EAST Fremantle secured the 2023 WAFL Women’s premiership after taking down Claremont in the grand final on the weekend. We took note of the State Academy members and how they performed in the match, with all notes the opinion of the author.

CLAREMONT:

#36 Mackenzie Webb

The over-ager played her part, often opposed to either Raison or Chloe Reilly, and though she was on the receiving end of a loss, competed hard in the air and knew when to push up the ground or stay back. Her pressure at ground level was also sound, and she mopped up on a number of occasions in the defensive 50.

EAST FREMANTLE:

#7 Georgie Cleaver

Aside from Fish, Cleaver was the net best State Academy member for the Sharks, rotating with Laura Catherine through the ruck. She was able to take a great mark early in the game but unfortunately her set shot sprayed across the face and short, before nailing a brilliant one on the run from 25m. She covered the ground well and picked up a number of crucial touches, presenting as a target and getting it forward as often as possible. Back-to-back premiership player after playing in last year’s Rogers Cup flag.

#12 Taya Chambers

Returned to the side to play a role in defence and played in a premiership. Though she looked a touch rusty – dropping a few marks she would normally take – she competed well and when she had ball-in-hand used it well.

#20 Caylen Crook

A quieter game from the midfielder like many usual accumulators on the day, Crook went in hard around the stoppages and did her best work on the defensive end, laying as many tackles as she had touches with five. One who will put her body on the line each and every game.

#27 Mylee Leitch

The forward worked hard all game and got up the ground on a number of instances to make an impact. Her hands were clean when she did have it, and though she finished with the six touches, kicked the match-winner in the last term. Being in the right place at the right time, she marked, played on and booted the goal from the top of the goalsquare.

#29 Natasha Entwistle

Had her moments throughout the game and finished in the top five ball-winners for the Sharks despite just the nine touches. She competed hard all game, and once she had the ball, was clean by hand. She did have a couple of moments where it either spilled free or as in the third term, a kick went wide out of bounds. She got that kick from a great tackle and subsequent free kick, laying four tackles to go with her nine disposals.

#33 Anjelique Raison

Playing deep forward all game, Raison was not subject to the action a lot, but she had a critical moment by setting up the Leitch goal via hand from the ruck stoppage to Fish. She also had a score assist to Reilly in the first term with her teammate missing it, but looking dangerous. The one set shot she did have came after a contested mark, and though it was not able to be on target, she was still prominent defensively all game and laid a great smother on the wing in the third term.

#38 Zippy Fish

The star of the show and best on ground comfortably, Fish did everything one could ask on the big stage. She racked up 26 disposals, three marks, four inside 50s and laid seven tackles, with perhaps her only blemish a rushed shot on goal that went wide. Other than that, she set up her teammates for multiple goals and was lively from the midfield to attack and got back to help her defence. Her full performance will be detailed in a Player Focus this week.