STARRING down the barrel of a tough start to the season when 24-0 down just four and a half minutes into the second term against Peel Thunder, East Perth found a way to win with a sensational last 55 minutes to boot 4.7 to just 0.5 over the next almost three quarters and win by two points at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The 4.7 (31) to 4.5 (29) result was certainly a way to kick off the year for last year’s wooden spooners who only managed the one win – an early season victory over newcomers Perth – but have achieved that feat just a week into the 2026 season with the hard-fought victory. Granted, the Thunder lost skipper Ebony Dowson early in the match, but it did not stop Peel building a really strong lead that looked insurmountable.

But the work of youngsters Layla Firns and Elly Sara between the inside and outside helped the Royals get on top, while over-age talent Lucy Greenwood was sensational in spreading and finding space before doing a lot of damage with ball in hand forward of centre. The Royals were not short on recruits over the off-season, but one who caught the eye in the win was former Falcon Elissa Price who kicked the match-winner in sensational circumstances.

Price, who had already kicked a sensational running goal earlier in the match and missed a second which was similarly eye-catching with her speed and launch from long-range, got into the right position in the forward 50 as the time ticked down to the last seven minutes. In what was a forgettable moment for the Peel defence, as the Thunder were about to intercept mark, both defenders crashed into each other, forcing the ball to spill. Price picked it up and launched on goal and with an open goalsquare it bounced home to give East Perth the lead for the first time.

Greenwood had the chance to ice the game in the final couple of minutes but missed in tough conditions. It mattered little as the Royals would celebrate a famous come-from-behind victory. While East Perth looked home – and it turned out that way – heading into the final minute, Peel did manage to rush it down the other end after recruit Georgia Tait won a crucial one-on-one in the middle. The ball pinged inside the Thunder’s forward 50 but in the end went out of bounds and by the time the ball was thrown back in, East Perth had the numbers, cleared and the siren sounded.

Price kicked 2.1 from 14 disposals and four inside 50s on a day that was no good for tall forwards in wet conditions, while Greenwood managed a couple of behinds, but clunked eight grabs showing her clean hands. Sara (23 disposals, seven marks and three tackles) was prolific as always and backed up her impressive year last season, while Firns finished with an equal game-high 26 disposals covering the ground effectively.

For the Thunder, bottom-age pair Tiama Collard (22 disposals, four marks, nine tackles and four inside 50s) and Charlie Fletcher (21 disposals, four marks, four tackles and four inside 50s) seemed to be everywhere on the day, while the experience of Cassie Davidson in defence (20 disposals, four marks and 13 tackles) in the absence of partner in crime Dowson, was crucial in keeping the Thunder steady. Chloe Wrigley‘s back-to-back goals early in the second term blew the margin out to the 24 points, while Ebony Bilcich was a standout with 26 disposals, two marks, six tackles and four inside 50s in the loss.

EAST PERTH 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.7 (31)
PEEL THUNDER 2.0 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:
East Perth: E. Price 2, I. Foletta, B. Edwards
Peel Thunder: C. Wrigley 2, K. Carter, K. Bartlett

RMC BEST:
East Perth: L. Greenwood, E. Sara, E. Price, L. Firns, T. Suda
Peel Thunder: T. Collard, C. Fletcher, C. Davidson, E. Bilcich, C. Wrigley

AROUND THE GROUNDS

West Perth became one of the talking points of Round 1 after a sensational come-from-behind win over last year’s top two team Subiaco. The Falcons kept the Lions to just four behinds following the main break, while kicking 3.3 themselves to run out 4.6 (30) to 2.7 (19) victors.

The defensive combination of Jessica Roper (25 disposals, four marks and five tackles) and Liliana Grassenis (19 disposals, five marks and seven tackles) were strong, while Madison Dodd, Megan Norbury and Lexi Strachan found plenty of the ball. Rikisha Nannup ran hard off a wing, while Katherine Bennett made a welcome return up forward.

For the Lions, Lisa Steane (32 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and three inside 50s), Paige Sheppard (30 disposals, eight marks, three tackles and three inside 50s) and Krstel Petrevski (29 disposals, two marks, five tackles and three inside 50s) all stuffed the stats sheet, as recruit Annabel Johnson rebounded plenty out of defence.

Swan Districts left Claremont a little shellshocked at Revo Fitness Stadium with a 41-point belting of the two-time reigning premiers. The Swans had recruited well over the off-season, and despite a big defeat to West Perth leading into the year, at full-strength put the Tigers to the sword by conceding just 22 inside 50s and one goal in a 7.9 (51) to 1.4 (10) thrashing.

Star midfielder Jaime Henry looked every bit the premier player after another big off-season, racking up 32 disposals, five marks, 12 tackles, eight inside 50s and a goal, while VFLW recruit Alana Barba (20 disposals, three marks, four tackles and two inside 50s) and returning former skipper Jessica Cox (17 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s) all played their part. Another past Swan back in the black and whites, Ashley Sharp, booted three goals in the victory.

For Claremont, Claire Ortlepp lead from the front with 21 disposals, five marks and four tackles, while Sarah Viney (20 disposals, four tackles and two inside 50s) and Matilda Sergeant (19 disposals, three marks, three tackles and two inside 50s) tried hard all game.

In the final game of the round, South Fremantle had 18 scoring shots to four in a dominant Derby demolition over East Fremantle. The Bulldogs took a while to click, but once they fired in front of goal with four third quarter majors, it was all over. The Sharks defended bravely, and that along with the Bulldogs’ inaccuracy in tough conditions made it a little closer, but ultimately South Fremantle secured a big 7.11 (53) to 0.4 (4) triumph.

Up against their former side, ex-Sharks skipper Ashleigh Gomes (20 disposals, four marks, five tackles and two inside 50s), Madison Evans (18 disposals, three marks and two tackles) and Natasha Entwistle (17 disposals, two marks, four tackles and two inside 50s) all left their mark on the game. Ex-AFLW players Tara Stribley and Mikayla Hyde both had big performances too.

For the Sharks, new skipper Tiani Teakle did her best in defence with 17 disposals and four marks, continually repelling attacks, while 50-gamer and former Bulldog Noa McNaughton (16 disposals, six tackles and three inside 50s) and strong midfielder Amber Kinnane (20 disposals, three marks and five tackles) both battled hard.

ROUND 2 FIXTURES

Friday, April 3 (Good Friday)

Swan Districts vs. South Fremantle | Steel Blue Oval @ 12:25pm
Peel Thunder vs. East Fremantle | Lane Group Stadium @ 4pm
Perth vs. Subiaco | Mineral Resources Park @ 5pm
West Perth vs. Claremont | HIF Health Insurance Oval @ 7:05pm