan Districts) – Kobi Nichols (Claremont) – Eva Popovsky (Subiaco) – Tiani Teakle (East Fremantle)

EMG: Liusaidh Gilchrist (South Fremantle) – Melisha Hardy (East Perth) – Tess Lyons (Subiaco)