ONCE again wet weather wrecked havoc on the WAFL Women’s competition as Round 9 was completed over Friday and Saturday. As always we looked at the West Australian State Academy members to see how they fared in some blockbuster, ladder-defining contests.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

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

East Fremantle:

#13 Maya Louvel-Finn (Defender)
Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Have really liked Louvel-Finn’s transformation this season and that was the case once again with the defender being one of the best on the ground from her post. She intercepted consistently, applied pressure at ground level and remained accountable to her direct opponent. At times she is forced to bomb the ball quickly which can result in turnovers, but more often than not she is an effective ball user who can be deadly when given any time and space. Got forward to take a flying shot on goal from long-range than just pushed wide.

#17 Alicia Blizard (Forward)
Stats: 4 disposals, 2 tackles

It was not a day for tall forwards and for Blizard who had limited opportunities and is still developing her marking, she was not able to impact the game in the way she would like. She still worked up the ground when required and had a couple of quick touches including a snap around her body on the wing or a quick handball away in the pocket, but just did not get much time and space. Looked a little ginger early in the fourth term helped off the ground.

South Fremantle:

#15 Renee Morgan (Midfielder)
Stats: 26 disposals, 4 marks, 9 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 behinds

An enormous performance from the midfielder who was everywhere for the Bulldogs, winning the most touches on the ground and being both an offensive and defensive force. Missed a couple of chances on goal, but as a whole was able to play to the conditions and get the ball forward. Her performance was analysed in our WAFLW Player Focus.

>> Player Focus: Renee Morgan

#22 Eva Flynn (Forward)
Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50

Had some lively moments up forward and loves to get onto her trusty left as her goal from the week before showed. Though in the match she did not hit the scoreboard, the top-ager applied great defensive pressure and tried to break free on a number of occasions. Has a touch of class to go with her grunt work.

#31 Marie Polimeno (Defender)
Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 1 inside 50

Played her role with no frills and was able to intercept the ball a couple of times and push up the ground to the wing to hold a high line. Though not as clean as she can be given the conditions, she still worked well to impact the game from the back half of the ground.

East Perth:

#3 Lucy Greenwood (Forward)
Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal

One of the most exciting West Australian draft prospects, it was great to see Greenwood back in action for the Royals after missing some weeks due to an ankle injury. She showed no signs of being hampered with her slick sidestepping or evasive ball-handing skills on full display. Though lining up at half-forward, Greenwood has a licence to roam right up the ground and impact, often finding the ball on a wing or half-back. She did get forward eight minutes into the second term to find space and then slotted a set shot goal with easy. Ultra-clean and plenty of upside.

#20 Charli Bassett (Forward/Midfielder)
Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s

In many ways, Bassett is a younger version of Greenwood. Though not as elite at evasion – she is still well above average with a nice sidestep – she has that class and X-factor about her. She covers the ground well can get forward and look dangerous, and even got her opportunity on-ball at different points. Has not played a lot at League level, but has now strung four consecutive games together and picked up double-digit disposals in each of them. One to keep in mind for next year as a rising talent.

West Perth:

#25 Lexi Strachan (Midfielder)
Stats: 24 disposals, 6 marks, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Without Mia Russo in the side, Strachan stepped up in an important win for West Perth, bullocking her way around the stoppages then getting forward to boot two clever goals. She put one out on the full only to intercept the next kick and convert the tight-angled set shot, with her second goal a jaw-dropper on the run from long-range. She was busy throughout the match and though at times she can throw into the boot under pressure, Has great penetration and competes strongly in the air as well as at ground level, knowing how to throw her weight around and thrive in contested situations.

#31 Cara Dziegielewski (Ruck/Forward)
Stats: 5 disposals, 5 tackles, 19 hitouts, 2 inside 50s

Held her own throughout the ruck and did what she does best which is leap at the footy and get first hands to it. Her defensive pressure is a highlight of the 180cm prospect’s game, and though Dziegielewski did not have as much impact around the ground against the Royals as she had the week before, it was definitely not the conditions for talls.

Perth:

#34 Addison Opalinski (Defender)
Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

One of the best Demons on the day, the top-ager provided an intercepting force out of the back half of the ground, competing strongly in the air and getting into smart ball-winning positions. She can throw the ball on the boot at times, but has a booming kick and her size allows her to break free of would-be tacklers more often than not. Still raw and developing, but has some great talent for the future and is one to watch further build on her game.

#37 Mia Carlshausen (Defender)
Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s

Found plenty of the ball once again in that rebounding role, Carlshausen has slotted into League level with aplomb and if given any room, can inflict maximum damage by foot coming out of the back half. She had to rush a few kicks under pressure in the contest, but held her own and her technique by foot is a joy to watch. Has a few classy moves to her game as well, feigning a handball at one stage to then wrong foot the opponent and switch it up.

Subiaco:

#12 Olivia Crane (Defender)
Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle

The National Academy defender provided an intercept marking target at half-back and was generally clean using the ball well out of the back half considering the conditions. She always looked to bite off those risky kicks backing herself, and on the odd occasion when she did turn it over, did not let it phase her and won it back to then distribute it to a teammate with a clean switch. Is building nicely towards the national championships.

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 4 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Though not having as many opportunities as a key forward taking on the bottom side might have envisaged, Wolmarans made the most of her chances in wet conditions. She slotted two goals of which one from a set shot straight in front, and then soccered home another. Wolmarans covered a lot of ground despite having plenty of attention. The fact the conditions did not suit and she still kicked multiple goals was a credit to the top-end talent.

#24 Sunni-Quay Peters (Defender)
Stats: 1 disposal, 1 tackle

Played deep in defence and just did not really see much of it, playing her role and buzzing around when the ball was in there, though only finished with the one touch and one tackle.

#27 Layla Quinn-Schofield (Forward)
Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Looked dangerous throughout the match, and while she has had bigger statistical games, hit some elite passes with her deadly left foot. Such a penetrating user off that side, she worked up the ground and used her vision and execution to impact forward of centre, while also applying pressure to the opposition all over the forward half. Quinn-Schofield pushes up to stoppages to add an extra number as well when playing in that high half-forward role.

Swan Districts:

#5 Carys D’Addario (Midfielder)
Stats: 29 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 9 inside 50s

Arguably the standout performer of the entire weekend, D’Addario was enormous throughout the four quarters and did a great job going head-to-head with Kelly who was coming off a record-breaking performance the week before. D’Addario took the chocolates and shone regardless of her direct opponent, using her strength and smarts to win the ball both at ground level and in the air, with the wet conditions making it tricky for the latter. Still, she thrived in the contest and was able to win a number of centre clearances and put her side on the front-foot from the get-go.

#14 Ava Stewart (Defender/Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Played three quarters in defence and had a couple of moments though at one stage got too forward and left a spare out the back which cost a goal. Overall did well covering the ground however, taking a strong mark on the wing and then driving it forward, before moving into the attack for the last quarter. Her speed on the lead caught the eye to mark in front midway through the final term, and though she missed the subsequent set shot, looked dangerous. A second snap on goal went out of the full.

#18 Sienna Gerardi (Forward)
Stats: 14 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

As per usual, Gerardi does not need a lot of the ball to have a huge impact and at half-forward she did just that working up the ground. A pressure player who boasts elite evasion techniques, Gerardi is just so difficult to tackle and contain. If you give her an inch, she will take a mile, and her sidestep is as good as anyone’s going around. Had a shot on goal midway through the final term from long-range that was unlucky just bouncing to the left. A lively performance.

Claremont:

#11 Ella Gilbey (Forward)
Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 2 behinds

After a quieter few performances, Gilbey showed the signs she had at the start of the season by kicking a goal and having a couple more chances while really testing her direct opponents. She covers the ground up to a wing then doubles back and remains a threat, with a soccer attempt on goal unluckily hitting the goalpost. When backing her teammates to create a turnover up the field, Gilbey often gets a head start on her opponents towards goal and she did just that in the third term where she found space all alone to mark and convert the set shot goal.

#33 Juliet Kelly (Midfielder)
Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 1 inside 50

After her stat-stuffing performance last round, Kelly was solid in Round 9. She is always so strong defensively and was once again, laying nine tackles and battling hard. She went against a few different opponents and while D’Addario took the chocolates in their head-to-head battle, Kelly used her outstanding endurance to work up and down the ground and provided an option for her teammates. Not afraid to put her body on the line at ground level or in the air.