IN A FINISH unlikely to be topped for some time, an Amy Trindade goal with the final kick of the game ensured Perth secured half the points against a stunned South Fremantle outfit on the weekend. The Bulldogs had kicked a goal with two minutes on the clock and had several chances to kill time off the clock, but with a never-say-die attitude, the Demons kept coming to draw with the home side, 8.7 (55) apiece.

South Fremantle always seemed to be that slight step ahead of the Demons who were searching for their first win under new coach Steph Walding following a loss to Subiaco in Round 2. The Bulldogs had received a reality check in the same week from Swan Districts after belting East Fremantle in Round 1, so were hungry to get back on the winners’ list.

It looked like happening right up until the final few seconds, with South Fremantle leading from late in the second term until midway through the fourth quarter, with a game-high 15 points in the 11th minute of the third term. By contrast, Perth had not lead by more than five points, but in incredible scenes, the Demons almost snatched it late.

Isabella Shannon handed her side the lead with seven minutes to play, albeit by just a point. It was part of a run of four behinds for the visitors, which could have seen Perth blow past the favourites. However despite holding that narrow lead, South got the ball down the other end and a desperate Perht defence rushed through a behind to level the scores at 49-apiece.

Then came a coach killer. Tessa Kongras had the ball in the back pocket after the kickout and tried to pierce a ball inboard short in the defensive 50 rather than the higher percentage long down the line kick. She watched on in horror as South forward Madison Hadley snatched the kick up and ran into an open goal to hand South the lead with less than two minutes on the clock remaining.

Co-skipper Shannon consoled Kongras in a show of leadership and showed through her actions that the game was far from done. In fact, despite the Bulldogs winning a free out of the middle due to the density ruling, Shannon brought the ball to ground and got it away with a couple of touches transitioning it from half-back to half-forward.

Then, it was South’s turn to make some coach-killing decisions.

As Perth rushed a kick down the line to half-forward, the South defence was so well set up that Madison Evans took an easy intercept mark. However a late bump from the initial kick meant Perth was awarded a downfield free kick. The Demons sent the ball inside 50 and Caitlin Pears emerged with it for the red and white with 45 seconds on teh clock. However the pressure from the forwards saw Pears kick it out on the full and hand the ball back to the Demons.

Gemma Dix grabbed the ball and played on immediately to kick to the contest where it went to space and was cleanly taken by ex-Bulldog Poppy Stockwell in her first game against her former club. Having missed the chance earlier in the term to give Perth the lead with a shot on goal, she centered the ball to the open space where another recruit in Amy Trindade had raced down from midfield to mark just 15m from goal.

The 2025 Carlton Best and Fairest winner – who had been the only Demon to kick a goal the week before – went back and slotted the major with only a few seconds on the clock. The siren sounded, but Perth was clearly the more pleased of the sides, having not dropped its bundle when it came to falling behind in the dying moments.

It was an enormous performance from Shannon who racked up 31 disposals and nine marks across the four quarters, as she and co-captain Holly Britton (20 disposals, eight marks) were prominent once again. Trindade (17 disposals, four marks, five tackles and a match-winning goal) and fellow VFLW recruit Isla Baldwin (19 disposals) had their key moments in the match. Stockwell and Dix both kicked two goals a piece in the draw.

Though not a loss, South will review those last 90 seconds with plenty to take away, though the forwardline looked more damaging this week as Shannyn Pomersbach (three goals), Makaela Tuhakaraina (two) and Hadley (two) all became multiple goalkickers. Natasha Entwistle (23 disposals, seven marks and eight tackles) was best on ground for her side, while Mikayla Hyde and Brianna Cleggett were also amongst the best for the red and white.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 8.7 (55)
PERTH DEMONS 1.0 4.2 | 6.3 | 8.7 (55)

GOALS:
South Fremantle: S. Pomersbach 3, M. Hadley 2, M. Tuhakaraina 2, J. Bazeley
Perth: G. Dix 2, P. Stockwell 2, A. Trindade, C. Edwards, N. House, T. Strickland

RMC BEST:
South Fremantle: N. Entwistle, B. Hyde, B. Cleggett, M. Hadley, S. Pomersbach
Perth: I. Shannon, A. Trindade. H. Britton. I. Baldwin, C. Edwards

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Swan Districts continued its undefeated run with another win, this time shaking off a gallant East Fremantle by 23 points. The Sharks punched above their weight from an experience standpoint and matched it with the Swans for the most part until the visitors booted three last quarter goals to win, 7.9 (51) to 4.4 (28).

Jaime Henry‘s incredible year rolled on with another 31 disposals, three marks, eight tackles, four inside 50s, a goal and best on ground once more. Naomi Baker and Jessica Cox were also prominent, while for the Sharks, Noa McNaughton and defensive duo Mackenzie Webb and Tiani Teakle were outstanding.

Subiaco handed East Perth its first loss after the Royals had a bye in Round 2, coming away with a 39-point win. After a tight opening term, Subiaco kicked clear booting seven goals to two after quarter time and five goals to one after half-time in the 10.5 (65) to 4.2 (26) victory at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

Paige Sheppard (31 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles and five inside 50s) was everywhere for the Lions, while Lisa Steane and Krstel Petrevski roved the ruck taps of current AFLW Eagle Elizabeth McGrath who dominated through the middle for the Royals. She had 42 hitouts from 14 disposals, while Kahra Sprlyan was also prominent in defeat. Caitie Smith (three goals) and Jorja Schell were the multiple goalkickers.

In a standalone Sunday clash, Claremont flexed its muscles against a young Peel Thunder outfit, winning by 70 points at Revo Fitness Stadium. The Tigers escaped with the win against West Perth last round, but there was no late comeback from the Thunder in Round 3 as Claremont booted eight goals to two in the second half to win, 14.7 (91) to 3.3 (21).

Megan Green and Bec Anderson both booted three goals in the win, while it was ex-AFLW Swan Ruby Sargent-Wilson who had a day out, feasting on 30 disposals and 10 marks. The likes of Sarah Viney (29 disposals, eight tackles), Jayme Harken (28 disposals, four tackles) and Juliet Kelly (24 disposals, six tackles) brought the heat. Defender Cassie Davidson was a standout for the Thunder in defeat.