THE West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition resumed for Round 4 on the weekend and we took note of some of the top State Academy players to run out for their respective teams, as well as some other mature-age players who impressed.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Peel Thunder:

#2 Bella Mann

Spending more time in the midfield this week whilst also going back to help the defence, the contested ball-winner was able to return to the side without too much trouble. She took a couple of strong marks spreading out to the wing, and was able to send the ball inside 50 to put pressure on the opposition defence. Though her kicking execution is still developing, she showed great courage to crack in and win hardballs at the coalface and finish with eight disposals, three marks, two tackles and three inside 50s.

#22 Kaitlyn Srhoj

The talented winger was sensational for the Thunder and was arguably their best on ground. Srhoj was the subject of our Player Focus this week, having collected 21 disposals, eight marks, two tackles and booted her first career goal in the WAFL Women’s.

>> KAITLYN SRHOJ WAFLW PLAYER FOCUS

#29 Jorja Haines

The raw forward talent had some eye-catching moments on her way to nine touches, three marks, two tackles and a goal. Haines showed her strength overhead to pull in some good marks, and earned a free kick in the 14th minute of the second term, to nail a set shot, then pushed straight up to a win. She did well to set up Kira Phillips in the last term with a great kick deep inside 50.

Others:

The other State Academy member playing was Emily Gunton who finished with seven disposals, one mark and one tackle. Aside from the Academy members, it was another solid performance from winger Jaide Britton (14 disposals, one mark, one inside 50) who attended a couple of centre bounces, as well as Aisha Wright (nine disposals, three marks, three tackles and three inside 50s), whilst forward Kate Bartlett (11 disposals, five marks, five tackles and 3.2) continues to hit the scoreboard.

East Fremantle:

#7 Georgie Cleaver

Spending more time forward compared to her first two weeks where she was predominantly in the ruck, Cleaver proved herself as a clever lead-up forward. Presenting well, she covered the ground impressively with some touches on the half-back flank and wing. Though she did spend some time in the ruck, Cleaver had a number of chances inside 50 that always looked dangerous. She set up some scoring opportunities to teammates, and even kicked her own goal from a free kick 15m out in the third term. Though Cleaver could have had an even bigger day, she showed her wares as an athletic attacking tall to finish with 15 disposals, three marks, three hitouts, one inside 50 and a goal.

#33 Anjelique Raison

Just showed her goal smarts in a typical forward’s performance, jagging two majors from 10 touches and three inside 50s, whilst also attending a few ball ups to net three hitouts. Raison is a high-upside player, and she kicked a clever snap around her body four minutes into the first term, then did it again early in the last term to really seal the game for the Sharks, extending the margin to 20 points.

#38 Zippy Fish

After a quiet Round 3 game, Fish picked it up again in Round 4, with the Under 16s talent taking five marks to go with her nine touches, two tackles and two inside 50s. Though dangerous around goals, Fish moved onto a wing more often than the previous week, and got into ball-winning positions more frequently. Though sometimes pushed off the ball or brought down, her kicking was generally impressive, able to pinpoint passes going forward, and she has the evasion techniques to get herself out of trouble more often than not.

Others:

Taya Chambers had the first rebound 50 of the game charging off the line and finished with nine disposals for the game in her second WAFL Women’s match. Though possessing more experienced players across the board, Mylee Leitch (16 disposals, five marks, two tackles and six inside 50s) was an impressive hybrid forward who works hard up the ground for the Sharks, whilst over-ager Julia Teakle (10 disposals, three marks, four tackles and a goal) has some potential and is a name to remember given her forward craft.

West Perth:

#9 Kayla Van Den Heever

Though not as productive as her standout game last week, Van Den Heever still had some nice moments throughout the game. She showed her strength overhead, taking a strong intercept mark early in the term, and applied good pressure to her opponents around the ball. In the third term, Van Den Heever won the ball at half-back, sidestepped between a couple of opponents and kicked forward cleanly. Her balance between offensive and defensive mindset was impressive, finishing with 13 disposals, tow marks and two tackles.

#32 Liliana Grassenis

A player who continually has more impact than her seven touches, two marks and four tackles may suggest, Grassenis was able to catch the eye on a number of occasions, particularly in the first half. She is not afraid to put her body on the line, and can lock the ball up cleverly when outnumbered without giving away a free kick. Her hands overhead and reading of the play is good, getting to the right spots when required. One-on-one she is hard to beat from a strength and smarts perspective, and if she can clean up her execution by foot, she could project as a talented defender.

Others:

Jaymee Duke and Kayla Stagg both had solid games in a big loss and worked hard against the flow in the defensive half.

Claremont:

#9 Emily Elkington

Piecing together a really strong start to the season, Elkington ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to her profile. One of the names that should be absolutely considered to step up to the next level, Elkington has clean hands, a fierce attitude and an ability to just be in the right spots at the right time. She did not always have much space early on, but she was clean out of the clearances and had a number of touches. She took some strong grabs – or almost grabs – and was a key link in the chain, rotating between the wing and on-ball, even situating herself at half-forward to be the important kick inside 50. Elkington racked up 14 disposals, tow marks, nine tackles and three inside 50s to be an eye-catching Tiger on the day.

Others:

Claremont is a gold mine of mature-age talent, and ruck Adele Arnup (21 disposals, four marks, five tackles, 25 hitouts and four inside 50s) could be a good readymade solution to the role at the top level, whilst the likes of Brooke Whyte and Eva Campo – the latter in her debut season – are natural forwards. Tessa Doumanis (four goals) is just so damaging and could have had even more and should be considered to make the jump up, whilst Sasha Goranova and of course Fremantle debutant the week before, Mikayla Western are others that could one ones to remember.

Swan Districts:

#2 Tara Stribley

The winger’s last two weeks have been sublime, with Stribley putting up not only big-possession numbers, but also hitting the scoreboard multiple times. Though at times her disposal can be rushed, no one can doubt her work rate, and the amount of metres gained she is able to achieved with her runs. She has a few chances on goal each match, and kicked a great goal to snap around her body midway through the third term to ensure she went home with a goal to her name. Missing a first quarter snap, then a more disappointing set shot from 15m out – followed by a flying shot on goal missing to the right in the last term – it did not deter Stribley, who was everywhere at Steel Blue Oval. Arguably best-on alongside her captain Cox, Stribley broke the lines, took multiple running bounces and kept offering herself as an option in transition in what was an outstanding game. Stribley finished with 26 disposals, six marks, one tackles, two inside 50s and 1.3.

#6 Tyla Fitzgerald

Another strong contributor to the Swan Districts cause, Fitzgerald went amount her business accumulating the ball and cracking in time and time again. Not afraid to put her body on the line, she can win the hard ball or on the outside, having a flying shot in the second term that just flew out on the full. She did well to set up Edwards inside 50 wit ha neat kick in the third quarters, and was strong throughout the match standing up in tackles or shovelling out the ball to teammates from one-on-one situations. Fitzgerald finished with 18 disposals, one mark and three tackles.

#7 Emma Nanut

A more efficient performance with her disposals than previous weeks, Nanut just played her role and did not make many mistakes, providing a link in transition across the field. She still kicked the ball long forward regularly, and was able to dispose of it whilst under pressure, with even her quick kicks this week better decisions than the previous outings. Overall, Nanut managed the 11 disposals, two marks, one tackles and two inside 50s in the win.

#11 Jaime Henry

The rebounding defender who has been graduating further afield knows how to use her body well, and provides good defensive pressure to go with her attacking nature. She is strong overhead and at ground level, and used quick hands on the wing and then half-forward on a number of occasions to dispose of the ball to a teammate. Overall the bottom-ager continues to show her natural footballing nous, and she recorded the 15 disposals, three marks and one tackle for the match.

#14 Abbygail Bushby

Kicking a couple of majors, the top-age forward looked dangerous around goal, getting to the right spots to impact the scoreboard. Bushby got on the end of one late in the second term to kick her first, then marked on the lead 20m out and converted the set shot during the third term. Not afraid to put up the stiff arm to fend off an opponent like she did in the third quarter, Bushby was able to win plenty of touches in the forward half, and instigated the last kick goal to 200-gamer Lauren Osborne with a clever handball whilst on the ground.

Others:

Like Claremont, Swan Districts have some mature-age talent to consider, with captain Jessica Cox (29 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three inside 50s) continually putting up eye-catching numbers, whilst forward Taylah Edwards (13 disposals, four marks and three goals) and midfielder Ruby Mahony (21 disposals three marks, five tackles and two inside 50s) other eye-catching players.

Subiaco:

Nil.

Others:

Though no State Academy members played in the game, ex-Swan Nyra Anderson kicked a goal against her former side and was one of the better Lons, with Abbey Dowrick making her return to the WAFL Women’s, picking up 11 touches and laying five tackles and two inside 50s.