A GOLDEN goal by East Fremantle’s Tiani Teakle has sent the Sharks into the 2026 WAFL Women’s Grand Final, upsetting Claremont in a preliminary final that will never be forgotten. In an edge-of-your-seat thriller, both sides had chances, made mistakes, and in the end a touch of luck was the difference in the 7.2 (44) to 5.8 (38) result.

The final play was a great summation of the game, in the sense it wasn’t pretty, structured or anything you’d expect. But against the momentum – Claremont had kicked the last three goals of the match – East Fremantle’s combination of pressure and desire made the difference. Following a strong forward 50 tackle which saw the ball spill loose, bottom-ager Olivia McCay threw her boot at it, hit the pill sweetly and skipper Teakle was playing in front and watched as it hit her square on the chest 30 metres away. Lining up from 20 metres out with any score to seal a grand final berth, the utility went back and slotted it through the big sticks for an unforgettable victory.

McCay herself was one of the best, with an incredible third term – and realistically finish to the game – setting up multiple goals, producing sensational defensive acts, and playing the key role in that last moment. She alongside the defensive group of Mackenzie Webb – who would have had mixed emotions playing against the side she had won flags with, and her own sister – Anjelique Raison and Teakle, had been phenomenal in holding up under siege.

It was not a match without problems for the victors, because when the Sharks lead by 21 points at the final chance following a goal to Milla Spalding – off the assist from McCay – in the fying seconds, the scores read 6.1 (37) to 2.1 (13). It would be a true test for Claremont to see if the Tigers could fight back as they so often have, and book a fifth straight grand final.

Fight back they did, and in the blink of an eye, the deficit evaporated. The sole Tiger inclusion in Kiahn Perry looked like becoming the match-winner with back-to-back goals from long-range – one from a set shot, and another from a flying chance – which cut it to seven points with 13 minutes still remaining. Others had moments,, but it would be Eva Campo whose snap across her body made it a one-point game and given there was over seven minutes remaining, everyone expected the Tigers to run over the top of the young Sharks.

Campo’s second shot not long after from long-range to an open goalsquare got an unlucky bounce and was only a behind. However, it was an important behind as it levelled the scores. Over the next few minutes, there were some unbelievable plays that frankly made it near unthinkable that Claremont could not have scored.

Taylah Orzel looked to be the match-winner, winning it off hands at the stoppage and throwing it on the boot, but it drifted the wrong side of the behind post for an out on the full. Then, the most bizarre few moments. Bec Anderson clunks contested marks for fun but with the pressure on, dropped an uncontested chest mark in the goalsquare, where she was set upon and locked up in a tackle. She desperately tried to get boot to ball, couldn’t, and when the Sharks almost rushed it through in what would be the normal play.

Incredibly, Perry on the goalline who could have taken it over instead went to snap her third of the quarter, bringing it back into play but instead sprayed it wide and it was no score again. In the last roll of the dice, it was East Fremantle charging end-to-end as Cienna Leslie and Meg McAullay combined to get it inside 50, but the steadfast defending of India Bonadeo locked the ball up and from there, the numbers descended and the game went to extra time.

Even extra time had moments where the game could have been decided before a golden point situation. Brooke Repacholi – who had kicked a ripping goal earlier in the game running back – won a holding free kick 15 metres out on a tight angle, but it cannoned into the post. Claremont scored a behind in the second period of extra time to level the scores, then Ruby Sargent-Wilson took a shot on goal from 40 metres and it drifted for a behind.

A whistle blew to bring it back, and Sargent-Wilson opted to take the shot again as everyone always does, however the next kick fell well short and was cleared. Rachel Ortlepp had her moment with a flying shot late in the second period, but it stayed in play and another whistle blew, this time going the way of the East Fremantle defender for a hold.

It all came down to the final play where East Fremantle threw caution to the wind, moved it quickly, and then after it went inside 50 and it spilled out, the rest was history. East Fremantle enjoyed the most incredible of victories, with Teakle absolutely gassed after the final siren, but the jubilation clear. While the result will no doubt be one never to be forgotten at Shark Park, their attention turns to Swan District in next weekend’s grand final.

Incredibly, East Fremantle only had 16 inside 50s to Claremont’s 45, meaning they scored almost 50 per cent of the time they went inside the forward 50. With 68 less disposals, the Sharks’ chaos ball and route one focus helped ensure pressure was always there, and the defended for their lives to earn a grand final spot.

Webb finished with 19 disposals and seven marks in the back 50, while McCay (16 disposals, five tackles) and Raison (13 disposals, three tackles) held up well. Teakle only had six touches and a goal, but proved crucial, while Jae Flynn (19 disposals, five tackles and a goal) and ruck duo Zoe Keley (12 disposals, three marks, five tackles and 33 hitouts) and Brooke Repacholi (11 disposals, three tackles, 19 hitouts and a goal) were outstanding.

For the Tigers, Hayley Bullas was clearly Claremont’s best player, laying 10 tackles to go with 32 disposals and four inside 50s, while Bonadeo had 19 disposals, two tackles and three inside 50s. Perry’s two goals from 12 touches were important, as were Campo’s two from nine. Jayme Harken came alive in the third term after a quieter first half, and finished with 22 disposals, eight tackles and three inside 50s, while skipper Ortlepp had a game-high seven inside 50s from 14 disposals but kicked three behinds.

CLAREMONT 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 (38)
EAST FREMANTLE 2.1 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 7.2 (44)

GOALS:
Claremont: K. Perry 2, E. Campo 2, H. Seaborn
East Fremantle: J. Johansen, M. Spalding, S. Wielstra, J. Flynn, T. Teakle, B. Repacholi

RMC BEST:
Claremont: H. Bullas, I. Bonadeo, K. Perry, E. Campo, J. Harken
East Fremantle: M. Webb, O. McCay, Z. Keley, J. Flynn, B. Repacholi