AN even spread of all six West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s sides has seen each of the teams record between three and six representatives in the Rookie Me Central Round 2 Team of the Week. Claremont and Peel Thunder lead the way with six apiece, with fellow winners East Fremantle, and the three losing sides, South Fremantle, Subiaco and Swan Districts all managing three representatives.

Claremont enjoyed a 45-point victory over Subiaco, and made up a quarter of the entire team with half a dozen total representatives. Midfield duo, Ella Smith and Madeleine Scanlon both earned places in the team, alongside forwards, Brooke Whyte and Katherine Bennett who slotted two goals apiece in the victory. On the bench, Sarah Garstone and Katherine Orme caught the eye and slotted into the 24-player squad.

This week’s captain is ex-West Coast and Western Bulldogs sharpshooter Kate Bartlett who slotted five goals for Peel Thunder during their win over South Fremantle. Bartlett is joined in the side by a host of midfielders who accumulated the ball with ease. On-ball, Gracie Fenton racked up 26 disposals in Round 2, only bettered by her teammate Ebony Dowson who was named at half-back. Jaide Britton earned her spot after a league-high eight inside 50s and provided plenty of run and drive, whilst Chloe Wrigley and young gun Kaitlyn Srhoj squeezed onto the bench.

East Fremantle’s young debutant in Zippy Fish always looked dangerous in the forward pocket, with the reliable Alex Williams named in the back pocket. After a three-goal performance, Julia Teakle stood out for the Sharks in the tight win over Swan Districts and was named at full-forward in the nail-biting contest.

Swan Districts battled hard against the Sharks all day and managed to earn a trio of players in our Team of the Week, with Hope Ugle-Hayward everywhere in her first game for the season, and was named on a wing. Ruck Sarah Wielstra earned the first choice ruck spot after 27 hitouts in the loss, whilst captain Jessica Cox battled away all day in a four quarter effort.

Subiaco’s Jayme Harken got the job as vice-captain for this week’s team after a sensational performance behind he ball. She joins the other two Lions representatives in the back six, with Beth Schilling and Maggie Maclachlan both holding down the fort the best they could.

South Fremantle took it right up to Peel Thunder for three quarters, and AFLW Academy ruck/forward Lauren Wakfer is in again at centre half-forward. Alongside her in the team are Bulldogs Casey Byrne – who shut down Peel full-forward Kira Phillips – and midfielder Tahlia Holtze,

The three emergencies chosen for this round were East Fremantle’s Amber Kinnane and a couple of experienced heads in Subiaco’s Lara Filocamo and Claremont’s Sasha Goranova.

WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 2

B: Alex Williams (East Fremantle) – Beth Schilling (Subiaco) – Casey Byrne (South Fremantle)
HB: Jayme Harken (Subiaco) (vc) – Maggie Maclachlan (Subiaco) – Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder)
C: Jaide Britton (Peel Thunder) – Madeleine Scanlon (Claremont) – Hope Ugle-Hayward (Swan Districts)
HF: Katherine Bennett (Claremont) – Lauren Wakfer (South Fremantle) – Kate Bartlett (Peel Thunder) (c)
F: Zippy Fish (East Fremantle) – Julia Teakle (East Fremantle) – Brooke Whyte (Claremont)
R: Sarah Wielstra (Swan Districts) – Ella Smith (Claremont) – Gracie Fenton (Peel Thunder)
INT: Jessica Cox (Swan Districts) – Sarah Garstone (Claremont) – Tahlia Holtze (South Fremantle) – Kate Orme (Claremont) – Kaitlyn Srhoj (Peel Thunder) – Chloe Wrigley (Peel Thunder)

EMG: Lara Filocamo (Subiaco) – Sasha Goranova (Claremont) – Amber Kinnane (East Fremantle)