EAST Fremantle has thrown its hat in the ring for WAFLW Finals this season after a huge scalp, defeating reigning premiers Claremont by a point on Friday night. The win made it three straight wins – and four for the season – and while victories over the bottom three sides showed the Sharks were a cut above, the win over the second placed Tigers hit different.

Under Friday night lights at The Good Grocer Park for the second week running, East Fremantle returned to the scene of its incredible victory over Perth, a side many tipped to be well clear of the young Sharks. However while the 17-point win a week earlier was impressive, no one really tipped the blue and white – who had a fair bit of change over the off-season to roll a red-hot, full-strength Claremont side.

They were wrong.

The match looked to be going to script for the Tigers through the middle terms, with East Fremantle kicking the first from one of the players who had represented both sides in Anjelique Raison. Another who was also now in blue and white for the first time after a career with the Tigers, Mackenzie Webb, was proving a thorn in the side for her old team. She and fellow tall defender Tiani Teakle were huge for the home team as the Sharks continually repelled attacks.

While East Fremantle lead by five points at the first break, that changed by half-time when back-to-back goals to crafty small Jayde Musika woke up the crowd after 15 minutes of grinding from both teams. Her quick majors handed Claremont a seven-point lead at the main break, and when Bec Anderson converted a third goal early in the second half, it looked like Claremont had found its mojo.

The Tigers – lead through the middle by Dhara Kerr Medallist Jayme Harken and the ever-industrious Juliet Kelly – controlled play for the most part and it was the Sharks who were bravely defending on a cold May night. However against the flow, debutant Sienna Lilly held her line well inside 50 to get loose and her teammates found her 35m from goal. In a fantastic scene for the home fans, Lilly drilled the set shot with ease and all of a sudden there was a shift.

Claremont was able to finish the term scoring a couple of behinds and having some ascendancy, but Lilly’s goal was symbolic for the Sharks because it showed while the team was relatively young compared to the Tigers, they could match it with their highly rated opponents.

Though the Tigers had the early ascendancy in the first few minutes trying to build on the 10-point lead at the final break, Jacinta Valentini found herself in the umpire’s book after a tackle on Webb in the back pocket. There was nothing untoward in the action, but the focus on fierce tackles has ben in the spotlight the last couple of years.

Everything went from bad to worse after that though, with a double 50m penalty after a free kick and encroachment lead Zoe Keley from half-back to inside 50. The tall – who had made her way from South to East Fremantle over the off-season – converted the crucial major to cut the deficit back to four points with still 14 minutes left in the match.

Claremont continued to attack, but the East Fremantle defended well, and counterpunched effectively too. The Tigers could only manage one extra behind and the difference between the teams was the dreaded five points. Then, depending on the colours you supported, it was jubilation or heartbreak.

A long kick inside 50 to the a contest in the Sharks forwardline saw a pack emerge. No one could mark it, but first on the scene was Meg McAullay, who, despite the damp conditions, picked up the ball like it was dry at speed, burst a few metres and slammed home the goal. She was mobbed by her teammates and the crowd erupted. The Sharks lead by a point with five minutes left.

Those five minutes were a hold-your-breath special as the experienced Tigers – who had won both finals last season by single-digit margins and were well accustomed to scrapping out a win, continually penetrated the forward 50. However, the Sharks, seeing the importance of the moment, dropped tall forward Sarah Wielstra into the hole, and the AFLW-experienced player clunked an important mark. Then Webb also took a goal-saving grab deep.

For all of Claremont’s pressure, repeat entries and chances, the Sharks continued to deny them even a behind, refusing to split the points. When the siren sounded with the ball still in East Fremantle’s front half, the Sharks could relax and enjoy the moment, having slain the Tigers and produced the win of their season to make it four victories from six games.

In an even team performance, Webb stood out in the back 50 with 20 disposals, five marks and three tackles against her former side, working well with Teakle (14 disposals, two marks and six tackles), while Wielstra’s aerial presence at both ends (10 disposals, seven marks, two tackles and five inside 50s) was important. Amber Kinnane (19 disposals, two marks, 10 tackles and two inside 50s), McAullay (15 disposals, three marks, three tackles and a goal) and Ava Anderson (17 disposals, two marks) were all important.

For the Tigers, Harken racked up 32 disposals, two marks, eight tackles and two inside 50s, working well with Kelly (28 disposals, two marks, nine tackles and three inside 50s). Behind the ball, India Bonadeo played her best game of the season with the top-age notching up 20 touches and five tackles, while Musika finished with two goals from 16 disposals and six tackles. Ruby Sargent-Wilson (18 disposals, three marks, three tackles and four inside 50s) and Jess Freame (17 disposals, two marks and five inside 50s) were amongst the best in defeat.

EAST FREMANTLE 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 4.1 (25)
CLAREMONT 0.2 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
East Fremantle: Z. Keley, S. Lilly, M. McAullay, A. Raison
Claremont: J. Musika 2, B. Anderson

RMC BEST:
East Fremantle: M. Webb, T. Teakle, A. Kinnane, M. McAullay, S. Wielstra
Claremont: J. Harken, J. Kelly, J. Musika, R. Sargent-Wilson, I. Bonadeo

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The match of the round in terms of back-and-forth was that between Subiaco and West Perth, with the Lions storming from 22 points down in the third term to boot the last four goals of the game and run over the top of the Falcons, 6.8 (44) to 6.6 (42). Entering the game under an injury cloud after going down late in last week’s game, Lisa Steane showed no signs of being hampered as she kicked a goal and alongside mate Paige Sheppard shared in 54 disposals, 14 marks and seven tackles.

Caitie Smith (Subiaco) and Zoe Huggett (West Perth) continued their strong seasons with three goals apiece, while Bella Nelson (22 disposals, nine marks), Jessica Roper (20 disposals, three marks and three tackles) and Lexi Strachan (20 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and four inside 50s) found plenty of the ball.

South Fremantle did what it had to do to bring up back-to-back wins with a 13-point win over Peel Thunder. The Bulldogs have been a little inconsistent in season 2026, but came away with the important 9.3 (57) to 7.2 (44) victory after trailing at quarter time against the last placed Thunder. In the end, it was the usual former Sharks trio of Natasha Entwistle, Madison Evans and Ashleigh Gomes who stood up, while Tahleah Mulder and Shannyn Pomersbach kicked a couple of goals each in the win.

For the Thunder, Chloe Wrigley again lead all-comers with 21 disposals, three marks and seven tackles, while Ebony Bilcich (15 disposals, four tackles and two inside 50s), and youngsters Charlie Fletcher and Heidi Ireland also impressed for the visitors in a game where Peel had nine scoring shots from just 19 forward 50 entries.

In the standalone Sunday clash, Perth grabbed a much-needed victory over East Perth, securing an 8.8 (56) to 2.7 (19) triumph at Mineral Resources Park. The Demons had a battle on their hands for the first half, before kicking clear with six goals to one in the second half and taking home the four points for just the second time this season.

Co-captains Isabella Shannon (29 disposals, four marks, four tackles and five inside 50s) and Holly Britton (22 disposals, five marks, three tackles and two inside 50s) impressed, as did the red-hot Isla Baldwin and Mia Carlshausen. Poppy Stockwell kicked three goals from seven scoring shots in the win. For East Perth, teenagers Lucy Greenwood (20 disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s) and Charli Bassett (19 disposals, two marks and twi inside 50s) lead the way again, as Elly Sara laid eight tackles to go with 17 disposals.