WEST Perth’s Rogers Cup dynasty rolled on over the weekend with the Falcons winning their third consecutive flag, and fourth in five seasons of the WAFL Women’s competition. Having beaten three different opponents the past three seasons, the Falcons came away with the 7.6 (48) to 4.6 (30) victory over Claremont at Mineral Resources Park.

After West Perth won the 2024 flag by keeping Subiaco scoreless a year earlier, the danger signs were on the wall early for Claremont when the Falcons piled on the first five goals of the match to lead 30-1 after 23 minutes of action. It was a dominant early period for the favourites with an early Claremont checkside the only blemish for the Falcons’ defence.

But after some early impressive play from India Bonadeo up front, the defensive pressure by Falcons skipper Bree Porritt set the tone from centre half-back. While Claremont’s rock in Jemimah Port was saving goals with a brilliant tackle on the last line, she and her fellow defenders were under siege.

The speed of transition from defence to offence by the Falcons was superb as Ella Feist linked up with Jamarah Walley for the opener. Feist was outstanding in the front half with her ability to sidestep and break open the game, while midfielder Tayah Nicholson was getting her hands on it around the coalface.

But it was up forward where all the damage was been done as Walley set up Sophie Fisher for a major, and then talented 2010-born defender Bella Nelson snuck forward running hard to mark all alone inside 50. She converted her set shot, and when Abby Plummer worked into space to slam home a fourth goal on the edge of quarter time, the Falcons had one hand on the cup.

The red and blue ribbons were beginning to get attached three minutes into the second term when Amity Spencer got goalside and soccered home a major. Off hands in the marking contest, Spencer miscued the first soccer attempt, but got it truly with the second, and the lead was out to five goals.

It took more than 32 minutes, but Claremont finally had a spark when Savannah Muir-Thompson mowed down an opponent in the goalsquare. She went back and got Claremont on the board, but no sooner had the Tigers faithful had something to celebrate, West Perth had responded through Chloe Smoker two minutes later. Even on the defensive end West Perth was firing as Nelson saved a certain goal with a terrific run-down tackle and the 31-point deficit looked set to stay heading into the main break.

However Claremont would gain a slight confidence boost in the final minute when a Muir-Thompson long bomb went to the top of the goalsquare and Jayde Musika played the perfect role of small forward with a crumb, snap and goal to make it a 25-point half-time difference.

To Claremont’s credit, the Tigers did not stop coming even when it looked game over as another soccer goal over the back from West Perth’s Alexis Henderson which looked like the sealer. The lead was out to 31 points, and it would ultimately prove a bridge too far for the Tigers.

Claremont kicked two late goals – through Muir-Thompson both out of the ruck and then from a 50-metre penalty – but with some late missed chances from both sides in the final term, the math ended up with a significant gap to the Falcons. West Perth celebrated on the final siren with a third straight premiership.

Nicholson was awarded the best on ground medal for her performance for the Falcons, with Nelson, Walley and Plummer among the best for the winners. Meanwhile Muir-Thompson was judged her side’s best as the only multiple goalkicker on the ground, while Mia Jackson was reliable as ever, and Lucy Gilbey provided explosive speed between midfield and attack. Bonadeo and Port were also strong.

WEST PERTH 4.0 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 7.6 (48)
CLAREMONT 0.1 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 4.6 (30)

GOALS:
West Perth: J. Walley, A. Plummer, S. Fisher, A. Nelson, A. Spencer, C. Smoker, A. Henderson
Claremont: S. Muir-Thompson 3, J. Musika

BEST:
West Perth: T. Nicholson, A. Nelson, J. Walley, A. Plummer, L. Krmpotic
Claremont: S. Muir-Thompson, M. Jackson, L. Gilbey, I. Bonadeo, J. Port