IN a round there the top four sides face off against the bottom four sides, there is still some unpredictability to be found in the WAFL Women’s competition. Round 8 sees Swan Districts searching for a third straight win up, this time up against East Fremantle, while sixth placed West Perth will hope to bounce back against fourth placed Subiaco.

FORM

Peel Thunder enters Round 8 off the back of three consecutive losses after starting the season at 2-1. Having a lost a stack of experience to injuries and getting drafted, the Thunder will need to be at their best to knock off a South Fremantle side that has only lost to Claremont, and just last week upstaged East Fremantle.

CHANGES

Peel Thunder welcome the return of experienced forward Kira Phillips from injury, joined in the side by a trio of debutants, Charlize Thompson, Ashlee Norwood and Ava Cristodero. Coming out the side and named as emergencies are Ebonee Hardie, Makinley Minchin and Katrina Shrewsbury, as well as Sophie Johansen.

South Fremantle brings in Trinity Brown, Leila Fotu and Heidi Hughes, while losing a couple of key players in Liusaidh Gilchrist and Zoe Huggett, as talented runner Tanika Bradley is also out of the side.

KEY PLAYERS

The inclusion of Phillips will be important for Peel, who still have a strong, experienced midfield in Krystal Carter, Gracie Fenton and Jade Briggs. With the form of Ariana Hetherington in the ruck alongside Bethany Bond and Makaela Tuhakaraina up forward, it will stretch the Thunder defence.

PREDICTION

South Fremantle is tipped to take out this one, being in better form against a less experienced Peel Thunder outfit. The Thunder will be looking to fast-track some of their young talents through League experience to set themselves up for the future.

FORM

Subiaco is one of the big improvers in season 2023 and will be hoping it can force its way into finals. Having regained fourth spot on the ladder, the Lions will be keen to string another win to its name against a similarly improved West Perth outfit. The Falcons got close in this respective fixture last year in the pouring rain, and will hope to repeat a similar effort in what is expected to be much better conditions.

CHANGES

Subiaco has virtually kept the same side as last week, only losing Tiah Toth for the clash, but bringing back Liana Burchell. West Perth has a similarly unchanged lineup, with key midfielder Bianca Webb and Nadia Parora coming in for Harriet Jones and Cameron Dawson.

KEY PLAYERS

Subiaco’s strong midfield group is headlined by Tarnica Golisano, who is coming off an incredible 30-plus disposal game and leading the team by example. She will team up with the likes of Hayley Corlett and Meg Brown, while Kelsey Patterson is in good form inside 50. For the Falcons, Webb’s return will add extra experience alongside Brooke Hongell, Katherine Bennett and Emily Bennett.

PREDICTION

In what should be the closest game of the weekend, Subiaco is likely to still take home the four points, though a good start from the Falcons will help in their bid to cause an upset.

FORM

Off the back of two straight wins, albeit over the Perth sides, Swan Districts is in the best form of its season, and now has its biggest test against East Fremantle. The Sharks went down to South Fremantle last week after four consecutive wins.

CHANGES

Swan Districts have made the three changes, losing in-form forward Taylah Edwards and ruck Sarah Wielstra among four outs. Youngster Kyah Chirichilli returns to the side with Kayla May, while Megan Carron and Teyharna Curry also slot back into the 21.

KEY PLAYERS

Swan Districts captain Jessica Cox is playing a different role this year up forward and adds a different element on the line, while Ruby Mahony, Kayley King and Tyla Fitzgerald are others who can find the ball well both inside and outside. The Sharks’ midfield of Sharon Wong, Ashleigh Gomes and Beth Beckett are on-song and it will just be a case of whether or not East Fremantle can overcome the losses of its stack of State Academy members.

PREDICTION

East Fremantle will still be favourites despite the outs, but the quality gap from three weeks and earlier has considerably shortened between the sides since. The Black Ducks will be keen to string together a third straight win, while East Fremantle will hope to bounce back.

FORM

In a top against bottom clash, the final match of Round 8 looms as an incredibly one-sided contest. Reigning premiers Claremont is yet to be beaten in season 2023, going 6-0 to start the year, while newcomers East Perth has gone the other way with an 0-6 first month and a half.

CHANGES

Claremont will be minus key player Jasmin Stewart and Taylah Orzel. Coming into the side as part of an extended bench are the likes of Sarah Garstone, Rebecca Tuckey and Charlotte Adams for the Tigers this round. East Perth has confirmed its final side with a host of changes once again. They have been able to bring back players such as Madeleine Goodman, Holly Gill and Chloe Sauzier, while losing Tahlia Dawson-Gibbs, Shannon De Bari and Mel Hardy

KEY PLAYERS

Claremont still has plenty of incredible players such as Taylah Angel, Jayme Harken and Matilda Sergeant running through the midfield, while Brooke Whyte and Jacinta Valentini are keys up forward, as is the in-form Adele Arnup. East Perth has blooded some impressive players such as Matilda Bennett, Sarah Madden and Lillian Ninyett this year, while Tristin Ogonoski is a proven goalkicker.

PREDICTION

A fairly easy tip in this game with Claremont expected to win, and win well. For East Perth’s sake, hopefully the Royals can remain competitive and not allow too many Tigers chances, though expect Claremont to overwhelm the younger stage through the game.