THREE of the top four finalists have four representatives in our 2024 Rookie Me Central WAFL Women’s Team of the Year. East Fremantle, Claremont and Swan Districts all picked up a quartet of players in our final team with West Perth, South Fremantle and Subiaco managing three. Peel Thunder (two) and East Perth (one) completed the 24-strong squad.

Youth is the key to leadership in this side, with Swan Districts top-ager Lily Paterson marginally pipping top draft prospect Zippy Fish in nominations, with 10 to nine. Therefore, Paterson earned our captaincy in this year’s team, with Fish the vice-captain. Both will team up for Western Australia in the upcoming national championships, and while Paterson was named in the midfield for this hypothetical team, Fish’s versatility allowed her to roll to half-back.

That same luxury has been used for another top-age talent in South Fremantle’s Molly O’Hehir who is on the other flank to Fish. The trio are three of four 2006-born talents in the side – O’Hehir’s Bulldogs teammate Noa McNaughton is the other – as well as three 2007-born prospects.

They are reigning Rising Star Evie Cowcher who had a huge year for Peel Thunder, East Perth small forward Lucy Greenwood who was a shining light, and Swan Districts midfielder Carys D’Addario.

In terms of the Sharks alongside Fish, fellow midfielders Ash Gomes and Chloe Wrigley made the final team, as did ruck/forward Emmelie Fiedler who had the second most hitouts in the competition, but kicked the most goals for the season of the certified rucks.

Claremont had a mix of players across an even spread, though reigning Dhara Kerr Medallist Jayme Harken was the clear standout in 2024. She was named as another starting midfielder, while wing/forward Eva O’Donnell slotted into a pocket. Jacinta Valentini and Jessica Ritchie were among the six interchange players.

Swan Districts had a couple of bookends in the side with Paterson and D’Addario, with competition leading goalkicker Courtney Zappara at full-forward, and defender Isabella Edgley at centre half-back. Also in defence was Peel Thunder’s other representative with Cowcher, skipper Ebony Dowson.

Both Subiaco and West Perth finished with three representatives a piece. The Lions had a player in each third of the ground, being defender Beatrice Devlyn, winger Hayley Corlett and midfielder/forward Krstel Petrevski. West Perth on the other hand had starting onballer Emily Bennett and midfielder/forward Imahra Cameron starting, while Falcons winger Taylor Ferguson was named on the bench.

Rounding out the squad is dynamic South Fremantle forward Poppy Stockwell who was named at centre half-forward, while three emergencies were chosen amongst a stack group of players from the full squad. Peel Thunder’s Ebony Bilcich, West Perth’s Brooke Hongell and Subiaco’s Olivia Wolmarans.

2024 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL WAFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) – Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Beatrice Devlyn (Subiaco)
HB: Zippy Fish (East Fremantle) (vc) – Isabella Edgley (Swan Districts) – Molly O’Hehir (South Fremantle)
C: Ash Gomes (East Fremantle) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Hayley Corlett (Subiaco)
HF: Imahra Cameron (West Perth) – Poppy Stockwell (South Fremantle) – Krstel Petrevski (Subiaco)
F: Lucy Greenwood (East Perth) – Courtney Zappara (Swan Districts) -Eva O’Donnell (Claremont)
R: Emmelie Fiedler (East Fremantle) – Lily Paterson (Swan Districts) (c) – Emily Bennett (West Perth)
INT: Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts) – Taylor Ferguson (West Perth) – Noa McNaughton (South Fremantle) – Jess Ritchie (Claremont) – Jacinta Valentini (Claremont) – Chloe Wrigley (East Fremantle)

EMG: Ebony Bilcich (Peel Thunder) – Brooke Hongell (West Perth) – Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco)

2024 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL SANFL WOMEN’S SECOND TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Hunter Cronin (South Fremantle) – Leanne Gubbins (East Fremantle) – Claire Ortlepp (Claremont)
HB: Claudia Wright (Claremont) – Eliza Gelmi (Swan Districts) – Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
C: Megan Norbury (West Perth) – Liusaidh Gilchrist (South Fremantle) – Holly Britton (Peel Thunder)
HF: Amber Kinnane (East Fremantle) – Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco) – Mia Russo (West Perth)
F: Chloe Reilly (East Fremantle) – Anjelique Raison (Claremont) – Brooke Hongell (West Perth)
R: Tess Lyons (Subiaco) – Ebony Bilcich (Peel Thunder) – Bianca Webb (West Perth)
INT: Sabella Banks (East Perth) – Beth Beckett (East Fremantle) – Laura Catherine (East Fremantle) – Kayley King (Swan Districts) – Eva Popovsky (Subiaco) – Lauren Vecchio (South Fremantle)