WEST Perth made it two from two against Peel Thunder in season 2026, defeating the Thunder by 14 points in a tough scrap on Sunday night. The Falcons continued their rise towards the finals series, while Peel is still searching for its first win of the year, with both sides having the rare opportunity during the national championships to field multiple State Academy members each.

WEST PERTH:

#38 Trista Smoker
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 12/11/2010

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s

Always has that touch of class about her, Smoker started on-ball and moved forward where she spent a fair bit of time. Her impact as that high half-forward to get the ball into dangerous areas was impressive and she always has clean hands to bring it from the inside to the outside. Her defensive pressure was a big tick, and Smoker continually worked from contest to contest to try and keep the ball moving. One of a number of talented double bottom-agers in the match.

#40 Bella Nelson
Defender | 174cm | 10/03/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 1 inside 50

Accustomed to finding plenty of ball out of defence and being the distributor from the backline, Nelson did just that, and competed in the air as she so often does. It was one of those performances that was just solid all-round, with it easy to forget that Nelson is still only 16 playing League football. Drifted forward in the last 10 minutes of the match and won a free kick where she was able to boot the ball inside 50, just as a different look for the high-volume defender.

#47 Jasmine Giles
Forward/Ruck | 185cm | 30/04/2009

Stats: 3 disposals, 15 hitouts

It was a quiet game from Giles who won the most hitouts for her side, but did not quite have her usual impact around the ground. Finishing with just the three handballs, one did set up a fourth term goal to Sabreena McKinnon in Giles’ highlight o the game.

PEEL THUNDER:

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 17 hitouts, 2 inside 50s

Held her own in the ruck and competed well around the ground, clunking a number of marks and also applying fierce defensive pressure at ground level. She got pinged for holding the ball at one stage when trying to wait for the right option, but otherwise impressed being a target between the arcs for the Thunder players looking to transition the ball.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Started on the bench then came into the middle before rotating forward, Collard provides the spark that the Thunder always needs, and she looks dangerous each time she goes near it. Time and time again she would extract the ball from congestion, and knew when to use her evasive skills to get out of trouble, and when to throw it on the boot for distance downfield. A really promising prospect for next year with lightning hands and natural footy smarts that shine.

#20 Layla Scott
Wing/Defender | 168cm | 17/09/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50

Scott has some really promising traits and was able to not only run off a wing, but drop back into defence where she could mop up and begin to repel the West Perth attacks. A good all-round player, Scott is able to compete overhead, scrap at ground level, then transition the ball well through her vision and general smarts. Doesn’t need a lot of it to have an impact and certainly played her role on the outside.

#22 Tahlia Head
Wing | 167cm | 28/12/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Came off a promising performance for Western Australia the week before and held her own along the win. She uses her body well in one-on-one contests both in the air and at ground level where she can win it and feed it out to her teammates. Head generally improved her ball use back at WAFLW and continued to show promise as a courageous marking player for her size.

#35 Mia Van Kleef
Forward | 164cm | 21/10/2008

Stats: 5 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Had limited opportunities playing inside 50 for Peel Thunder, but continued to compete throughout and was working hard to create something. While ultimately it was a quiet game, it was more through lack of chances than effort. Finished with the one behind to her name.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Bottom-age East Fremantle wing Olivia McCay was the State Academy member to watch in the Sharks’ tough loss to Claremont. Yet to play a national championships game this carnival, McCay finished with 15 disposals and two inside 50s, one of a number of candidates in line to replace the concussed Rikisha Nannup in the Sandgropers’ lineup.

Perth small forward Mel Grage made her return to the WAFLW after injury, picking up five disposals and laying two tackles in the Demons’ low-scoring two-point loss to South Fremantle. On the winning side was Sandgropers defender Alexis Edgley who recorded 10 disposals, three marks and two tackles.

During Subiaco’s five-point victory over Swan Districts, both Beatrice Crane (11 disposals, two marks, two tackles, one inside 50 and one goal) and Caitlin Boss (eight disposals, one tackle, two inside 50s and a goal) hit the scoreboard. For Swan Districts, Keira Fawcett kicked a major from 12 disposals, two marks, two tackles and two inside 50s, while Grace Hirst recorded eight disposals, two marks, three tackles, one onside 50 and one goal for her troubles.