PERTH enters the WAFL Women’s competition for 2026 after a Round 1 bye, with all four Round 2 matches taking place tomorrow on Good Friday. Top two sides Swan Districts and South Fremantle go head-to-head in the match of the round, while West Perth has the opportunity to go 2-0 against last year’s top two ladder finishers as Claremont hopes to bounce back from a rare loss.

IN A NUTSHELL

Two sides who have recruited strongly and flexed their muscles in Round 1 over the two best sides of the last four years and now face off in a mouthwatering clash.

CHANGES

South Fremantle is the only side to have made changes, bringing in ruck Kate Newson and natural ball-winner Liusaidh Gilchrist to the side, with Newson to pair up with Charlotte Vandenberg to try and stretch the Swan Districts side. Coming out of the team are Jasmine Bazeley and Brianna Cleggett. Swan Districts is going so well last year’s breakout star Summer Ajduk and experienced key position player Emily McGuire are still emergencies.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Without Ajduk in the side, all attention turns to defender Grace Hirst for the Swans. The top-ager was quite impressive coming off half-back in the win over Claremont and will have a key matchup again in this one. South Fremantle also only have the one West Australian summer squad member with Marie Polimeno up the other end looking to lockdown on one of the Swan Districts’ forwards.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

A genuine cracker of a contest that could go either way. Swan Districts forwardline looked a little more dangerous last week against quality opposition, so the home side earns the tip, but if South Fremantle can get on top in the middle, then there is every chance the highly stacked Bulldogs side takes home the four points.

IN A NUTSHELL

Two teams who suffered defeats in Round 1, East Fremantle were humbled by South in the Fremantle Derby, while Peel Thunder lost to East Perth by two points after booting the first four goals of the match.

CHANGES

Both sides have rolled out the changes with Peel minus skipper Ebony Dowson – who was injured in the first term last week – and Chloe Wrigley – who kicked two of the Thunder’s goals – which will hut the team. They are among six changes as Zoe Bailey, Maya Walsh and debutant Olivia Templeton are among the ins. East Fremantle will be minus reigning best and fairest winner Brooke Repacholi, with the ruck out alongside Anjelique Raison and recruit Storm Johnson. Hyphenated talents Siena Jezierski-Brown and Eve Wilson-Sieber come into the side with boom recruit Mackenzie Webb.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Peel Thunder bottom-agers Charlie Fletcher and Tiama Collard have incredible upside, with Fletcher named inside instead of her familiar wing, potentially taking over the role left by Wrigley. Collard will lineup at half-forward as she has become accustomed to, while tall Zaide Wilson could go head-to-head with East Fremantle big Avuya Nomlatyu. The Sharks have top-ager defender Cienna Leslie and bottom-age wing Olivia McCay among the other squad members.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

East Fremantle has been able to bring in Webb who looms as the key piece in the side’s back half. Given that inclusion, and Peel’s loss of both Dowson and Wrigley, you have to side with the visitors who will be better for the run last week and looking to atone against an even younger opposition side.

IN A NUTSHELL

The WAFLW’s newest side gets to unveil a host of new faces as Perth takes on a Subiaco side hungry to bounce back from its Round 1 loss to West Perth.

CHANGES

For Perth’s first game of the season, the Demons unveil a number of new names including former AFLW players, Evie Gooch, Katelyn Cox and Caitlyn Edwards. Adding to the depth of the side are VFLW stars Isla Baldwin and Amy Trindade, while ex-Shark Grace Freeman, former Bulldogs Poppy Stockwell and Alyssa Smogavec and veteran Tiger Brooke Whyte will done the red and black. Subiaco has made four changes from its Round 1 loss, bringing in former Eagle Courtney Lindgren, while youngster Scarlet Gallo was among the unlucky omissions.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

With both Gallo and double bottom-ager Caitlin Boss – National Development Championships – going out of the side, the Lions have just bottom-ager Marley Kelman from the summer squad. Perth’s draft hopes this year will be headlined by National Academy member Mia Carlshausen, with small forward Mel Grage the summer squad talent in the team.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

It would normally be unfathomable to think Subiaco might start the season 0-2 with the midfield the Lions have, but Perth’s side on paper genuinely looks like a premiership contender, and if the Demons can have it all click early, will likely go deep in the post-season.

IN A NUTSHELL

The reigning back-to-back premiers find themselves 0-1 after the opening weekend, and take on a West Perth side that knocked off Subiaco and has the potential to roll the Tigers.

CHANGES

Claremont has been very bold with its changes, omitting the returning Eva Campo and consistent best 21 member Bridie Garlick along with Jayde Musika. Coming into the team is star top-ager India Bonadeo for just her second League game, as well as the ultra-athletic Ella Gilbey and talented Mia Jackson. West Perth regain co-captain Emily Bennett who comes in with bottom-ager Miley Hynes and former Swans player Sienna Pollard. The Falcons lose Under 16s talent Bella Nelson to the state team, as well as injured Brooke Hongell and tall Stacey Francis-Bayman.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

With National Academy member Cara Dziegielewski still recovering from injury, powerful Lexi Strachan will be the one to watch, while Lunay Van Den Heever and Tayah Nicholson impressed up forward and back respectively. Running hard off a wing Rikisha Nannup had some big moments, while ruck/forward Jasmine Giles showed promising signs in Round 1. For Claremont, Bonadeo becomes the first summer squad member to run out for the Tigers this season with the team the only WAFLW side not to feature a State Under 18s member last week.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

While West Perth was the most impressive of the two sides last week and are at home, Claremont is one of those teams that you can’t see playing badly twice. The Tigers will be out for revenge, and have clearly added some more speed and athleticism to the side. Expect it to be a single-digit margin.