TOP TWO sides Subiaco and Claremont have combined for nine players in our 2025 Rookie Me Central WAFL Women’s Team of the Year. The two jungle cat sides had five and four representatives respectively, with fellow finalists Swan Districts (four) and East Fremantle (three) also well represented. The five non finalists rounded out the 24-strong squad with the remaining eight players.

>> FULL SQUAD: 2025 Rookie Me Central WAFLW Team of the Year

Our annual Team of the Year is based off the amount of WAFLW Team of the Week nominations, with a minimum of seven earning automatic spots in our end of season side. To make the 48-player squad, nominees must have played at least seven matches.

Boasting the clear most Team of the Week nominations was Swan Districts midfielder Jaime Henry who racked up 13 across the course of the season, averaging 25 disposals and more than eight tackles per match. Henry was named as the hypothetical captain and in the centre, while Perth’s Isabella Shannon (11 nominations from 14 games) secure the vice-captaincy and was named at half-forward.

The midfield was the toughest group to pick, with the bulk of the stars being onballers who have been named on wings and some flanks due to their deserving nature of making the side. On the other wing is South Fremantle’s sole representative Tahleah Mulder, while at half-back is midfielder/defender Juliet Kelly who has had a consistent year for the Tigers. Subiaco onballer Paige Sheppard slotted onto the opposite wing after a consistent first WAFLW season.

Fellow Lion and AFLW Draft prospect key forward Olivia Wolmarans was named at half-forward after booting 15 goals in nine games to be equal second overall. Teammate Lisa Steane was named at half-forward as the one to drop out of the midfield rotation, while Swan Districts’ Kayley King earned a spot in the forward pocket.

Competition leading goalkicker Taylah Edwards – who booted 29 goals across her 16 regular season games – was an automatic selection for the feat alone and was named in the opposite pocket to her Swans’ teammate. At full-forward is East Fremantle’s Sarah Wielstra who was one of three Sharks in the side.

Holding down the fort up the other end are defensive duo, Maya Louvel-Finn and Madison Evans. The teenagers have had breakout years and not missed a beat, earning their places on the full-back line with Peel Thunder skipper Ebony Dowson. The Thunder captain is in the team alongside midfielder Chloe Wrigley who was named in the ruck-rover position after 10 Team of the Week nominations and winning more disposals than any other player in the league.

Subiaco ruck Tess Lyons earned the nod as the player to start in the role despite a few less games, with the player she finds by hand more than most, Krstel Petrevski completing the midfield group. Meanwhile at half-back, former Eagles West Perth’s Emily Bennett and Claremont’s Mackenzie Webb round out the starting 18.

The Tigers have two more players on the bench in midfielders Matilda Sergeant and Sarah Viney, while Perth co-captain Holly Britton also grabbed a deserving place on the interchange. The remaining three are Swan Districts’ Carys D’Addario, West Perth’s Madison Dodd and East Perth’s sole representative, Elly Sara.

Unlucky to just miss out, two-time Dhara Kerr Medallist Jayme Harken was next one in line, but was only marginally pipped by her Claremont teammates. South Fremantle defender Hunter Cronin and Perth winger Jasmine Single are the other emergencies. Those who missed out have been sorted into the WAFL Women’s Second Team of the Year with Harken named captain of that side.

2025 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL WAFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR

B: Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) – Maya Louvel-Finn (East Fremantle) – Madison Evans (East Fremantle)
HB: Emily Bennett (West Perth) – Mackenzie Webb (Claremont) – Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
C: Tahleah Mulder (South Fremantle) – Jaime Henry (Swan Districts) (c) – Paige Sheppard (Subiaco)
HF: Lisa Steane (Subiaco) – Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco) – Isabella Shannon (Perth) (vc)
F: Kayley King (Swan Districts) – Sarah Wielstra (East Fremantle) – Taylah Edwards (Swan Districts)
R: Tess Lyons (Subiaco) – Chloe Wrigley (Peel Thunder) – Krstel Petrevski (Subiaco)
INT: Holly Britton (Perth) – Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts) – Madison Dodd (West Perth) – Elly Sara (East Perth) – Matilda Sergeant (Claremont) – Sarah Viney (Claremont)

EMG: Hunter Cronin (South Fremantle) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Jasmine Single (Perth)

2025 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL WAFL WOMEN’S SECOND TEAM OF THE YEAR

B: Hunter Cronin (South Fremantle) – Liliana Grassenis (West Perth) – Mia Carlshausen (Perth)
HB: Layla Firns (East Perth) – Leanne Gubbins (East Fremantle) – Lexi Strachan (West Perth)
C: Jasmine Single (Perth) (vc) – Ash Gomes (East Fremantle) – Taylor Ferguson (West Perth)
HF: Noa McNaughton (East Fremantle) – Zoe Huggett (South Fremantle) – MIa Russo (West Perth)
F: Megan Green (Claremont) – Aimee Schmidt (Subiaco) – Sara Riou (West Perth)
R: Brooke Repacholi (East Fremantle) – Jayme Harken (Claremont) (c) – Ebony Bilcich (Peel Thunder)
INT: Summer Ajduk (Swan Districts) – Matilda Husband (Claremont) – Emily McGuire (Swan Districts) – Megan Norbury (West Perth) – Rachel Ortlepp (Claremont) – Layla Quinn-Schofield (Subiaco)