HARD-RUNNING Claremont midfielder Juliet Kelly delivered a dominant four-quarter performance in her side’s comfortable Round 8 win over East Perth. A prolific ball-winner and tireless runner, Kelly set the tone with her relentless work rate, clean hands, and calm decision-making, consistently driving her team forward from the middle.

Kelly amassed a staggering 48 disposals, nine clearances and 10 tackles, impacting every part of the ground with her elite endurance and footy IQ. Her mix of contested grit and polish proved crucial in transitioning Claremont from defence to attack. For her all-round brilliance and composure in high-pressure moments, Kelly earns this week’s Player Focus.

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 WAFLW: Round 8
Claremont 10.9 (69) def. East Perth 0.2 (2)

#33 Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
Midfielder I 173cm I 28/07/2007

Stats: 48 disposals (19CP, 31UP & 66.7% disposal efficiency), 10 tackles, 9 clearances, 4 marks, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

FIRST QUARTER

Kelly got to work early, positioning herself cleverly around stoppages and showing great awareness to receive loose balls and move the play with precision. Her ability to collect cleanly off the deck and distribute to teammate in space set up multiple inside 50 entries for Claremont.

A standout moment came when she swooped on a loose ball, gathered cleanly, and delivered a sharp handball to a teammate inside 50, helping to create an early scoring opportunity. Her reading of the game saw her take an intercept possession moment later, again linking cleanly with teammates. From the outset she looked composes, sharp, and in complete control.

SECOND QUARTER

The second quarter saw Kelly’s composure under pressure rise to another level. Despite being handballed to while under the pump, she calmly delivered strong handballs over traffic, consistently finding outside runners in space.

Her run and carry game became more prominent, highlighted by a brilliant sequence in which she won a free kick after being tripped in a two-against-one contest. Though her set shot didn’t convert then, she was constantly dangerous forward of centre. She took multiple intercept marks through reading the play expertly, and her follow-up efforts, like tackling after a turnover, showed her commitment to two-way running.

She remained a crucial link in transition, often receiving under pressure and handballing accurately to teammates on the move. She helped set up several shots on goal with her clean use inside 50.

THIRD QUARTER

Kelly’s running capacity shone brightest in the third, covering the ground from one end to the other and remaining constantly involved. Despite being under pressure, she consistently got handballs away cleanly, even while being tackled, and her pressure acts helped Claremont keep the ball locked in their forward half.

Her ability to support on the overlap and then provide options inside 50 was outstanding. She presented strongly for a teammate, marked under pressure, and although the kick inside 50 was not perfect, her intent and movement were faultless.

Kelly’s defensive pressure also stood out, laying strong tackles and impacting contests all across the field. Her positioning around packs was excellent, often providing her teammates with a release option in tight spaces.

FOURTH QUARTER

Despite the result being in Claremont’s favour, Kelly’s intensity did not drop. She kept applying pressure at the coalface, often being the first to ground balls and helping her team maintain control. One of her best passages came when she laid a strong tackle, handballed under pressure, and immediately continued her run, receiving the ball back and handballing again to create space up the field, a textbook example of link play.

Her ability to stay involved in plays for multiple phases, tap to advantage, and keep her hands free in tackles continued to trouble East Perth’s midfield. Whether at stoppages or on the wing, she was always in the right place, using her smarts and work rate to stay influential.

FINAL QUARTER…

Juliet Kelly’s game was nothing short of elite. Her 48 disposals were built off the back of relentless running, elite positioning, and exceptional decision making under pressure. She consistently gave her teammates first use, played with poise, and maintained a high level of intensity for all four quarters.

Her work rate around stoppages, ability to spread from the contest, and repeat efforts made her a standout in every phase of the game. If this form continues, Kelly will firmly cement herself as one of the top midfielder in the WAFLW. A true engine room warrior, and a key reason behind Claremont’s commanding Round 8 win.