WESTERN Australia’s talented summer squad members ran out for their first games for points of the 2026 season as the WAFL Women’s commenced last weekend. There were 19 players who took to the field across the four games, with a pair of Peel bottom-agers and a number of double bottom-age debutants catching the eye.

All scouting notes are the opinion of the individual author.

EAST PERTH:

#8 Charli Bassett
Midfielder/Forward | 156cm | 19/11/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 tackle

The tenacious small started on-ball and then spent more time forward where she to into good positions. While at times her efficiency by foot can waver, as a whole she always brings the pressure even if not rewarded with tackles. Late in the third term copped a big bump and was worse for wear, but had been solid prior to that.

PEEL THUNDER:

#6 Zaide Wilson
Ruck | 181cm | 26/06/2009

Stats: 7 disposals, 6 tackles, 9 hitouts

The bottom-age tall made her debut and rotated through the ruck with Jordain Thompson. She got first hands to it decently, but it was her tackling pressure that stood out. She was not afraid to go in and lock it up, with Wilson able to compete better when athletic East Perth number one ruck Brooke Edwards was off.

#8 Tiama Collard
Forward/Wing | 164cm | 08/04/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 9 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Arguably the standout State Academy member of the weekend, with Collard being one of the best afield in the tight loss. She racked up plenty of touches starting forward then moving onto a wing where she found herself mopping up in defence as well. With her confidence sky high, her impact by foot increased, while her defensive acts also stood out. She looked like she was playing with a dry ball in wet conditions the way she was able to win it and dance around opponents, setting up the opening goal to Kate Bartlett in the first quarter.

#26 Charlie Fletcher
Wing | 167cm | 04/02/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Right there with Collard and setting up for an exciting year for the pair heading into a big top-age campaign in 2027, Fletcher held her own off her familiar wing role. She used her speed at different points, got into good positions and covered the ground well to win the ball in each third. Her strength has improved, and she seemed to get more bang for buck when in contested situations not just in open space which was promising.

#30 Charlise Adams
Forward | 164cm | 19/10/2008

Stats: 4 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle

Another debutant for the Thunder, the top-age Adams did not have a heap of it, but applied nice pressure in the front half and did a couple of nice things. She can improve her ground level work further, but three of her four touches came from marks, with the other being from a last touch out of bounds free.

SUBIACO:

#10 Caitlin Boss
Wing/Forward | 160cm | 07/12/2010

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

The promising Under 16s talent made her debut and spent time running around with Nannup off a wing while pushing forward. She covered the ground well, won some touches in the back half and set up Kelman for a shot on goal with a nice delivery inside 50. Not a heap of disposals, but it was clear she will only get better from here.

#13 Scarlet Gallo
Forward | 157cm | 30/08/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

Really like her disposal going inside 50. She seemed to lower the eyes and hit up leading targets or go to the best spots more often than not. While only 157cm, Gallo would have won plenty of fans when late in the second term she was beaten one-on-one by Jess Roper, but instead of letting it get to her, chased down Madison Dodd from the next disposal and won a holding the ball free at half-back to earn it back for her side. Should have nailed a goal running in during the third term when she had more time and space than she thought, but that will come with experience, and overall she was very good.

#37 Marley Kelman
Tall Forward | 170cm | 31/03/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Showed some promise up forward, and should have plenty of opportunities with Subiaco’s star midfield usually going to get on top of the opposition. She lead out, looked clean at ground level and took a couple of nice marks as well. It wasn’t the day for tall forwards, but Kelman showed she can offer plenty outside the pure mark-kick element and even took some ruck stoppages despite standing at 170cm.

WEST PERTH:

#13 Rikisha Nannup
Wing | 165cm | 23/04/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s

A really underrated game from the top-ager who might not have had as many touches as some others across the league, but seemed to have an impact with the majority of them. She ran off a wing and got involved in multiple chains, and also had a lot of ‘almost’ moments too. There was the odd spoil or dropped mark, then rushed to get the ball forward, but once she worked into the game was a key cog linking the team up on the outside. Nannup’s biggest moment was a goal-saving tackle in the first two minutes of the fortrh term that would have cut the deficit to just one point.

#15 Lunay Van Den Heever
Forward | 170cm | 08/12/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50

Playing a similarly aggressive style to her older sister Kayla, Van Den Heever never looked overawed by the task even if against bigger opponents. She flies for marks, crashes pack, lays tackles and bumps and does all the defensive elements, really thriving on the contest side of football. She found a bit of the pill too in the front half and looked to have clean hands and set up Kat Bennett‘s goal by dragging her opponent out of the goalsquare too. No reward on the scoreboard, but she played a key role in there.

#16 Tayah Nicholson
Defender | 173cm | 10/01/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Showcasing her sheer strength even against a bunch of far more experienced players, Nicholson went at any groundball in her area – or opponent – with an aggressive hunger. She showed good hands in close, was able to use her body well one-on-one and showed she belonged by bouncing off a Krstel Petrevski tackle in the last term and still getting her hands free to deliver it to a teammate.

#25 Lexi Strachan
Midfielder | 169cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 6 inside 50s, 1 behind

The National Academy member had a tough first-up assignment against a raft of ex-AFLW players, but held her own and found space to thump the ball inside 50. If anything, the Lions were aware of her power through a stoppage and tried to limit her, and while Strachan has had bigger games, still won her share of clearances and was able to set up a number of scoring chances inside 50 with her booming kick.

#40 Bella Nelson
Defender | 172cm | 10/03/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s

A long-awaited debut for the Under 16s star who stepped up and looked completely at home at League level. Coming off half-back, her ability to get inside 50 was quite remarkable, and while at times it might leave the defensive half vulnerable if the opposition can transition at rapid speed, she has an eye-catching, ultra-aggressive brand of football that has held her in good stead.

#49 Jasmine Giles
Forward/Ruck | 187cm | 01/01/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 8 hitouts, 2 inside 50s

Another debutant for the weekend was bottom-ager Giles who started forward and rotated into the ruck at times. She took a couple of nice marks and generally was decisive with her hitouts. She’s raw and can further develop some fundamentals, but coming from a basketball background, she moves incredibly well and at 187cm is a great size to play any key position post. One with upside for the future.

CLAREMONT:

N/A. None of Claremont’s five Under 18s or Under 16s summer squad members played.

SWAN DISTRICTS:

#3 Grace Hirst
Defender | 165cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 2 inside 50s

An 11-disposal game than seemed more like 20 such was Hirst’s impact. While she was the only West Australian summer squad member in the game, she looked the goods, being involved in transition and looking to get into positions on the 45 for teammates to hit up and open the game through the corridor. There were a few times where Hirst almost got the ball as well, but when she had it, showed clean hands and neat skills, happy to get proactive with her defensive lines.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#31 Marie Polimeno
Defender | 169cm | 06/07/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles

The smooth-moving left-footer made a welcome return with a host of fresh faces in the back half. She could play her rebounding game and spread well to be an option for the kickout or took the kickout herself. Polimeno is able to play offensively and still remain accountable, getting up the ground and able to apply pressure in the air and on the deck. A really solid first-up return for the top-ager.

EAST FREMANTLE:

#18 Cienna Leslie
Defender | 163cm | 27/02/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

Played a role out of defence and showed some nice smarts with quick hands. Early in the game, Leslie was able to control the ball by tapping it down from the contest, winning it and then delivering it to a teammate. She followed up well on the wing by going in hard and applying a tackle. Leslie has a strong frame and can compete one-on-one, doing all the team things, but looks to keep the transition fast.

#34 Avuya Nomlatyu
Forward/Ruck | 184cm | 10/10/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 6 hitouts, 3 inside 50s

Rotating between forward and ruck, Nomlatyu will spend most of her time in the later role, which on the weekend meant she had limited chances. Still, the top-age debutant was able to work up the ground and followed up nicely when at ruck contests. Her one mark was a strong intercept grab on the forward side of the wing and there she showed off her penetrating left boot, while by the end of the game, Nomlatyu was looking confident in her ruck work as well.

#37 Olivia McCay
Wing | 172cm | 22/06/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles

After two games last year, McCay came in and ran hard off a wing showcasing her running capacity. She applied great pressure and just had a real crack at every contest she could. Her execution could be tidied up, but the conditions were not ideal for easy touches, and she played to the conditions with her defensive acts.