WHILE either injury or resting meant there were less State Academy members in Round 9 of the WAFL Women’s, each of the four matches still featured a number of the extended state squad. We took note of how those players performed, with all notes the opinion of the individual writer.

East Perth:

#3 Lucy Greenwood (Forward)
Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 2 behinds

The East Perth forward is like an architect in the way she plays. Clean, skilful and creative in the front half of the ground, she compliments a team full of confidence, and that has shown the last few weeks. While not hitting the scoreboard this time round – having a couple of near misses instead – Greenwood had a number of highlights such as a one-handed pickup at speed and laying a fantastic fun-down tackle then darting forward.

South Fremantle:

#4 Noa McNaughton (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 behinds

Starting in the middle, she laid an early tackle and then won quite a few touches through the first quarter. She had two shots after intercepting the ball in the attacking 50 but missed both, and had another chance she would normally nail in the fourth after shrugging a would-be tackler, but it cannoned into the post. She was lively and dangerous, and though had she converted those chances she could have had a really huge day out, was still serviceable and played her role throughout.

#9 Kate Newson (Ruck)
Stats: 2 tackles, 16 hitouts

Newson had too much height at most of the ruck stoppages and got first hands to it consistently. She did not win a disposal in the match, which was largely due to a few marks slipping through her fingers, but she did lay a couple of tackles in an otherwise quiet outing.

#19 Zoe Keley (Forward)
Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 behinds

Like McNaughton, Keley had her chances in front of goal but could not find her range, kicking three behinds instead. She was often under great pressure, but a set shot from 15m out that missed in the final term would have stung. She laid a great tackle on Sabella Banks for a set shot late in the third quarter as well, while remaining vigilant on the defensive front, a real positive for a player of her size.

Swan Districts:

#5 Carys D’Addario (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

The tough inside midfielder hit the scoreboard in the opening term following a downfield free kick which went to the other pocket where she was, nailing the set shot without any worries. D’Addario continued to step up around the clearances and use her frame against equally strong midfielders, then would even push into defence to be an option from kickouts. She took a mark in defence at one point and started an end-to-end play that resulted in a Courtney Zappara goal in the second term.

#40 Sienna Gerardi (Forward)
Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Coming in for her debut, the lively small forward showed some nice class in the forward 50, and often looked to step around her opponent. She ran into trouble trying to do it on the wing when playing on and had to rush a handball, but converted a snap on goal during the third term which was classy.

Claremont:

#24 Bec Anderson (Forward)
Stats: 5 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 behind

Played inside 50 this match and ultimately had a tough day out with the Tigers not having the usual flow forward that they tend to have in most games. She took a few good marks and presented on the lead but only had the one behind from a set shot.

#29 Claudia Wright (Midfielder/Defender)
Stats: 26 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Had no trouble finding the ball once again, and Wright spreads well from the contest to win it on the outside as well. She has great vision and makes good decisions with ball-in-hand, gathering it cleanly and looking to switch to space wherever possible. When drifting into defence to run off half-back, Wright provides and aerial presence and does well to see the whole ground in front of her and pinpoint passes.

#33 Juliet Kelly (Midfielder)
Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

The bottom-age talent got involved through the middle and covered the ground well. While she did not always have the time and space she would like, Kelly does not make too many mistakes by hand or foot, and played her role as a distributor in transition.

East Fremantle:

#12 Taya Chambers (Defender)
Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles

Held her own in defence once again, applying strong defensive pressure on the ball carrier and forcing turnovers, or laying strong tackles to lock it up. She showed her ability to be clean below her knees, and she dished off neatly by hand to keep the ball moving. Sometimes she can just thump it long to get it out of danger and it turns over, but her one-on-one marking contests are where she shines, and then taking off with grass in front of her.

#21 Tiani Teakle (Forward)
Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hitout, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Teakle competed well coming out of the forward 50 and showed strong hands on leads or even as high as the wing at times. Late in the second term, the forward was rewarded for her hard work, marking on the lead and converting the set shot goal from 35m out. She played her role and did the team things in an all-round solid performance.

#38 Zippy Fish (Midfielder/Defender)
Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Returning to the side after a week off, Fish was not quite her dominant self, but still did some nice things. She predominantly played midfield but rolled off half-back to create some run and carry, especially when the Sharks needed a bit of flair from defence. Her elite run-down tackle midway through the second term was outstanding, and she still covered the ground with hard running throughout the four quarters.

Subiaco:

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Ruck/Forward)
Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 8 hitouts, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

Wolmarans had the perfect start to the match when in the ruck, following up her work to receive the handball forward of the contest and then kick long to full-forward and set up a goal to Fina Dethlefsen. In the third term she converted her own set shot after an uncontested mark inside 50, and found a bit of the ball around the ground, mostly in the forward half.

West Perth:

#1 Megan Norbury (Wing)
Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 4 inside 50s

After a couple of brilliants weeks of footy, Norbury had a quiet one on the weekend, accumulating just the six touches, but at least had four inside 50s. She ran hard and kept pressing, but dropped a few grabs in the first term and was not quite her impressive self. Still, she has the ability to bounce back and when she is up and about, can be ultra-damaging.

#7 Mia Russo (Forward/Midfielder)
Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

A standout game from the bottom-ager, arguably her best of the season to-date. She looked busy throughout the match, won the ball both forward and when moved into the midfield late, pumping the ball inside 50 on a number of occasions. She showed some class bursting through traffic to cleanly take the ball and slot it on the run from 15m out, and also win a free kick in the fourth term for a great tackle on the wing. Her final quarter was her best, finding plenty of the ball across the ground.

Peel Thunder:

#4 Holly Britton (Wing)
Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Britton played on the wing throughout the match and worked hard to win it at both ends and all around the ground. Her short, sharp passes are effective and generally she makes good decisions with time and space. Though a natural inside player, she is learning the outside role, and is strong in tackles when confronted and always has a crack.

#8 Dakota Sexton (Midfielder)
Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50

Found her fair share of the ball both on the inside and across the ground, applying enormous amounts of defensive pressure and making life difficult for the West Perth midfielders. When she did turn a kick over such as in the opening term, Sexton followed up with a strong tackle to win it back, then pushed wide for a switch option to go down the line.