- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Swan Districts<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>West Perth<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nSEASON AT A GLANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swan Districts has emerged as the team to beat this year, toppling its first three opponents in style, while West Perth is coming off a bye after a Round 1 win over Subiaco and Round 2 tight defeat to Claremont.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHANGES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Perth has a couple of massive ins, with the return of National Academy duo Cara Dziegielewski<\/a> and Lexi Strachan<\/a>, while the ultra-gifted Tahlee McVee<\/a> makes her return off a long-term knee injury. Stacey Francis-Bayman<\/a> is the fourth inclusion for the Falcons, adding further height to the back half. For the Swans, skipper Eliza Gelmi<\/a> is a crucial inclusion alongside Emily McGuire<\/a> and fresh face Shaya Yarran<\/a>, though the home side also lose a trio of top players with Lauren Quaife<\/a> (suspended) and both Courtney Ugle<\/a> and Kayley King<\/a> are out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-WAFLW-R3-SD-vs-WP.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nONES TO WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dziegielewski and Strachan write themselves as the West Perth pair to keep an eye on, with the Falcons having the strongest core group of youth in the state as it stands. For Swan District, it is all about Jaime Henry<\/a> who no one would doubt is leading the league best and fairest right now with three consecutive best on grounds and all eyes will be on whether or not the Falcons put plans in place to quell the contested ball-winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TACTICAL BATTLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swan Districts’ forwardline is incredibly powerful and has shown as much in the opening few weeks of the season. West Perth has one of the most reliable defences when on-song, and it makes for some outstanding head-to-heads. Liliana Grassenis<\/a> and Jessica Roper<\/a> will likely take the two deepest in Taylah Edwards<\/a> and Chloe Reilly<\/a>, while Francis-Bayman will use her height against either Ashley Sharp<\/a> or McGuire who are both superb contested marks. The wing battle between top-agers Summer Ajduk<\/a> and Rikisha Nannup<\/a> will also be fascinating, but it ultimately comes down to the midfield contest with the winner likely to take home the four points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PREDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
A literal lineball call between the best side in the league and a team that has looked good and added some of its best players this week. Going to go with Swan Districts by four points, but an upset would not be so much of a shock given the changes for the Falcons.<\/p>\n
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AROUND THE GROUNDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The other top four relevant match is that between South Fremantle and Claremont, with the Bulldogs having filled each column from their first three games with a Round 1 win, Round 2 loss and Round 3 draw. It becomes a crucial contest against the reigning premiers who are now 2-1 having also got away with the points against West Perth before destroying Peel Thunder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of the Thunder, they regain Chloe Wrigley<\/a> from suspension as Perth loses Poppy Stockwell<\/a> in the two side’s match down in Mandurah. Perth drew with South Fremantle with the last kick of the game after losing in Round 2, and should comfortably take home the four points against a developing Thunder team in the Round 4 contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the last game of the round, East Perth takes on East Fremantle in what should be a tight slog between the two teams. The Sharks should be favoured to take home the four points, but the Royals can make it contested around the ground. Watch for the Sharks to use their runners to try and provide speed in transition and finish off with their second win of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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