ROUND five of the WAFLW season delivered four competitive fixtures across the weekend, with Swan Districts’ unbeaten run facing its stiffest test yet from a Perth side that has recruited well in its second season. We took a look at how the West Australian Summer Squad members performed across each game.

All scouting notes are the opinion of the individual author.

SWAN DISTRICTS:

#3 Grace Hirst
Defender/Midfielder | 165cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Another competitive outing from Hirst, whose willingness and pressure were the consistent features. Six tackles reflects the contested nature of her day, and her best offensive moment – winning the ball at half-forward in the second term and kicking to a dangerous spot – showed the two-way quality she brings. She found herself on the wrong end of some physical contests where her build was tested, but her competitiveness is never in question.

#13 Shaya Yarran
Wing | 160cm | 24/12/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

The standout moment of Yarran’s afternoon came in the final term – a composed mark in defence under pressure, stepping one way then the other before delivering cleanly into the middle. The dancing feet that define her best work were on show across the game, though a couple of disposal decisions late didn’t always come off. Able to use her speed and work rate off a wing to have an impact and was ultra-clean at ground level.

#24 Summer Ajduk
Wing/Forward | 171cm | 12/11/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s

A solid rather than spectacular afternoon. Ajduk’s best sequence came in the third quarter – consecutive marks and a follow-up handball receive led to back-to-back forward thrusts that showed her willingness to stay involved once in possession. Four inside 50s is a fair reflection of the attacking intent she brings from the wing, and a strong tackle to win a holding the ball free in the fourth term underlined her defensive contribution away from the ball. Her effectiveness by foot was down on her usual output, but she never stopped running.

SUBIACO:

#10 Caitlin Boss
Forward/Midfielder | 160cm | 07/12/2010

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

A determined performance from the talented double bottom-ager who did not take a backwards step. Boss competed in the air against bigger opponents all day, applied six tackles and worked the forward half with consistent energy. Her best moment came late with a fantastic tackle inside 50 in the final quarter that won a holding the ball free and put the ball in the goalsquare. A genuine pressure player who has some nice smarts across the ground.

#37 Marley Kelman
Tall Defender | 170cm | 31/03/2009

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles

A quiet afternoon for Kelman which is a good thing when playing in defence. She still had a notable moment was pushing to the wing to take an intercept mark and she finished with the eight touches and a couple of grabs. Is a player with upside.

PEEL THUNDER:

#7 Heidi Ireland
Defender | 171cm | 14/08/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 tackle

Ireland was a reliable ball-mover from defence, taking kick-outs with composure and distributing cleanly all day. Her best quality was the forward thinking she brings to the defensive role – playing on from a kickout in the second term to thump a long clearance and then continuing her run to stay as an option. Composed hands away under pressure in the fourth term capped a consistent afternoon from the rebounding defender.

#8 Tiama Collard
Wing/Forward | 164cm | 08/04/2009

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle

A quieter day than her season’s best, though Collard still showed her clean reading of the ball and positioning off a wing. She did well to help defend when required and each time she went. near the ball it looked like something was going to happen for the classy bottom-ager.

#9 Maya Walsh
Defender/Midfielder | 170cm | 20/02/2009

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50

Walsh’s best moment was her best: pushing to half-forward in the third term, taking a good mark and setting up a Kate Bartlett goal. Reliable with the ball in hand when given time, and her defensive pressure near the goalline in the second quarter reflected a player who was not overawed against a quality side.

#22 Tahlia Head
Wing/Forward | 167cm | 28/12/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

Head was a polished ball user for the most part and her positioning across the ground to stretch the Subiaco side was impressive. Her standout moment came early – a great low kick inside 50 in the first quarter delivered directly to Georgia Tait for a goal assist. Back-to-back marks and clean kicks in the opening two minutes of the second term showed her at her sharpest. Her best game of the season to-date.

#26 Charlie Fletcher
Wing | 167cm | 02/04/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Fletcher is always going to have highlights and Round 5 was no different despite a slightly lower production rate. She spoiled a certain first-quarter mark and potential close-range set shot in the forward pocket in the opening 90 seconds, then applied a brilliant run-down tackle in the second term at half-back to win the ball back and generate another inside 50 thrust. Five tackles tell the pressure story, but her clean hands in congestion deep in defence in the third quarter – leading to a composed clearance and mark – showed the full picture of her game. Such an exciting talent running both ways.

WEST PERTH:

#13 Rikisha Nannup
Wing | 165cm | 23/04/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s

Clean hands, reliable marking and smart decisions were the consistent themes, and the goal assist to Zoe Huggett in the third term – finding the pocket off a handball receive from Van Den Heever with a well-weighted kick – was the clearest example of her football intelligence. Overall was the pick of the State Academy members across Round 5. For the full breakdown, see our Player Focus.

#19 Lunay Van Den Heever
Forward | 170cm | 08/12/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 goal, 1 behind

Van Den Heever made her moments count. Quick hands to Nannup in the third term started the chain that led to the Huggett goal was a selfless and smart play. Her own best moment came in the fourth quarter, dribbling a clever shot around the body from the pocket for a goal that bounced home and gave West Perth some breathing room. Growing in confidence game by game.

#43 Miley Hines
Forward | 178cm | 21/04/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Eight tackles from 11 disposals is a remarkable return and reflects just how hard Hines worked all day even when the ball didn’t favour her. She was dangerous early – a set shot off the left pushed narrowly wide, a dribble towards goal saved on the goalline – and set up a Sara Riou goal in the second term with a composed low kick to a leading target. The pressure off the ball, including a shepherd for Nannup on the wing, was relentless. A forward who brings far more than goal-scoring.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#31 Marie Polimeno
Defender/Wing | 169cm | 06/07/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Polimeno played the bulk of her game on a wing while still retaining her defensive attitude in the back half. Her best passage came late – a lovely half-back mark converted to the wing, then pushing right up to half-forward to apply further pressure – before winning a holding the ball free with the last kick of the game. Consistent and competitive throughout the match.

CLAREMONT:

#15 Hannah Seaborn
Tall Forward | 177cm | 16/04/2009

Stats: 4 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Small statistical footprint, but Seaborn made her moments count in a dominant Claremont side. A clean athletic take at speed on the wing in the first term – handball off the deck from her knees — was a glimpse of what she brings. Her best came in the third quarter, a great overhead mark 15 metres out on a 45-degree angle, composing herself for a clean set shot goal that was a quality forward act after playing in defence last week

#25 India Bonadeo
Tall Defender | 177cm | 05/08/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles

Bonadeo was used in defence and did a composed job, with clean hands at ground level and good decision-making when ball in hand. A neat free kick technique in the defensive goalsquare in the first term and a clean gather at half-back in the second were her tidiest moments. A quick turn and snap on the wing in the third was an eye-catcher as she pushed forward. Still building consistency at senior level, but the athletic versatility that made her such a compelling Under 16s prospect is visible.

EAST PERTH:

#8 Charli Bassett
Midfielder | 158cm | 19/11/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50

Another busy, high-effort performance from Bassett. A brilliant run-down tackle on the wing in the 16th minute and a sharp read off hands shortly after charging out of the middle and finding a contest at centre half-forward – were the highlights of a lively first term. Her third quarter opening clearance was decisive and a non-preferred left-foot kick down the wing shortly after is a sign of continued development. The consistency of effort and football intelligence she brings each week is a big tick for the tough-as-nails talent.