SWAN Districts have done the unthinkable and rolled Subiaco by two points in a brilliant WAFL Women’s Preliminary Final upset for the ages. While the Swans have more than enough talent to earn a grand final spot, Subiaco was on top heading into the final round of the season, but dropped three on the trot – after only dropping two prior to that, to be out of the finals series in straight sets.

The 6.4 (40) to 6.2 (38) victory will be unlikely to be forgotten any time soon, with the two sides’ finals journeys showing the absolute highs and the devastating lows of football. Swan Districts was on the verge of being eliminated heading into the last quarter a week ago against East Fremantle, while Subiaco ran into an open goal in the dying seconds against Claremont to book a grand final spot.

However when the former kicked two fourth term goals to get past the Sharks by a point, and the Lions’ two last snaps missed everything, it merged their paths into one. Then the preliminary final lived up to all expectations, with just two points separating the two sides.

Incredibly, it was Swan Districts who, after missing a couple of early chances in a scrappy start, booted four goals in eight minutes to head into quarter time with a 25-point lead. All the Swans needed was a spark and it came in the form of AFLW Draft prospect and West Australian Under 18s MVP Carys D’Addario who off a step launched a ripping goal from 40m out to get the fans up and about.

Majors from Kayley King and then two from Emily McGuire meant the deficit had become somewhat of a concern for the second placed Lions who were in serious danger early on. The forward pressure from the Swans was outstanding, not giving the Lions an inch out of midfield or to try and clear the defence.

Finally with Hayley Corlett providing run on the outside, Subiaco managed to get on the board through Layla Quinn-Schofield which just cleared the hands on the goalline. No sooner had the home side begun to celebrate, and Swan Districts responded through Emma Humphries who received the handball from D’Addario after spoiling Lisa Steane unlucky not to be paid the mark.

Both teams had their chances at times, but it was Jorja Schell who threatened to be the difference inside 50, missing one set shot, then kicking a nice one off the left as she was bumped to give the Lions some hope heading into the main break, trailing by 19 points.

Swan Districts defender Isabella Edgley was having a huge game in the back 50, clearing everything she could, and while the visitors were getting some looks, the only major of the third term went to Olivia Wolmarans. The top 10 talent read a miskick from Danika Pisconeri to slide in and mark then convert from close range.

D’Addario had enormous impact on the game, but defensively her biggest moment came late in the third when she mowed down Schell going for goal in the dying seconds from 20m out. It locked the ball up, where had she kicked the goal, the deficit would have been just eight points heading into the final change.

Instead, Subiaco had to wait until Aimee Schmidt used all of her AFLW experience and smarts at a forward stoppage to stay down and allow Lauren Quaife to tap it straight to her. Schmidt slammed it on the boot and watched it sail home three minutes into the fourth quarter. The deficit was back to eight points and the Lions had a pulse.

Then just as Subiaco was coming, bottom-age talent Summer Ajduk read the tap down close to goal from McGuire and she snapped truly, handing the black and whites a 14-point buffer once more. It looked to be game over, but the Lions refused to yield. In the final seven minutes, Wolmarans had a purple patch by slotting a long-range set shot goal, then handing Ruby Hobbs her first ever WAFLW goal with a clever kick.

With two minutes remaining, just two points separated the sides. Enter Jaime Henry. The experienced youngster won a clearance, took a couple of strong marks and then followed up with a huge tackle on the wing to lock the ball up. Little moments that chewed enough time off the clock for the siren to sound and Swan Districts to book a grand final spot.

D’Addario was best on ground with 26 disposals, seven tackles, three inside 50s and a goal, while Henry (15 disposals, two marks, nine tackles and three inside 50s) and Ajduk (13 disposals, two marks, four tackles and a goal) were huge. Naomi Baker (18 disposals, three marks and seven tackles) was important through the middle, with Edgley (14 disposals, five marks and four tackles) rock solid in defence and McGuire making the most of her chances up forward.

For the Lions, Krstel Petrevski found plenty of the ball through midfield with nine tackles from 19 disposals, but was overshadowed by D’Addario when they went head-to-head. Corlett (18 disposals, four marks, four tackles and three inside 50s) was a standout for the Lions, with Quinn-Schofield (16 disposals, four tackles and three inside 50s) and Tess Lyons (10 disposals, nine tackles and 31 hitouts) also impressive. Wolmarans’ second half which included two goals and finished with 10 disposals, four marks and four tackles caught the eye.

SUBIACO 0.1 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 6.2 (38)
SWAN DISTRICTS 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 6.4 (40)

GOALS:
Subiaco: O. Wolmarans 2, A. Schmidt, J. Schell, L. Quinn-Schofield, R. Hobbs
Swan Districts: E. McGuire 2, K. King, C. D’Addario, E. Humphries, S. Ajduk

RMC BEST:
Subiaco: H. Corlett, L. Quinn-Schofield, K. Petrevski, T. Lyons, O. Wolmarans
Swan Districts: C. D’Addario, J. Henry, S. Ajduk, I. Edgley, N. Baker