A NEW top two emerged over the weekend in Round 13 of the WAFL Women’s, and there were plenty of State Academy members who rose to the challenge. We took note of those players across the four matches including a couple of big ball-winners.

>> WAFLW Round 13: Weekly Wrap | Player Focus (Lily Paterson) | Team of the Week

Peel Thunder:

#2 Evie Cowcher (Defender)
Stats: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

Once again was prominent out of defence, taking kickouts and providing drive from the back 50 to safety. She was effective and precise by foot, and even played aggressive coming higher up the ground to take the game on. She was one of the better Thunder players throughout the match and played her role to a t.

#4 Holly Britton (Wing)
Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles

After a mammoth game last round, Britton was quieter as she moved back onto a more permanent wing role with Ebony Bilcich returning to the inside. After a couple of holding the ball calls went against her early, Britton bounced back to be still among the better Thunder players on the day, working hard into space and taking some good marks, and trying to get the game back on her side’s terms.

#8 Dakota Sexton (Midfielder/Defender)
Stats: 8 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

It was a quiet day for the top-ager who buzzed around the stoppages and won the odd touch, but with Subiaco largely controlling play and some of the more experienced Thunder ball-winners possessing it consistently, Sexton did not get a great chance to win too much of it. Sexton still showed strong defensive pressure however.

Subiaco:

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Forward/Ruck)
Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 11 hitouts, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

An impressive game from the athletic tall who started in the ruck and won the first touch, then kicked a goal when on the move from 35m late in the first quarter. She set up a number of scoring chains pumping it from the middle inside 50, and though she had a shot seven minutes into the third term that didn’t connect and fell short, she played a four-quarter performance and was able to be among the better players on the ground.

South Fremantle:

#4 Noa McNaughton (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 14 disposals, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

It was a mixed bag of a day for McNaughton who found her fair share of the ball but was not as efficient with it. She was clean early in the game showing marked improvement in that area, though did fumble under pressure late in the third term. She kicked a classy goal with a nice snap late in the first term, and even worked into defence to help out.

#14 Jasmine Bazeley (Wing/Forward)
Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Bazeley had a nice defensive display in the forward half and showed off her closing speed to put pressure on the opposition. Though not a high production performance, the left-footer had some nice moments and almost set up a goal in the dying seconds of the third term before the siren sounded.

#19 Zoe Keley (Forward/Ruck)
Stats: 2 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 6 hitouts

After an impressive season, Keley had a down game, only able to win a couple of touches and have the six hitouts. She was limited for opportunities, but found the going tough against quality opponents and will be better for the learning curve.

#33 Molly O’Hehir (Midfielder)
Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Despite having less touches, O’Hehir who bounced back from missing the second half of last weeks game showed some of the traits that make her a standout prospect. She intercepted a kick out of defence early and set up the first goal of the game, and had a couple of bursting runs down the field. She continued to work hard and provide defensive pressure, but the Falcons got on top through the middle.

West Perth:

#1 Megan Norbury (Wing/Defender)
Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s

The Falcons’ sole State Academy member in the match, Norbury returned to her best form after a down week to rack up 19 disposals and lay seven tackles playing off a wing and rolling into defence. She does well to sit behind the ball and provided great dash through the middle of the ground, competing well in the air and at ground level. She handballed more than usual at times, but did draw opponents and took the game on, such setting up the match-winning goal to Elissa Price.

East Perth:

#3 Lucy Greenwood (Forward/Midfielder)
Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s

The smooth-moving Royals forward was not able to have the same impact as previous weeks, but she still catches the eye just about any time the ball is in her area. She is one of the cleanest players at ground level and is not afraid to get her hands dirty with her second and third efforts fantastic. On several occasions she hit pinpoint passes going forward, but they were just dropped by teammates. In the third term she showed fantastic courage leading out from half-forward to take a great mark with oncoming traffic from the opening centre bounce.

Swan Districts:

#5 Carys D’Addario (Midfielder/Forward)
Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 6 inside 50s

While her teammate Lily Paterson took the headlines – deservedly – D’Addario played one of her best game for the season. She was strong on the inside and pushed hard forward to pump the ball forward and set up scoring chances. Early on she tended to do too much and tried to break too many tackles and got caught, but she readjusted and did well to balance her inside and outside abilities. Overhead she looked strong and won plenty of clearances that led to Swan Districts scoring chances.

#11 Sienna Gerardi (Forward)
Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s

The classy forward had her moments with some clean play and work down the ground. She set up a couple of goals with neat disposals and breaking the lines from midfield to attack, even working to half-back with a clever one-handed spoil. Though the bottom-ager finished with the 10 touches, she rarely wastes them and takes the game on with multiple bounces. Once goalside, a defender has no chance of catching her, and the highlight reel she will produce in the future will be amazing.