MASSIVE wins in the WAFL Women’s competition saw a whopping 17 of the 24 players come from the four victors in our Round 10 Team of the Week. Claremont and Swan Districts both racked up five players, with South Fremantle having four. Subiaco had three after a tighter win, while West Perth was the only loser to have more than two, and East Perth the only side not to have a representative.

Claremont midfielder Jayme Harken was chosen as captain this week after 29 disposals, five marks and seven tackles in a strong performance for the Tigers. She was joined on-ball by Matilda Sergeant, with Brooke Whyte and Ella Slocombe up forward. Sarah Garstone was the fifth Tiger to make it onto the bench.

After a six-goal second half, Swan Districts forward Courtney Zappara was nominated as vice-captain. She was one of five Swans in the side along with midfielders Kayley King and Jaime Henry – the latter pushed to half-back due to the strength of the midfield – as well as top ball-winner Ruby Mahony and forward Cassie McWilliam on the bench.

South Fremantle had a record win over East Perth and managed the four representatives for Round 10, highlighted by forwards Casey Byrne and Bethany Bond after five and three goals respectively. Ruck Ariana Hetherington started in that role again, while midfielder Charli Wicksteed featured on the bench for a second straight week after another impressive performance.

Subiaco fought hard to post the win over East Fremantle, with returning skipper Tarnica Golisano one of three players in the side. Double bottom-ager Olivia Crane (centre half-back) and Grace Hahnel (interchange) were the other two representatives. The Sharks had a couple of State Academy members in the side with key forward Anjelique Raison booting three goals and Zippy Fish slotting in at half-back.

Despite suffering a big loss, West Perth was largely competitive in the first half and the Falcons recorded three players for Round 10. Winger Taylor Ferguson and balanced midfielder Megan Norbury both squeezed into the side, as did defender Jessica Roper in the back pocket.

Rounding out the squad of 24 are a couple of Peel defenders with the regular Team of the Week representatives in Ebony Dowson and Olivia Crane slotting in yet again. The additional three players in the form of emergencies were East Fremantle’s Ashlee Atkins, South Fremantle’s Trinity Brown and Swan Districts’ Hope Ugle-Hayward.

2023 WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 10

B: Jess Roper (West Perth) – Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder)
HB: Zippy Fish (East Fremantle) – Olivia Crane (Subiaco) – Jaime Henry (Swan Districts)
C: Taylor Ferguson (West Perth) – Tarnica Golisano (Subiaco) – Kayley King (Swan Districts)
HF: Bethany Bond (South Fremantle) – Brooke Whyte (Claremont) – Ella Slocombe (Claremont)
F: Courtney Zappara (Swan Districts) (vc) – Anjelique Raison (East Fremantle) – Casey Byrne (South Fremantle)
R: Ariana Hetherington (South Fremantle) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) (c) – Matilda Sergeant (Claremont)
INT: Sarah Garstone (Claremont) – Grace Hahnel (Subiaco) – Ruby Mahony (Swan Districts) – Cassie McWilliam (Swan Districts) – Megan Norbury (West Perth) – Charli Wicksteed (South Fremantle)

EMG: Ash Atkins (East Fremantle) – Trinity Brown (South Fremantle) – Hope Ugle-Hayward (Swan Districts)