EAST Fremantle got the win against South Fremantle in the 2023 WAFL Women’s Preliminary Final to book a spot in the decider against Claremont. In what will be the penultimate edition of WAFL Women’s State Scouting notes, we took a look at how each of the players from both the Bulldogs and Sharks performed in the game. All notes are the opinion of the author.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#1 Noa McNaughton

The lively small forward was particularly busy in the first half, winning a number of touches on the opening half. After bringing the heat early, McNaughton was awarded a free kick inside 50, and quickly gave off the one-two to receive it back and nail the goal on the run. Her defensive intent remained strong into the second term and tried to put it into dangerous spots deep, but the East Fremantle defence was up to the task. She laid a great tackle in the third term in the goalsquare, and flew on a wing but could not quite bring it down. Overall a productive day.

#15 Renee Morgan

The double bottom-ager was a standout through the midfield, holding her own against more experienced opponents. She won an early clearance out of the middle and continued to accumulate the ball across the course of the game. In the second term, Morgan converted a set shot goal after receiving a 50m penalty, then tried to set up a teammate in the third quarter, but was intercepted in the goalsquare. Her hands at ground level were good and will be an important inclusion for the Under 18s program in August.

#33 Molly O’Hehir

It was a touch quieter performance from O’Hehir compared to some others, but she still tried hard all game. She was calm and composed under pressure and able to keep the ball moving in transition. Playing off half-back, she competed well and laid the four tackles to go with nine touches.

EAST FREMANTLE:

#7 Georgie Cleaver

Though she only had the eight touches and two hitouts pinch-hitting in the ruck while mostly playing forward, Cleaver laid the nine tackles and provided that defensive pressure. She set up Raison for the Sharks’ first goal but could not convert her own chance in the second term with a short-range set shot spraying wide. Still, Cleaver had some nice moments and will have a chance at a League Grand Final next week after playing the Rogers Cup decider 12 months ago.

#27 Mylee Leitch

Playing a different role far further afield, Leitch won the majority of her touches either on the wing or at half-back and worked hard around the contest. She did a lot of things that may not have been rewarded on the stats sheet, but still finished with 11 touches, three marks and four tackles.

#29 Natasha Entwistle

Another unassuming Shark who just does her job week-in, week-out, Entwistle had the eight disposals and laid five tackles in the win. She showed her terrific second efforts in the fourth term after not being able to hold a mark on a contest on the wing, but backing up to lay a strong tackle and winning a free kick.

#33 Anjelique Raison

Though Raison did not see a whole heap of it as a deep forward, she converted a set shot goal in the first term, and would have done so in the third term had it not been touched on the line. Still, her work rate was up, and her leading patterns good, while Chloe Reilly was the beneficiary of the forwards creating space for one another.

#38 Zippy Fish

After a quieter start to the game, Fish exploded into the match with some incredible plays, hitting up Reilly 10 minutes into the second term to set up a crucial goal, then used her pace to different points to drive the ball forward. She also nailed a pass into Raison for her second set shot of the game, and had clean hands and her elite skills on display each time she won it. Though 12 disposals might not sound like a lot, she made the most of them, and was able to back up in the fourth term with a brilliant clearance out of the middle and a follow-up tackle at half-forward.