FOUR clubs – including three winning sides – all boasted a quartet of players in an evenly spread WAFL Women’s Team of the Week for Round 1. Subiaco, Swan Districts and South Fremantle, along with narrow losers East Perth all finished with four representatives, while the other winner in Peel Thunder had three. West Perth and Perth both notched up multiple players, while East Perth had one.

Subiaco will hold both leadership positions in the hypothetical Team of the Week after midfielder Krstel Petrevski and forward Olivia Wolmarans were named captain and vice-captain respectively for Round 1. Petrevski notched up a game-high 29 disposals, five inside 50s and nine tackles in her team’s win over West Perth, while Wolmarans booted 4.1 from 18 disposals and seven marks, four inside 50s.

The pair was joined in the team by Lions captain Tess Lyons (10 disposals, 21 hitouts) in the starting ruck role, while ex-AFLW Swan Lisa Steane found a spot on debut, and her partner in crime Paige Sheppard was named as an emergency. The Lions accounted for the Falcons, with West Perth boasting two representatives being co-skipper Emily Bennett off halfback and recruit Madison Dodd on the bench. Bottom-age debutant Lexi Strachan was rewarded for her consistency by being named as another emergency.

South Fremantle had a rock solid defence during its come-from-behind victory over East Fremantle, and Hunter Cronin and Marie Polimeno slotted into back pockets. Match-winning forward Zoe Huggett was an easy choice inside 50, while Alyssa Smogavec completed the Bulldogs’ contingent when named on the interchange.

It might have been a tough loss to swallow for the Sharks, but the blend of youth and experience was on display. Top-age talents Alicia Blizard (four goals) and Maya Louvel-Finn were standouts up respective ends, while Ashleigh Gomes moved out to a wing due to the on-ball strength and her ability to play there, and Ashlee Atkins was named on the bench. Defender Natasha Entwistle completed the emergencies.

The other team to boast four representatives in Round 1 was Swan Districts who kick-started its 2025 campaign with a win over East Perth. Three-goal forward Emily McGuire was named at full-forward, with top-age midfielder Carys D’Addario featuring on-ball. Swans duo Alyssa Smogavec and Jaime Henry rounded out the black and whites with places on the bench.

It might be a new year, but it was the same old Evie Cowcher and Ebony Dowson as the defensive duo secured their spots in the first Team of the Week for 2025. They enjoyed a breakthrough win against Perth, with returning midfielder Chloe Wrigley notching up a league-high 32 disposals in Round 1.

Ex-Thunder midfielder Holly Britton showed the co-captaincy at the Bombers will not weigh on her, producing a best-on performance against her former side. She earned a starting spot at half-forward, while wing Jasmine Single also made the team. Completing the 24-strong squad was East Perth’s Elly Sara, with the Royals a touch unlucky to only have the one, but that was largely due to such an even team performance.

2025 WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 1

B: Hunter Cronin (South Fremantle) – Maya Louvel-Finn (East Fremantle) – Marie Polimeno (South Fremantle)
HB: Emily Bennett (West Perth) – Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder)
C: Jasmine Single (Perth) – Chloe Wrigley (Peel Thunder) – Ash Gomes (East Fremantle)
HF: Holly Britton (Perth) – Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco) (vc) – Lisa Steane (Subiaco)
F: Zoe Huggett (South Fremantle) – Emily McGuire (Swan Districts) – Alicia Blizard (East Fremantle)
R: Tess Lyons (Subiaco) – Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts) – Krstel Petrevski (Subiaco) (c)
INT: Ashlee Atkins (East Fremantle) – Luka Davis (Swan Districts) – Madison Dodd (West Perth) – Jaime Henry (Swan Districts) – Elly Sara (East Perth) – Alyssa Smogavec (South Fremantle)

EMG: Natasha Entwistle (East Fremantle) – Paige Sheppard (Subiaco) – Lexi Strachan (West Perth)