LADDER leaders West Perth, fresh off its first ever WAFL Women’s win, has recorded a league-high five players in our WAFL Women’s Team of the Week for Round 1. The Falcons took care of East Perth to finish with one more player in our 24-player squad than Claremont, while fellow winner Peel Thunder, and the drawn sides – Subiaco and South Fremantle – all had three representatives. East Fremantle also had three, with other losing teams Swan Districts (two) and East Perth (one) rounding out the squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Perth’s five-player contingent is spread across the field, starting in defence where new recruit, co-captain and ex-Tiger Brooke Hongell<\/a> is in the back pocket. She registered the 14 disposals and laid four tackles for the match, providing some much needed experience in the side. Further afield, the Falcons have a couple of dynamic forwards with Tia Bergin<\/a> (three goals) and Grace Betti<\/a> (two) both making the side. In midfield is returning Falcon and ex-Eagle Emily Bennett<\/a> after a game-high 22 touches, while defender Jessica Roper<\/a> squeezes onto the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Claremont’s win yielded the reigning premiers four players and one emergency, with the Ortlepp sisters making the extended 27-player squad. Claire Ortlepp<\/a> was named in her familiar position of full-back, while sister Rachel Ortlepp<\/a> was one of three emergencies. Ex-Subiaco talent Jayme Harken<\/a> impressed on debut for the Tigers with 17 disposals and six marks, while ruck Matilda Dyke<\/a> was dominant at the stoppages. Jacinta Valentini<\/a> sparked the Tigers in the second term with two crucial goals and slotted into centre half-forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peel Thunder skipper Ebony Dowson<\/a> leads our hypothetical Team of the Week after an impressive 24 disposals, three marks and four tackles coming out of defence down in Mandurah. Her opposing skipper Jessica Cox<\/a> had a round-high 28 disposals, as well as five marks, eight tackles and six inside 50s in the tight loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Thunder players to make the side were debutant and double bottom-ager Evie Cowcher<\/a> in defence, while Ebonee Hardie<\/a> kicked the match-winner and finished with two majors for the match. Swan Districts’ Carys D’Addario<\/a> is another young gun to watch, making it onto the wing, while Kayley King<\/a> was named as an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subiaco and South Fremantle played out a draw and had the three representatives each in the team, with 2007-born Olivia Crane<\/a> named at centre half-back after starring on debut. Fellow debutant Joanne Cregg<\/a> also made the team, while captain Tarnica Golisano<\/a> started her year off with consistent football. The Bulldogs had Kahra Sprylan<\/a>, first-gamer Ariana Hetherington<\/a> and small forward Noa McNaughton<\/a> as their representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other WAFL Women’s team to have three players in the squad was East Fremantle, with talented bottom-ager Zippy Fish<\/a> starring in her new role off half-back, while Sharon Wong<\/a> and Gabby O’Sullivan<\/a> were critical in the resistance against Claremont. The other player in the Round 1 Team of the Week is East Perth’s Matilda Bennett<\/a> who impressed through the ruck for the Royals in their inaugural game. Shark, Jae Flynn<\/a> was the remaining emergency in the extended Round 1 squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n B: <\/strong>Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder) – Claire Ortlepp (Claremont) – Brooke Hongell (West Perth) INT:<\/strong> Matilda Bennett (East Perth) – Joanne Cregg (Subiaco) – Tarnica Golisano (Subiaco) – Ariana Hetherington (South Fremantle) – Noa McNaughton (South Fremantle) – Jess Roper (West Perth)<\/p>\n\n\n\n EMG: <\/strong>Jaye Flynn (East Fremantle) – Kayley King (Swan Districts) – Rachel Ortlepp (Claremont)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nWAFL WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HB:<\/strong> Ebony Dowson (Peel Thunder) (c) – Olivia Crane (Subiaco) – Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)
C:<\/strong> Carys D\u2019Addario (Swan Districts) – Jess Cox (Swan Districts) (vc) – Kahra Sprylan (South Fremantle)
HF: <\/strong>Jayme Harken (Claremont) – Jacinta Valentini (Claremont) – Gabby O\u2019SulIivan (East Fremantle)
F: <\/strong>Tia Bergin (West Perth) – Ebonee Hardie (Peel Thunder) – Grace Betti (West Perth)
R:<\/strong> Matilda Dyke (Claremont) – Emily Bennett (West Perth) – Sharon Wong (East Fremantle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n