A STRONG marking athletic forward is as valuable as any other role on the field, and Subiaco’s Olivia Wolmarans fits the bill perfectly. Winning MVP for her side at last year’s Under 17 Futures match, the National Academy member had a day out against West Perth booting four goals from 18 disposals and seven marks.

>>> PLAYER FEATURE: Team-oriented Wolmarans focusted on leadership

Named our number one top-age player to watch from the WAFL Women’s competition in 2025, Wolmarans produced the best performance of the top-agers in Round 1, showing off all of her draftable traits.

OLIVIA WOLMARANS PROFILE

DOB: 02/09/2007
Height: 181cm
Position: Key Forward/Ruck
Strengths: Athleticism, speed, marking, goal sense
Improvements: Forward craft, endurance

PLAYER FOCUS:

2025 WAFL Women’s – Round 1:
Subiaco 7.10 (52) def. West Perth 3.4 (22)

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco)
Stats: 18 disposals, 7 marks (1 contested), 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 4 inside 50s, 4 goals, 1 behind, 109 AFL Fantasy points

QUARTER IN FOCUS: FIRST QUARTER

Olivia Wolmarans started off her first game of the season in style with a massive first quarter that yielded three goals and put her Subiaco side right on top of West Perth. Though two of those would not come until late in the opening term, she got on top of her opponent Liliana Grassenis – who had been great for the most part throughout the first quarter.

In fact the first two contests Wolmarans got to, Grassenis was able to first spoil, then laid a huge tackle at half-forward to avoid the Subiaco tall getting clear. However Wolmarans is the type of player you cannot simply keep quiet for long and soon enough she was doing damage on the scoreboard. Receiving a handball inside 50, Wolmarans dished it off then kept running to receive it back 25m out where she straightened and kicked the first goal of the game in the opening five minutes.

The one-on-one battle continued to be enthralling with Grassenis receiving two free kicks in the next couple of minutes. The first was when the West Perth defender got in front of Wolmarans and received an over the shoulder free kick, and then ext was when Wolmarans tried to get away but Grassenis laid a vital tackle to win a holding the ball free kick.

However, in the 13th minute, Grassenis had pushed up to help her higher defenders, with Wolmarans staying back and it paid dividends. The Subiaco tall marked all alone 30m out and converted the set shot goal easily. She would kick her third at the 17:32 minute mark when pushed over the goalline when the Falcons attempted to rush it, and Wolmarans received the free and snapped truly.

The last contest had nothing to do with Grassenis, and realistically in a quarter of football, the West Perth defender had won four contests to Wolmarans’ two, yet the latter, as well as the free kick against a teammate meant the Subiaco talent headed into quarter time with three goals.

REST OF THE GAME

The first quarter was where Wolmarans did most of her scoreboard impact, though she would kick a fourth goal midway through the third term when marking going back with the flight. She should have had a fifth in the dying minutes of the match after marking 25m out but opted to play-on then as she straightened on the right was still a little off balanced and sprayed it out of bounds.

It was one of those strange games where Wolmarans was outstanding kicking four goals and should have had a fifth, but her opponent also did just about all she could in most situations. At the end of the day, Wolmarans has the capacity to win the ball on the wing, or go into the ruck to find touches. Her thumping kick can set up teammates, and her aggression was also on show throughout the match.

FINAL THOUGHTS…

Olivia Wolmarans is an exciting prospect to watch in 2025 and one of a number of key forwards who have some outstanding athletic traits. She had a massive Round 1 match 12 months ago and has repeated a great first-up effort again this year. Wolmarans will have a big year ahead with Subiaco, Western Australia and the National Academy, though there truly is no ceiling for a player with her potential ability.