JUST five players remained in our WAFL Women’s Team of the Week from last round as South Fremantle and Claremont both boasted five players for Round 2. The Bulldogs and Tigers had the most, with fellow winners East Fremantle and Subiaco managing three, while the four losing sides each had two representatives this week.

South Fremantle not only boasts the equal most players, but also the captain, with ex-Docker and returning Bulldog Tahleah Mulder earning the honour after an outing of 26 disposals, four marks, eight tackles and six inside 50 during her side’s win over Perth. Mulder’s deputy for the round is another with AFLW experience in Maggie MacLachlan who has impressed for Subiaco off a wing but has been moved to half-back in this team for balance.

Mulder is joined in the side by one of the returning players from Round 1 in Zoe Huggett who slotted another three goals and looms as one of the key contenders for the goalkicking award. Her partner in crime Poppy Stockwell (two goals) is also in the side, as is ex-Docker Tara Stribley and returning top-age midfielder Renee Morgan.

Alongside Maclachlan are a couple of Lions midfielders in Lisa Steane and last week’s captain Krstel Petrevski, both of whom make it in for a second consecutive week. Also in for Round 2 once again is Shark Maya Louvel-Finn at full-back and Peel midfielder Chloe Wrigley on the bench.

Subiaco onballer Paige Sheppard was unlucky to be named as an emergency for the second consecutive week alongside Holly Britton – who made the Round 1 starting team – and Chloe Reilly.

Claremont played its first game of the season and notched up the equal competition-high five representatives with athletic forward Ella Gilbey ultra-dangerous up forward and earning a spot in the pocket. A trio of ex-Eagles in Mackenzie Webb, Sasha Goranova and Jayme Harken are also in teh side, along with ruck Matilda Husband.

East Fremantle was the other winner in Round 2, with Louvel-Finn named in a back pocket alongside veteran defender Leanne Gubbins, while she bookended the team with key forward Sarah Wielstra. Also inside 50 was Peel forward Arianne Norris who booted a couple of goals in the loss to the Sharks, while West Perth second gamer Sara Riou kicked her side’s sole major and was strong throughout the match.

The other Falcon in the team was top-ager Mia Russo who made it onto the bench alongside Perth’s Fina Dethlefsen and East Perth’s Lucy Greenwood with those two players having teammates in the back six. Sabella Banks (East Perth) and Sienna Timmermans (Perth) are those two defenders, rounding out the 24-strong squad for Round 2.

2025 WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 2

B: Maya Louvel-Finn (East Fremantle) – Leanne Gubbins (East Fremantle) – Sabella Banks (East Perth)
HB: Sienna Timmermans (Perth) – Mackenzie Webb (Claremont) – Maggie Machlachlan (Subiaco) (vc)
C: Tara Stribley (South Fremantle) – Sasha Goranova (Claremont) – Tahleah Mulder (South Fremantle) (c)
HF: Sarah Riou (West Perth) – Zoe Huggett (South Fremantle) – Poppy Stockwell (South Fremantle)
F: Ella Gilbey (Claremont) – Sarah Wielstra (East Fremantle) – Arianne Norris (Peel Thunder)
R: Matilda Husband (Claremont) – Lisa Steane (Subiaco) – Krstel Petrevski (Subiaco)
INT: Fina Dethlefsen (Perth) – Lucy Greenwood (East Perth) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Renee Morgan (South Fremantle) – Mia Russo (West Perth) – Chloe Wrigley (Peel Thunder)

EMG: Holly Britton (Perth) – Chloe Reilly (East Fremantle) – Paige Sheppard (Subiaco)