THERE is no turning back for the loser of West Perth and Swan Districts, as defeat marks the end of that side’s 2024 WAFL Women’s season. For the winner, they live to fight another day and head to a preliminary final, but one thing is for sure, there will be nothing left out of the field for either side.

FORM

A few weeks back, West Perth looked on top of the world, snatching second spot off Claremont after a miraculous win over Claremont followed by a hard-fought victory against South Fremantle and a thrashing of East Perth. However the past fortnight has been a forgettable one, well beaten by their very opponent today at this very venue, before a failing to kick a goal in an inaccurate display against Subiaco. Swan Districts on the other have won for of its past five games since losing to Subiaco by 11 points when a finals spot looked in jeopardy, with the Black Ducks’ only loss in the past month being a competitive defeat to ladder leaders East Fremantle.

TEAMS

CHANGES

West Perth will regain the services of talented young gun Mia Russo who returns after missing last week, and will be joined in the side by both Matilda Bain and Nadia Parora. The Falcons making way for the trio are Ebony Jackson, Kenleigh Duve and Tahlee McVee.

By comparison, Swan Districts has only made the one change, with Naomi Baker returning to the side, while Sienna Pollard is the unlucky omission, dropped to the emergencies for the knockout final.

AFLW DRAFT TALENT

Russo looms as a key player for the Falcons in this one to add speed and X-Factor in the front half of the gorund. She had been in ripping form prior to missing last round and will be crucial again. Wing Megan Norbury also has the potential to stretch the ground and provide some dash for the home side, while for the Black Ducks, they are still without crucial midfielder Carys D’Addario who will play no further part in their season. Instead it will be up to ball-winning top-age star Lily Paterson through the middle, while small forward Sienna Gerardi is an excitement machine inside 50.

PREDICTION

The big question is, can West Perth recapture its best form? If the Falcons can, on paper they should be the better side based on what has transpired this year, and at home for their first ever final helps. However the Black Ducks have the recent form – including that impressive win over the Falcons – and have the added finals experience. If the Falcons do not find their best form it could be curtains for them, but if they can, then there is no reason they cannot see off the Black Ducks missing D’Addario and advance through to the preliminary final.