IT was a fierce but entertaining contest, but in the end, the SANFL Women’s came away with a 16-point win over the WAFL Women’s at Optus Stadium on Saturday. Jess Bates and Zippy Fish won their respective sides’ MVPs, but they were not the only ones who impressed on the day. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye.

WAFLW:

#1 Kate Orme (Claremont)
Wing | 167cm | 14/04/1989

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles

The Sandgropers captain provided some important drive between the arcs and while known for her run and carry on the outside, put her body on the line on the inside with double-digit tackles. Though the South Australian defence set up well to intercept, Orme continued to press hard through the game and had some crucial touches, particularly inn the second half.

#4 Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)
Midfielder/Defender | 160cm | 04/06/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

The star of the WA side, Fish was phenomenal throughout the match, doing as she pleased, zipping and zagging around the ground and providing high metres gained. She had a huge third term that essentially set up the East Fremantle comeback, kicking a goal after a very generous 50m penalty out of the middle. She kept finding the ball and pumping it inside 50, and while the South Australians tried to somewhat quell her, she kept having an impact. She was quieter in the final term but went back into defence to help out and intercepted a couple of times.

#6 Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle)
Defender/Midfielder | 179cm | 24/05/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s

One of the most eye-catching players, the impressive top-ager also found plenty of the ball and worked well in tandem with Fish. She played off half-back and moved into the midfield, where she used her skills to great effect. She got slammed into the turf late in the third term but bounced back up, and had some nice runs down the ground to break the lines and impact the match in that way.

#7 Eva Popovsky (Subiaco)
Forward | 162cm | 18/04/2004

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Though more of a midfielder than a forward these days at Subiaco, Popovsky showed just how damaging of a finisher she can be in front of the big sticks. Both of her goals – in the second and third term respectively – were on the run from angles that sailed home. Not only did Popovsky add that classy finishing, but she has a high level of defensive pressure to-boot as well, perfect for a small forward role.

#12 Natasha Entwistle (East Fremantle)
Defender | 170cm | 19/10/2006

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

While a little shaky early, Entwistle worked into the game well and had some nice plays after quarter time. She took a strong intercept mark on the wing during the second term, and was not afraid to put her body on the line and compete. Though not winning a lot of it, she aimed to play her role and held her own one-on-one.

#21 Imahra Cameron (West Perth)
Forward | 164cm | 09/01/1997

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s

The danger in the forward half and arguably the next best West Australian after Fish for her impact, Cameron set up scoring opportunities including Adele Arnup‘s goal after a clever snap in the third term to the top of the goalsquare. She missed a quick snap in the second term that went through for a behind but had the last kick of the game thumping it long inside 50, her fifth of the contest.

#24 Emily Bennett (West Perth)
Defender | 170cm | 26/12/2002

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Another former Eagle now West Perth talent, Bennett was one of the more efficient players at half-back and used the ball well coming out of defence. She was mostly clean and made good decisions, not afraid to look into the corridor and bite off those riskier kicks. Bennett found her fair share of the ball, was strong overhead and read the game well, all qualities that led her to and AFLW club, and showed off her versatility having played midfield for the Falcons this season.

SANFLW:

#1 Tesharna Maher (Norwood)
Forward | 160cm | 15/11/2001

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Maher was lively and dangerous inside 50, running onto a couple of goals and finishing off cleanly, including an important one in the third term. Her first attempt hit the behind post in the opening quarter, but she was soon onto it by striking with the second goal of the game. She worked into the middle during the last term and pinpointed a pass to be a clean ball user.

#3 Tahlita Buethke (Norwood)
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 23/01/2002

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles

The Norwood wing provided plenty of run and carry out of the backline playing a deeper role than in the SANFLW before getting further afield later in the match. She did well when pushing up into the midfield to win it around the ball as well, or holding a high line on the wing. She had a few turnovers during the game, but generally put the ball into dangerous positions, including a long kick inside 50 midway through the fourth quarter.

#4 Caitlin Wendland (Central District)
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 13/09/2003

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Producing the first score of the game – a behind – via a flying shot under pressure from a forward stoppage, Wendland also set up the first goal of the match to Gepp with a kick to space for her teammate to run onto. She consistently hit targets and was deadly with her left boot, but not only did she impact offensively, but defensively too, laying eight tackles. Her second and third efforts were also noticeable in the win.

#5 Samantha Franson (Glenelg)
Forward | 174cm | 07/05/1999

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 3 behinds

The Croweaters’ skipper got her name on the board early in the second term with a clever soccer off the deck in the goalsquare to put her side 25-0 up. From then on, the Glenelg captain had her chances but could not quite capitalise with some rushed shots on goal. Her ability to get to the right spots and do the hard work was evident, and with that touch more composure, she could have had a huge day. Still, she was impressive with her positioning and work rate.

#6 Alisha Gepp (Sturt)
Forward/Defender | 161cm | 09/04/2002

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Coming into the match Gepp had only kicked two goals in her four SANFLW seasons with Sturt, but by quarter time she had the same amount on the board. Her first came from running onto a nice pass from Wendland and then her second from a mark and set shot. After playing in attack for the first half, Gepp was seen on the last line in defence mopping up and neatly disposing off it down the ground.

#10 Shelby Smith (Central District)
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 18/08/1991

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Starting forward and rotating into the midfield, Smith found more of the ball as the match went on. She worked hard to get back into defence, and her ability to put her body on the line was consistent. As expected, her clean hands in traffic and repeat contest work were the areas of her game that shone, while she provided a great one-two punch with Smith through the middle, as the pair often combined to get the ball forward.

#16 Jessica Bates (Glenelg)
Midfielder | 165cm | 15/08/1995

Stats: 34 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s

It was another massive performance from the Glenelg midfielder and 2022 SANFLW League Best and Fairest winner. She had the ball on a string with 34 disposals, but she laid five tackles and had nine clearances, being the clear dominant inside ball-winner on the ground. Six more touches than anyone else and 14 more than any Croweater, Bates was a deserving MVP, and she produced a consistent, four-quarter effort. The Sandgropers looked to limit her influence through the middle of the game, but she got straight back to it and feasted on both inside and outside ball.

#22 Jade Halfpenny (Norwood)
Forward/Ruck | 175cm | 12/05/2002

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 6 hitouts, 3 inside 50s

Starting forward and giving a chop out in the ruck, Halfpenny had some important plays in setting up scoring opportunities. while her first shot from a ball-up inside 50 went out on the full and her other snap missed to the right for a behind, she set up both Maher and Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap for their goals. Her elite contested mark one-on-one against Eliza Gelmi just before the three quarter time siren was a highlight, though she appeared put off by the siren mid run-up and it forced her to skew the kick short.

#25 Hannah Button (West Adelaide)
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 27/11/1996

Stats: 13 disposals, 11 tackles, 3 inside 50s

A consistent ball-winner between midfield and forward, Button showed some nice skill going between the arcs, and she provided plenty of pressure around the ball. She did her best work in close, but she did get to the outside, putting it inside 50 to her forwards’ advantage on several occasions. An important player in the Croweaters’ midfield rotation.