ANOTHER WAFL Women’s season is underway, and while reigning premiers Claremont had the extra week’s rest with the introduction of a ninth team, that newest side Perth kicked off its new era in senior women’s football. We took a look at some of the State Academy members who caught the eye through the opening round of the WAFL Women’s competition.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

East Perth:

#3 Lucy Greenwood (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Greenwood opened her top-age season with some nice moments, but also still looking a little rusty at times. She is so clean at ground level and applied some great pressure around the contest and to the outside, though did not have the ideal time and space she would love. Greenwood got better as the game went on, so expect an upwards trajectory from here.

Swan Districts:

#5 Carys D’Addario (Midfielder)
Stats: 25 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 8 inside 50s

There was no wasting time for D’Addario who spent the backend of last season on ice, but put herself in the perfect position to impact from Round 1. She racked up a game-high 25 disposals, and was crucial both around the coalface and on the spread in transition. She set up numerous scoring chances including a couple of direct goal assists, and what D’Addario did well was weight her kicks even when on the move.

#18 Sienna Gerardi (Forward)
Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Gerardi showed off her explosive speed throughout the match and had a few ‘almost moments’. Though she was unable to hit the scoreboard herself other than one behind – and one out on the full – she was electric each time she went near it. It is goodnight and good luck to any defender who gets caught out with Gerardi goalside, and once she finds that composure at top seed, watch out.

Peel Thunder:

#2 Evie Cowcher (Defender)
Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

It was business as usual for Cowcher who did not get put under too much stress in what was a one-sided contest. It allowed her to pick off any stray forward thrusts that came her way, and she had a couple of high-flying moments even if she could not bring it down. With time and space she uses the ball so well and her vision and decision making with ball in hand are great. Pushed up on numerous occasions to hold a high line.

#7 Heidi Ireland (Midfielder)
Stats: 16 disposals, 7 tackles

Roamed around the ground en route to an impressive League debut, laying seven tackles to go with 16 disposals. She showed no fear in close and had great second and third efforts as well. Even if she made a mistake she would o her best to mop up and her run-down tackle in the middle of the ground midway through the third term was a huge moment.

#8 Tiama Collard (Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Looks such a classy player inside 50 as she showed at the Under 16s carnival last year. The talented double bottom-ager is still Under 16s eligible, but has all the goal sense and smarts of a far more experienced player. She kicked a ripping goal from 45m that bounced home late in the firstterm, then snapped another from the top of the goalsquare after a mark. She should have had a third with a snap from the pocket but it went side.

#26 Charlie Fletcher (Wing)
Stats: 8 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Fletcher might have produced the most metres gained per disposal in history, with the Thunder talent having not one, not two, but three remarkable multi-bounce runs in the match. Two of those went from half-back to half-forward, with the first leading to a goal and the next directly hitting up Collard inside 50. She then finished off her own work when inside 50 composing herself and putting it through the big sticks. Upside is enormous.

Perth:

#34 Addison Opalinski (Defender)
Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50

Certainly had her moments to suggest she has some draftable qualities and it is obvious to see why she is the sole Perth top-ager in the State Academy. She was often found behind the ball, taking a couple of good marks at half-back and delivering cleanly into the middle. Showed good hands and used the ball well by foot to go with her aerial accomplishments.

#37 Mia Carlshausen (Forward)
Stats: 5 disposals, 2 tackles

It was a tough day to be a Perth forward, so Carlshausen had limited opportunities. She produced a nice handball to Holly Britton under pressure midway through the third term and a couple of ‘almost moments’ including a juggling mark that she dropped when bumped. Still, she will have easier, and tougher assignments to come over the next 18 months.

South Fremantle:

#22 Eva Flynn (Forward)
Stats: 2 disposals, 2 marks

It was a shame Flynn only won the ball twice because because the top-age debutant is touted as a terrific kick and she showed it with her couple of chances. Ultimately it was a quiet first game, but Flynn will be better for the run going forward.

#31 Marie Polimeno (Defender)
Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks

Really produced a strong performance and was one of her side’s best in the win trying hard from the back 50. She battled against bigger and stronger opponents to hold her own, and the left-footer was able to clear numerous forward 50 entries to keep the Bulldogs in teh game. She generally used the ball well and was highly competitive which was great to see, despite giving away size to multiple opponents such as Blizard and Anjelique Raison in some contests.

East Fremantle:

#13 Maya Louvel-Finn (Defender)
Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles

Her performance ticked a lot of boxes and would have had recruiters take further note with her efforts. Aside from one turnover off hands at half-back that was realistically no more her fault than bad luck, Louvel-Finn saved plenty of potential goals. A lovely user by foot with a penetrating left boot, Louvel-Finn showed at the Preseason Testing that she has plenty of toe and agility, which allows her to play a more offensive role to go with her natural defensive tendencies as well.

#17 Alicia Blizard (Forward)
Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 4 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 4 goals

A starring role that very nearly single-handedly kicked East Fremantle’s score and got the Sharks over the line, Blizard was huge in getting forward of centre and being a goal-scoring option. A lovely set shot with elite speed and great evasion, she was a handful for multiple opponents. Had she clunked a few more marks – she still had five – then Blizard could have been in for an even bigger day out. The East Fremantle forward worked hard up the ground and was deserving of her scoreboard reward for being the first player back close to goal.

West Perth:

#3 Samara Sallie (Defender)
Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles

The top-age defender showed some toe out of the back 50 with her elite speed on display time and time again. Her kicking is still an area needing improvement, but she did hit some targets with extra time on her side. Sallie took a couple of good marks and looked to speed on the ball transitioning from defence to attack.

#7 Mia Russo (Midfielder)
Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

The National Academy member was okay and found plenty of the ball, but still showed plenty of room for improvement from her best. Russo went up against numerous ex-AFLW midfielders which was a great test for the top-ager, and though at times appeared uncharacteristically a little fumbly, she kept working hard to get into the right spots. So naturally talented, Russo will be another who has the potential to make the midfield spot her own and her explosiveness from the stoppage is what will underpin her game.

#25 Lexi Strachan (Midfielder)
Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles

The promising bottom-ager made her long-awaited WAFLW debut and was not afraid going up against opponents far more experienced around the stoppages. She cracked in and put her body on the line, winning a number of crucial contested balls, or held her ground to either mark or turn the situation into a neutral position. Her composure when winning the ball under pressure is an area to further improve – sometimes bombing it on the boot – but her technical work with time and space was great and she is a bonafide readymade midfielder despite being so young.

#31 Cara Dziegelewski (Forward/Ruck)
Stats: 10 disposals, 1 tackle, 11 hitouts, 1 inside 50

Rotated between the ruck and forward, and though she is not the biggest of bodies in terms of strength, she has the ruck craft that allows her to angle her taps rather than just put it to space and hope for the best. She set up a goal to Kayla Van den Heever and was not afraid to follow up at ground level after contesting the ruck stoppage.

Subiaco:

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Key Forward)
Stats: 18 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles, 2 hitouts, 4 inside 50s, 4 goals, 1 behind

Another National Academy member, Wolmarans equalled the efforts of Blizard earlier in the day with four majors, while also clunking seven marks from 18 disposals. She was outstanding in the air despite opponent Liliana Grassenis often wearing her like a glove, while backing up with some great defensive pressure at ground level. Perhaps missing her easiest attempt of the night after marking and playing on only to push it wide late in the match, Wolmarans still loomed as a handful and will be for opposition defences all season. The Subiaco forward draws frees due to her athleticism and speed.

#24 Sunni-Quay Peters (Defender)
Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Another debutant in the match, Peters showed she can cope at the level and was effective in both her offensive and defensive qualities. While others had bigger numbers, Peters applied nice pressure and competed well time and time again. Will build confidence with more League matches in time.

#27 Layla Quinn-Schofield (Forward)
Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

The forward with the punishing left foot used her weapon to great advantage late in the match when slotting a major from a tight angle in the dying minutes. She got involved in chains her and there with three touches in one play at one stage early in the third term moving the ball from the wing to half-forward. Given her skill by foot, Quinn-Schofield plays the high-forward role well and puts her body on the line as well with great competitiveness.