WEATHER played a part in the WAFL Women’s Round 8 action as most of the West Australian State Academy continued their development through the state league competition with some big performances. We took a look at those in action and how they performed over the weekend.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

>> ROUND 8: Round review | Team of the Week | Player Focus

By: Ella Purkiss

Claremont:

#11 Ella Gilbey (Forward)
Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Despite not featuring with any goals on the scoreboard, Gilbey was an essential forward with her speed and agility when handling the ball. Gilbey’s great reading of the play allowed her to get into the right positions to impact as well. Although her gameplay was less pronounced, her liveliness helped her to quickly use her smart, clean and fast judgement of the game.

#15 Hannah Seaborn (Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

The talented Under 16s tall forward was able to hit the scoreboard and showed great technique with the ball. Her anticipated influence inside 50 was proven and her offensive efforts stood out. She positioned deep inside 50, with her great judgement of the ball flight and high vertical leap features of her game.

#33 Juliet Kelly (Defender/Midfielder)
Stats: 48 disposals, 4 marks, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Brought her own ball to play a dominant part in Claremont’s midfield, Kelly played a sensational game against East Perth and garnered the highest disposal count of the season with a whopping 48 disposals. Kelly was one of the most influential players on the ground, finding herself at most of the centre bounces and being a staple within the midfield through her ball winning ability and her kicks straight inside 50. Kelly showed off her impressive tackling skill with 10 well executed tackles, demonstrating relentless pressure and defence while the ball was in East Perth’s half.

>> WAFLW Player Focus: Juliet Kelly

East Perth:

#20 Charli Bassett (Wing/Forward)
Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Despite being a small and speedy half forward, Bassett was able to lay eight ferocious tackles in her gameplay. She was also oftentimes seen on the wing, with her nimble and clean gameplay. She is able to find space with the ball but could improve on making more accurate kicks towards her teammates. Although Bassett did not put any scores on the board for East Perth, she picked up 12 disposals making her one of the team’s best players for the game. 

By: Erin Piez

Perth:

#34 Addison Opalinski (Wing/Defender)
Stats: 6 disposals, 2 tackles

Opalinski showed promising signs on the wing, combining outside run with smart positioning to find space and offer an outlet. She looked composed with ball in hand, particularly when delivering inside 50 or switching play. Her ability to hold width and provide a connection between the inside midfielders and forwards created overlap opportunities for Perth throughout the match. Her two-way running was also evident, pushing back hard to support the defence on transition.

#37 Mia Carlshausen (Defender)
Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles

Carlshausen played with intensity in the defensive half, showing a strong one-on-one presence and contributing with clean spoils and second efforts. She tracked her opponents closely and showed good awareness when peeling off to support teammates in contests. One of her highlights came in the third quarter when she executed a crucial smother deep in defence that helped deny West Perth a forward entry. Her defensive instincts and ability to stick tackles made her an important part of the Falcons’ back six.

West Perth:

25 Lexi Strachan (Midfielder)
Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Strachan brought nice control to the West Perth side around the ground, able to position herself well behind the ball when required, then drive it forward to have numerous inside 50s. She kicked a nice goal and was able to produce high percentage plays by foot and made good decisions. One of the better Falcons on the day, Strachan found plenty of the ball and worked tirelessly both at the coalface and in transition.

#31 Cara Dziegielewski (Ruck)
Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 9 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 3 behinds

Dziegielewski was tireless through the middle of the ground, providing consistent drive and pressure in contested situations. She attacked the footy hard at stoppages and was effective in disrupting East Perth’s midfield rhythm. Her work rate around the ground stood out, often being the link between defence and attack. On several occasions, she followed up her own clearances to either lay tackles or win repeat possessions, showing her two-way running strength and team-first mindset.

By: Peter Williams

South Fremantle:

#15 Renee Morgan (Midfielder)
Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 17 tackles, 3 inside 50s

While Morgan has had bigger offensive games, her defensive pressure set the tone for the rest of her side. In a wet slog, she laid 17 tackles and made life difficult for the opposition around the clinches. She was run-down by D’Addario as she streamed towards goal, but otherwise used both sides of her body effectively, and made good decisions with ball in hand. Very clean considering, Morgan had her moments without able to get too much freedom when transitioning offensively.

#22 Eva Flynn (Forward)
Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

While not having a lot of chances, Flynn took one early with a goal of the round contender. Just seven minutes into the match, she scooped up the ball and while semi off-balance put it on her preferred left on the wrong side for a left footer and weighted the kick perfectly for it to thread the needle and bounce home. It was South’s first goal of the match, and though she finished with only the eight touches, worked up the ground a couple of times to present and dished off to teammates to dispose of in transition.

#31 Marie Polimeno (Defender)
Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle

Had a tough time against some seriously dangerous forwards, often just trying desperately to clear the danger. The bottom-ager was clean by hand and quick to dish off, though did not have much space to use her kicking skills to advantage. Battled hard and did what she could in what was a largely ground level game.

Swan Districts:

#5 Carys D’Addario (Midfielder)
Stats: 23 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Another rock solid performance and was among the best with Gerardi for her consistent midfield work and getting to the outside to impact. She had a few more issues in the conditions at ground level, but once she had ball in hard, was quick to dispose of it and rarely made a bad decision. She produced a huge run-down tackle on Morgan late in the third term to stop a potential goal, and almost kicked a major seven minutes into the final term that was unluckily touched on the line. Unsurprisingly, was outstanding defensively.

#14 Ava Stewart (Defender)
Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

Played her role in defence and though she dropped a couple of marks or struggled in the conditions, still remained accountable behind the ball. She got run-down midway through the second term trying to assess her options, but her second and third efforts throughout the match were promising for the top-ager.

#18 Sienna Gerardi (Forward)
Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 behinds

It was an outstanding game from Gerardi who was arguably best afield in her side’s victory, dancing around opponents with ease and making the wet conditions look like a perfectly dry day. She set up the first two goals after marks at half-forward, and was involved in no less than five goals throughout the day. She almost kicked goal of the year working in a phonebox deep in the forward pocket seven minutes into the last quarter but not having a left foot meant her checkside went to the near side. Still, was so classy across the ground and has massive upside.

By: Peter Williams

Subiaco:

#8 Olivia Crane (Defender)
Stats: 17 disposals, 9 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s

Has not missed a beat since returning from her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear which put a line through her bottom-age campaign. In her third game back, Crane was a massive threat in the air, pulling in a lot of marks under pressure, while also positioning herself perfectly behind the ball. Saving at least a couple of goalscoring opportunities – including two fantastic grabs in the defensive goalsquare – Crane was able to clear on more than a few occasions. A little hesitant to use her right side, the high-impact lefty was able to hit some sizzling passes that lead to scoring opportunities, though when forced onto her right more often put them in front of her teammates than pinpoint.

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Forward/Ruck)
Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 3 goals, 3 behinds

It was another dominant display from the Subiaco star youngster slammed home three goals and missed a couple she would normally nail including a 15m set shot from a slight angle. Still, she kicked two in the first term including a clever checkside to an open goalsquare, and then her first from a contested mark 25m out. She worked up the ground as well, but did her best work inside 50 where she caused all sorts of headaches for the Peel defence with six scoring shots and another few goal assists including to Aimee Schmidt and Sian Bosich.

#24 Sunni-Quay Peters (Defender)
Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

Did not have a lot to do in the defensive half of the ground, able to play a little deeper at times with Crane playing aggressively. Peters still gets into good spots to win the ball, and though still developing some aspects of her game, is able to provide rebound from the back 50 while remaining accountable.

#27 Layla Quinn-Schofield (Forward)
Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 3 inside 50s

A damaging left-footer, Quinn-Schofield played well in that high-forward role, working up the ground and even getting around the stoppages late in the match with a huge final term. She was fierce defensively, and when she can have any time of space, can pierce passes going forward with absolute precision. Her multiple defensive efforts and courage – such as a back with the flight mark – were highlights in the match. The one knock was her set shot from 30m which she sprayed out of the full, though her field kicking was sublime.

Peel Thunder:

#8 Tiama Collard (Forward)
Stats: 8 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

Collard has limited opportunities in a forwardline that struggled against such a strong side, but what stood out about the Under 16s All-Australian was her aggression on the lead and willingness to throw herself into the contest. She had a few “almost chances” with clean hands at ground level and looking dangerous on the few occasions it got into her zone.

#26 Charlie Fletcher (Defender)
Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles

After having starred off the wing this season, Fletcher moved to half-back for the match and had her moments with that breakneck speed while still remaining accountable. She got into trouble a couple of times trying to get free, but was the right idea and great to see, with that willingness to take grass and attempt fend-offs likely to pay off against lower ranked sides.