CLAREMONT moved through to its third successive WAFL Women’s Grand Final with a hard-fought runaway win against West Perth. There were four State Academy members in the match and we took note of how each of them all performed. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Claremont:

#29 Claudia Wright (Defender)
Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Wright was one of Claremont’s best in the win, holding a strong line in defence and providing aerial assistance from which to rebound and drive the ball forward. She took a number of great marks both at half-back and along the wing, and even pumped the ball inside 50 on a few occasions. She occasionally got nudged off it or in one instance was run down by Imahra Cameron in the fourth term, but her kicking under pressure was generally effective.

#33 Juliet Kelly (Defender/Midfielder)
Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Kelly started the match on-ball and spent a lot of time side-by-side with Russo there. She went about her business accumulating the pill, and like Wright finished as one of the better players in the win. A set shot on goal in the first term unfortunately hit the post, and at one stage in the opening minute there was some confusion with a teammate when both hesitated at a loose ball, but generally Kelly made good decisions. A strong defensive performance too, laying eight tackles.

West Perth:

#1 Megan Norbury (Wing/Defender)
Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

The hard-running winger had a mixed game throughout the final, starting well and mopping up in defence on a few occasions, while attempting to use some of her burst speed to take the game one. She did turnover a couple of kicks, and a forgettable moment was dropping an uncontested mark inside 50, but she did well to set up a goal late in the third term with a nice mark on the wing and kick to Kaitlyn Roper at half-forward which lead to a West Perth goal.

#7 Mia Russo (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

The dangerous bottom-ager might not have had as much of the ball as some of her bigger games, but Russo still had an impact, kicking a classy goal later in the third term to keep her side in the contest. Receiving the handball out the back of the stoppage, she burst forward, composed herself and slotted the goal on the run from long-range. She had another set shot in the first two minutes of the fourth term that fell short, but generally created a spark around the ground and looked impressive.