THERE were very little superlatives left yet to say when the final siren sounded to describe a WAFLW side that secured its first State Game win over the SANFLW in absolute brutal style. In what was a complete dismantling of its opposition, the WAFLW won 15.9 (99) to 1.1 (7) at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Many will look at the scoreline and question the ability of the losing side, but despite the clear lob-sided scoreline, the Croweaters looked like a team that was just out-pressured and beaten by one of the most star-studded lineups to grace a representative field. With the exception of first quarter inaccuracy and then the sole turnover in the fourth term to gift the SANFLW a goal, it was near perfection from Jack Schwarze’s group.

There’s no denying that the SANFLW was well below its best – you don’t lose by 15 goals if you aren’t – but the story was less about that, and more about the remarkable performance of the WAFLW. The winners linked up in chains, hit tagets consistently, swarmed in numbers and most of the time, the delivery inside 50 was silver service.

It should have come as no surprise given the home team had 14 players on its list with AFLW experience compared to the SANFLW’s four, but even so, the SANFLW has always performed strongly as a team and aside from a tight loss to the VFLW 12 months ago – which it reversed the result of in April – has got the job done each and every time.

However on the weekend, as the game ticked on and the WAFLW’s lead grew larger, there was a realisation from around the ground, that it was going to be a genuine rout. That moment came in the opening minute of the third term.

It might seem strange given the WAFLW lead 7.6 (48) to 0.1 (1) at the main break, with eventual best on ground medal winner Jayme Harken already up to 18 disposals, and the forwardline – headlined by Poppy Stockwell and Lucy Greenwood making a mess of some seriously talented South Australian defenders.

However regardless of the margin in a game, half-time always presents the losing side with the opportunity to note that there is exactly the same amount of time in the game to reverse the margin, that the goal is to chew into the deficit bit by bit, begin with the fundamentals and pressure then go on with it from there and the scores will come.

But what made the opening minute so telling was the way. the WAFLW essentially said ‘not today’ and with the red-hot Jaime Henry winning it out of the middle delivered it to South Fremantle’s Natasha Entwistle who hit-up Greenwood at half-forward and the over-ager found Stockwell in the pocket. The Perth recruit went back and kicked her third goal.

Four disposals, one goal. Inside the first minute of the third term without any South Australians touching it. The scoreboard read 8.6 (54) to 0.1 (1) and it was not only game over physically, but also mentally. Like that first play had extinguished the half-time hope that a losing team always brings into the second half.

The WAFLW booted a ridiculous seven goals in the premiership quarter, and by the time the three quarter time break had rolled around, everyone was eyeing off a triple-digit win with the score at 14.8 (92) to 0.1 (1). There was no coming back, but it was just a case of ‘how far’ for the home team.

A microcosm of the game occurred when the SANFLW attempted to go through the corridor to get some run going, it was chopped off and sometimes luck can be a fortune, as it was for Holly Britton in that moment. The Perth co-captain had kicked a classy goal earlier in the match – after missing a sitter – and found herself coming off the interchange running into space. With every single player in the SANFLW’s front half, Britton ran onto the ball at the top of 50 and with her adrenaline no doubt sky high, ran all the way to 15m out to deliver another brutal blow.

The West Australians peppered with making it a triple-digit margin as Britton’s co-captain at the Demons Isabella Shannon had a chance from close range but dribbled it to the left. It was then 99-1 and on the verge. But, for all of the WAFLW’s dominance, credit has to be given to the SANFLW who did fight it out to the final siren, and the last term ended up being just a goal apice.

In what was a rare highlight, Melissa Anderson chopped off a coach-killing switch in defence from Subiaco defender and former Eagle, Annabel Johnson and then nailed the set shot from close range. It gave the visitors something to smile about, and while a crucial mistake, it is unlikely Schwarze would have lost too much hair, or sleep, over it.

His side had not only broken the hoodoo against the SANFLW following two previous tight losses, but provided a memorable day for anyone wearing gold and black. The question over strength against speed in midfield, the query over playing the best players over some better positionally-suited less-experienced talents, they were both answered with vigour.

The likes of Krstel Petrevski and Britton both hit the scoreboard multiple times playing forward rather than their traditional midfield spot, while Paige Sheppard – who also spent plenty of time outside the contest – also racked up the ball with ease. However the Harken and Henry show on the inside, followed by the Stockwell and Greenwood performance up forward, and it was absolute cinema if you were a West Australian fan watching.

Harken – who has won just about everything there is to win in the state – added a best on ground and successful state captaincy to her CV, earning best afield honours following her 30 disposals and eight tackles. Henry was outstanding with 28 touches and strong all across the ground, while Sheppard and fellow Lion Lisa Steane contributed in typical fashion.

Stockwell was the one player who was within touching distance of best-on, kicking four goals and easily could have had five, while Greenwood finished with three, and the trio of Petrevski, Britton and Courtney Lindgren all kicked a couple.

It was hard to find many winners for the SANFLW on what will be seen as a dark day when resigned to the history books, but the South Australians were not as bad as the scoreline suggests, it was the West Australians who had just dictated play from the opening bounce and produced relentless pressure like their life depended on it.

Second-year Eagles midfielder Alice Tentye was the standout for her side, winning the best-on medal for her side after 22 disposals and four tackles, while over-age midfielder Isla Wiencke dug deep to fight the strong opposition on-ball group and get involved around the ground. Croweaters skipper Annie Falkenberg was involved far more than she would have liked to be, but never stopped trying, with the defence overwhelmed by the amount of inside 50s, and the midfield soundly beaten.

Alongside Falkenberg, South Adelaide trio in defender Tiffany King, ruck Soriah Moon and wing Holly Ifould all did what they could to be among the better players on the day for their state.

While the result will read as a shellacking, and those who might only view the score use the chance to dig in the boots, the Croweaters were just beaten by a superior side on the day who came with a plan and executed it. The WAFLW cut off the South Australian’s run, denied them the ball at all costs, and most importantly, executed going inside 50, then on the scoreboard after quarter time.

It was a statement from a team that was yet to taste success in the fixture, and an emphatic one at that.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3.5 | 7.6 | 14.8 | 15.9 (99)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 (7)

GOALS:

Western Australia: P. Stockwell 4, L. Greenwood 3, H. Britton 2, K. Petrevski 2, C. Lindgren 2, M. Tuhakaraina, I. Shannon
South Australia: M. Anderson 1

BEST PLAYERS

Western Australia: J. Harken, P. Stockwell, J. Henry, L. Greenwood, K. Petrevski
South Australia: A. Tentye, I. Wiencke, A. Falkenberg, H. Ifould, S. Moon