SWAN Districts delivered the performance of the WAFLW season on Saturday, annihilating Peel Thunder by 90 points in Round 10 to send a fierce message to the rest of the competition as they steam towards finals.

The Black Ducks were merciless from the opening bounce, booting five majors in the first term alone and never relenting, ultimately running out 19.3 (117) to 4.3 (27) winners. It was a complete team display, but it was the sheer volume of ball movement that told the story. Swan Districts finishing with 281 disposals to Peel’s 148, and converting their chances at a remarkable 86 per cent accuracy.

The Swans raced away with a flawless first term kicking 5.0 to 0.0 and had not missed by half-time even with Peel Thunder making more of a game of it. The margin was beyond doubt at the last change with an 11.3 (69) to 4.1 (25) difference, but the visitors just put the foot down to slam home eight goals to nil in the final term and run out 15-goal victors. Incredibly, Swan Districts only had seven more inside 50s (31-24) but scored at a rate of 71 per cent, while the Thunder only ran at 29 per cent.

Jaime Henry was once again the engine room of the Swans’ dominance, collecting a league-record 49 disposals, as well as seven marks, 13 tackles and seven inside 50s in a performance that continues to put the football world on notice. Henry’s influence is difficult to overstate – she is operating at a level that few players in any women’s state league competition can match, and her impact on Swan Districts’ sustained run at the top of the ladder has been immense.

Summer Yarran was the most damaging teenager on the ground, finishing with four goals and two behinds from 14 disposals and eight marks in what was a commanding display of contested forward craft. Yarran, who has been one of the West Australian Summer Squad’s most watched names, is finding her best form at exactly the right point in the season.

Ashley Sharp was the who made the most of the scoreboard-friendly conditions, as the former Fremantle AFLW forward booted eight goals – a haul that would have been the story of any other week. Sharp finished with 12 disposals and five marks to go with her bag, a reminder that quality forwards at this level don’t need an enormous stat line to make their presence felt. Madison Fisher (two goals) and Taylah Edwards (three goals, eight disposals) provided further forward thrust, with Eliza Gelmi (one goal) and Adi Griffith (one goal) also troubling the scoreboard.

Through the midfield, Jemma Sly (18 disposals, four marks) and Emma Nanut (17 disposals) provided strong support, while Luka Davis (17 disposals, five tackles) and Jessica Cox (20 disposals, five inside 50s) worked tirelessly to funnel ball into a red-hot forward line.

For Peel, Chloe Wrigley was the lone consistent performer, gathering 20 disposals, 11 tackles and two inside 50s in difficult circumstances. Kate Bartlett (10 disposals, four free kicks won) and Ebony Bilcich (12 disposals, four inside 50s) showed fight, but the Thunder were well outclassed in almost every facet. Peel’s conversion of seven scoring shots from 24 inside 50s was a microcosm of a difficult afternoon.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Elsewhere in Round 10, West Perth kept pace with the competition’s top sides with a commanding 43-point victory over East Fremantle, 7.11 (53) to 1.4 (10). The Falcons were dominant, holding the Sharks to just a single major all day. Irish talents Ellee McEvoy and Hannah Power combined for 49 disposals in impressive outings, while Sabreena McKinnon booted a game-high four goals from 14 touches. For the Sharks, the experience of Tiani Teakle (21 touches, five marks) and Mackenzie Webb (18 disposals, three marks and five tackles) stood out behind the ball.

Claremont edged out Subiaco in a tight contest, 4.4 (28) to 3.4 (22), to maintain their second position position. The four points were hard-fought, but the Tigers showed the resilience that has characterised their back-to-back premiership campaigns as they look to make it three in a row. The Tigers held on despite the Lions booting three goals to one in the second half. Sarah Viney (25 disposals, six tackles and two inside 50s) and Jayme Harken (21 disposals, four marks, three tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) were the top ball-winners in the victory, while the usual suspects in Paige Sheppard, Lisa Steane and Krstel Petrevski racked up the ball at will for Subiaco. Matilda Husband was enormous in the ruck with 40 hitouts.

South Fremantle accounted for East Perth, 7.3 (45) to 4.5 (29), in the round’s fourth game. The Bulldogs shook off early resistance from the Royals, booting three goals to one in the second half. Natasha Entwistle (35 disposals, five marks, five tackles and six inside 50s) dominated the stats sheet alongside Makaela Tuhakaraina (29 disposals, five tackles and seven inside 50s), while Jessica Watts booted two goals in the victory. For the Royals, Lucy Greenwood (24 disposals, five marks, six tackles and three inside 50s) and Kahra Sprlyan (24 disposals, five marks, six tackles and three inside 50s) were standouts in defeat.