EAST Fremantle secured its place in the WAFL Women’s finals series with a last day victory over West Perth, booting four goals to nil in a frantic final term at The Good Grocer Park. The Sharks needed to win to ensure they made the post-season, and while Perth’s loss to Swan Districts meant they were in regardless, the simultaneous nature of the last round, four-game schedule meant nothing was settled before the first bounce.

The match itself was a microcosm of both side’s respective seasons. West Perth has stacks of talent on its list, had more of the ball and more forward half advantage, and realistically for the most part, dominated play. However the Falcons’ lapses at times this year have really cost them, and while missing a host of State Academy members has certainly hurt, the weekend’s game with them in showed there is still much to work on.

But on the positive side of the coin, it was yet another gritty victory from an East Fremantle side that in all fairness, most had written off pre-season. A well-publicised fall-out between the backroom staff and some key players that lead to multiple departures and a huge experience gap, East Fremantle just refused to yield. The Sharks blooded young players, and alongside recruit Mackenzie Webb – who was phenomenal crossing from Claremont – they kept racking up ‘W’s and in the end, it was enough to grab an elimination finals spot, and a post-season place.

Against West Perth it was much of the same, at times the Sharks looked on the ropes. Trailing at each break, the most by 21 points when the teams headed into the final huddle. However, not willing to die wondering even though pulling up the live scores around the grounds had Swan Districts 28 points clear of Perth – the Sharks dug deep and simply wanted it more. They had everything on the line, and they knew it.

Within nine minutes, the Sharks had sliced the margin back to a more manageable eight points thanks to goals from talls, Brooke Repacholi and Anjelique Raison, before bottom-aged wing Olivia McCay got in on the act to cut the deficit to just three points. Picking the best time to boot what would be just her second goal in the past two seasons – and first of 2026 – it was fitting that Sharks skipper Tiani Teakle stepped up when her side needed her and delivered the final blow in the last two minutes.

The siren sounded with East Fremantle having produced an incredible comeback, winning 6.4 (40) to 5.7 (37) off the back of a 4.1 to 0.1 final term. The Falcons had more disposals (235-199), hitouts (35-29) and inside 50s (33-27), but could not capitalise when it counted and in the end, their efforts from the first three quarters were in vain.

Webb was the star with 25 disposals, two marks, two tackles and three inside 50s, while fellow experienced Sharks in Ashlee Atkins (17 disposals, five marks, three tacles and two inside 50s) and Jae Flynn (13 disposals, four tackles) stood up when the going got tough. That aforementioned youth in Cienna Leslie and Zoe Keley were also crucial in the well-rounded team victory. Raison booted her goal from 11 disposals, four marks and three inside 50s, while Teakle clunked four mark, laid four tackles and had nine disposals in the win.

For the Falcons, it was a disappointing way to end the season, but star top-agers Lexi Strachan (23 disposals, six marks, eight tackles and three inside 50s) and Cara Dziegielewski (13 disposals, two marks, six tackles and 26 hitouts) did all they could around the ball. Ellee McEvoy (20 disposals, three marks, three tackles and six inside 50s) has been a huge find for the Falcons this season, while Bella Nelson and Jessica Roper closed off 2026 with strong efforts.

EAST FREMANTLE 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 6.4 (40)
WEST PERTH 1.3 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 5.7 (37)

GOALS:
East Fremantle: A. Raison, A. Kinnane, T. Teakle, B. Repacholi, E. Wilson-Sieber, O. McCay
West Perth: S. Fisher 2, S. McKinnon, K. Bennett, M. Norbury

RMC BEST:
East Fremantle: M. Webb, A. Atkins, A. Raison, J. Flynn, T. Teakle
West Perth: L. Strachan, E. McEvoy, C. Dziegielewski, A. Nelson, J. Roper

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Swan Districts officially locked in the minor premiership while denying Perth a finals spot after a 21-point victory in the last round of the season. After a scrappy first term, the Swans booted three goals to nil in the second to lead by 24 points at half-time. Despite a spirited fightback by the Demons, Swan Districts held its opponent at bay to win, 7.4 (46) to 3.7 (25).

Dhara Kerr Medal favourite Jaime Henry capped off her wonderful season with another enormous 35-disposal, nine-mark, four-tackle and two-goal performance, well supported by the likes of Jemma Sly (25 disposals, seven marks), Jessica Cox (22 disposals, three marks and six inside 50s) and Luka Davis (20 disposals, three marks and five inside 50s), while Ashley Sharp booted two majors from eight disposals and five marks. Isla Baldwin (24 disposals, five marks and nine tackles) and Amy Trindade (21 disposals, three marks, four tackles, six inside 50s) found plenty of the ball, and Gemma Dix booted two of her team’s three goals.

Claremont found some momentum heading into another finals series with a comprehensive 44-point win over South Fremantle. The two sides could face off in the preliminary final and it was a major confidence boost for the Tigers, securing a 9.6 (60) to 2.4 (16) win. They had 11 more inside 50s (34-23) and a ridiculous 336 disposals to 199 in the victory.

With seven players totalling 20 or more disposals in the victory – South Fremantle had nil – it was a complete domination lead by Hayley Bullas (34 disposals, 14 tackles and two goals), Jayme Harken (30 disposals, three marks and a goal), Jacinta Valentini (25 disposals, five tackles and a goal) and Ruby Sargent-Wilson (24 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal). Young guns India Bonadeo and Lucy Gilbey were also sensational. For the Bulldogs, skipper Hunter Cronin tried hard, while Hannah Burt and Tahleah Mulder were also amongst the best.

In the other clash, Subiaco made light work of East Perth to finish on a high, booting five goals to nil in the first half, and keeping the Royals at bay after that. They had 66 more disposals (266-200) and a whopping 41 inside 50s to 14 to close out what has been a frustrating season for last year’s breakout side, 10.4 (64) to 4.2 (26).

Ex-Eagle Annabel Johnson slammed home four goals from 18 disposals and eight marks in another huge effort, while the usual suspects in Paige Sheppard (35 disposals, five marks, four tackles and four inside 50s), Lisa Steane (25 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three inside 50s) and Krstel Petrevski (21 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and three inside 50s) took turns at hoarding the ball. Double bottom-agers Caitlin Boss and Beatrice Crane gave a great glimpse into the Lions’ future. For the Royals, Layla Firns (17 disposals) was the top ball-winner, while Lucy Greenwood (15 disposals, one goal) and Brooke Edwards (13 disposals, 49 hitouts) were key players.