CLAREMONT leads the way in the Rookie Me Central West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s Team of the Week with six representatives for Round 5. The Tigers are one ahead of East Fremantle and Swan Districts on five, with the three winners all topping their fair share of representatives. Peel Thunder (four) and South Fremantle (three) have multiple representatives, whilst West Perth had the one.

Claremont’s half a dozen players are spread across the field, with defender-turned-ruck Matilda Dyke who worked hard when having to spend more permanent time in the ruck role. Also in the side are midfielders, Sasha Goranova and Katherine Orme, with the forward threats aplenty in Brooke Whyte, Mikayla Western and Mhicca Carter.

Swan Districts youngster Abbygail Bushby captains the side this week, named at half-forward, though had plenty of time in the midfield as she amassed 27 disposals. Bushby is joined by Ashley Sharp inside 50, with midfielders Ruby Mahony and Jessica Cox, and experienced defender Eliza Gelmi also in the side. Emma Nanut is one of the three emergencies.

East Fremantle’s Ashleigh Gomes has been named vice-captain this week after another terrific effort in the midfield, named in her usual one-two punch with fellow Shark on-baller, Sharon Wong. Tall teenager Georgie Cleaver has earned a spot at centre half-forward, with consistent mid-forward Larissa Versaci and wing Abbey Amaranti also making the side.

Peel Thunder recorded the most of the losers, with four representatives in the team. The defensive duo of Cassie Davidson and Ebony Dowson were again strong in the back 50, whilst on the bench, midfielder Ebony Bilcich and mid-forward Krystal Carter also earned spots in the Team of the Week. Jade Briggs came close to squeezing in as well, named as an emergency in this hypothetical team.

South Fremantle’s Lauren Wakfer made her fourth appearance in the side, coming into the ruck position yet again, whilst Kiara Templeman (defence) and Liusaidh Gilchrist (interchange) also made the side. Zoe Wakfer came close but was named as an emergency for this week, whilst the sole West Perth product was Jessica Roper who slots into the back pocket.

2022 WAFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 5

B: Eliza Gelmi (Swan Districts) – Cassie Davidson (Peel Thunder) – Jessica Roper (West Perth)
HB: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) – Matilda Dyke (Claremont) – Kiara Templeman (South Fremantle)
C: Kate Orme (Claremont) – Sasha Goranova (Claremont) – Ruby Mahony (Swan Districts)
HF: Larissa Versaci (East Fremantle) – Georgie Cleaver (East Fremantle) – Abbygail Bushby (Swan Districts) (c)
F: Ashley Sharp (Swan Districts) – Brooke Whyte (Claremont) – Mikayla Western (Claremont)
R: Lauren Wakfer (South Fremantle) – Ashleigh Gomes (East Fremantle) (vc) – Sharon Wong (East Fremantle)
INT:  Abbey Amaranti (East Fremantle) – Ebony Bilcich (Peel Thunder) – Krystal Carter (Peel Thunder) – Mhicca Carter (Claremont) – Jess Cox (Swan Districts) – Liusaidh Gilchrist (South Fremantle)

EMG: Emma Nanut (Swan Districts) – Jade Briggs (Peel Thunder) – Zoe Wakfer (South Fremantle)