ALL FOUR winning sides contributed the same amount of WAFL Women’s Team of the Week nominees for Round 13, making up 16 of the 24 players in the side. Two losing sides – South Fremantle and Peel Thunder had one less with three, while Claremont had two and East Perth was the only team without a player in the side.

Swan Districts top-ager Lily Paterson earned the captaincy this week after her massive 36 disposals, 13 clearances and five inside 50s for the Black Ducks, while Peel Thunder skipper Ebony Dowson helped herself to 37 disposals and seven marks in the loss against Subiaco to be this hypothetical side’s vice-captain.

Alongside Paterson, the easy lock was full-forward Courtney Zappara who brought down the monarchy with seven goals. Also in the side are bottom-age midfielder Carys D’Addario who continued to spend stints up forward, and defender-turned-forward against East Perth, kicking three majors after switching ends.

Joining Dowson in defence from the Thunder was regular Team of the Week talent Evie Cowcher who was her productive self against the Lions, while midfielder Ebony Bilcich returned from missing last week to rack up 32 disposals.

Ladder leaders East Fremantle continued their dominance at the top of the WAFL Women’s table with Zippy Fish having another day out, kicking a goal from 25 touches. She was joined in the team by former Dhara Kerr Medallist Sharon Wong (two goals) and Beth Beckett (27 disposals, five marks), as well as ruck Emmelie Fiedler who amassed 44 hitouts in the grand final rematch.

It was a tough match for Claremont against the Sharks, but midfielder Jayme Harken notched up 30 disposals in a game-high effort. She was named on the bench, while defender/midfielder Juliet Kelly was impressive at the contest and slotted into half-back.

West Perth’s hard-fought come-from-behind win over South Fremantle saw another four players make the side including three teenagers. Up forward, Kayla Van Den Heever booted 3.3 to provide a spark for the Falcons, while Megan Norbury (wing) and Kaitlyn Roper (half-back) earned their spots after a couple of eye-catching performances. Experienced midfielder/forward Imahra Cameron won 22 disposals and took eight marks in the victory.

For South Fremantle in the one-point loss, defender Hunter Cronin and Bulldogs skipper Lauren Vecchio both earned their places in the side, as did explosive midfielder Molly O’Hehir, who despite a lower production rate this week, still had a high impact-per-possession from her 14 touches.

The remaining four players in the side came from Subiaco who continued to put pressure and fourth spot with a seven-goal win over Peel Thunder. Wing Hayley Corlett had a day out kicking 3.4 from 22 disposals and six marks, while forward/ruck Olivia Wolmarans showed she can contribute in multiple ways. Eva Popovsky and Leila Rowe also made the side after being among the better Lions in the victory.

The three Round 13 emergencies were a trio of experienced players in West Perth’s Emily Bennett, Claremont’s Jacinta Valentini and East Fremantle’s Chloe Wrigley.

2024 WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 13

B: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) (vc) – Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Hunter Cronin (South Fremantle)
HB: Juliet Kelly (Claremont) – Isabella Edgley (Swan Districts) – Kaitlyn Roper (West Perth)
C: Hayley Corlett (Subiaco) – Ebony Bilcich (Peel Thunder) – Megan Norbury (West Perth)
HF: Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts) – Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco) – Beth Beckett (East Fremantle)
F: Kayla Van Den Heever (West Perth) – Courtney Zappara (Swan Districts) – Sharon Wong (East Fremantle)
R: Emmelie Fiedler (East Fremantle) – Lily Paterson (Swan Districts) (c) – Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)

INT: Imahra Cameron (West Perth) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle) – Eva Popovsky (Subiaco) – Leila Rowe (Subiaco) – Lauren Vecchio (South Fremantle)

EMG: Emily Bennett (West Perth) – Jacinta Valentini (Claremont) – Chloe Wrigley (East Fremantle)