{"id":213024,"date":"2026-04-27T21:02:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=213024"},"modified":"2026-04-27T21:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T11:02:38","slug":"2026-waflw-round-5-wrap-subiaco-holds-off-spirited-thunder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/04\/27\/2026-waflw-round-5-wrap-subiaco-holds-off-spirited-thunder\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 WAFLW Round 5 wrap: Subiaco holds off spirited Thunder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SUBIACO survived a desperate Anzac Day night charge from Peel Thunder at Sullivan Logistics Stadium to claim an eight-point win, with Caitie Smith<\/a> delivering a three-goal performance that proved the difference between the sides in the 6.10 (46) to 6.2 (38) result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lions were well served by an outstanding Paige Sheppard<\/a> – who finished with a staggering 41 disposals, eight marks and 13 tackles – and Lisa Steane<\/a>, who added 36 disposals and a goal of her own. Kate Bartlett<\/a> was the Thunder’s best with three goals and six inside 50s from 13 disposals, while Chloe Wrigley<\/a>‘s 28 disposals and 11 tackles gave Peel every chance, but Subiaco held firm as the siren sounded.

The game opened with Jorja Schell<\/a> setting the tone early, her clever snap three minutes in giving Subiaco the first score and sparking a dominant first term. Peel showed enough to suggest they would be competitive – getting their chances and moving the ball with speed – but Courtney Lindgren<\/a> provided hit the scoreboard and then found Lisa Steane<\/a> loose inside 50 in the dying moments of the term to make it a nine-point game at the first break after Bartlett and Georgia Tait<\/a> had kept the visitors in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second quarter belonged to neither side in terms of scoreboard, with Peel looking dangerous through the corridor but unable to convert. Caitie Smith<\/a> eventually broke the stalemate – the only scorer in the term – pushing the lead to 15 points and rewarding Subiaco’s pressure. Sheppard was already in the contest by this stage, accumulating disposals and applying physical pressure with the relentlessness that would define her day, while Krstel Petrevski<\/a>‘s 27 disposals were a feature of the Lions’ movement out of the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Peel had appeared to fade, the third quarter changed that emphatically. Kate Bartlett<\/a> was the catalyst – first slamming home a goal off hands and then she snapped another shortly after to cut the deficit to five. The Thunder were alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subiaco responded through Smith, her second of the game coming off a forced turnover on the wing that allowed her to run into an open goal and steady the Lions. Despite the Thunder youth like Tahlia Head<\/a> and Charlie Fletcher<\/a> impressing across both wings giving Peel drive and defensive grunt, Subiaco still led by 13 at three-quarter time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final term was as tense as the scoreline suggested it would be. Mia Van Kleef<\/a> ran onto a goal three minutes in to slice the margin to seven and give Peel some hope, before Smith produced a brilliant snap out of nothing at close range to give Subiaco breathing room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Peel kept coming. Zoe Bailey<\/a>‘s snap out of congestion bounced home past desperate Subiaco defenders to make it eight again, and the Thunder pressed to the final siren. In the dying moments, Bartlett attempted to kick towards a fourth goal inside 50 but was dragged down and Subiaco held on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Smith’s match-winning three goals, Sheppard’s 41-disposal, 13-tackle effort was the individual performance of the match, a dominant midfield display that gave the Lions a platform all night. Dahna Lee<\/a> was composed in defence with five marks and 19 disposals, and Tess Lyons<\/a>‘ 30 hitouts in the ruck were an important foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Peel, Bartlett’s three goals from six inside 50s were outstanding \u2014 and Wrigley’s 11 tackles told the story of a side that competed ferociously to the end but couldn’t quite find the scoreboard when it mattered most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUBIACO 3.3 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 6.10 (46)<\/strong>
PEEL THUNDER 2.0 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 6.2 (38)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOALS:<\/strong>
Subiaco:<\/strong> C. Smith 3, J. Schell, L. Steane, C. Lindgren
Peel Thunder:<\/strong> K. Bartlett 3, Z. Bailey, M. Van Kleef, G. Tait<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RMC BEST:<\/strong>
Subiaco:<\/strong> P. Sheppard, L. Steane, K. Petrevski, C. Smith, D. Lee
Peel Thunder:<\/strong> C. Wrigley, K. Bartlett, T. Head, C. Fletcher, M. Walsh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AROUND THE GROUNDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Anzac Day Eve, Swan Districts took full advantage of an inaccurate Perth side to come away with a 14-point victory and remain undefeated in the 2026 WAFLW season. The Swans kicked 4.7 (31) to 1.11 (17), keeping the Demons to just eight behinds after quarter time, while themselves booting their entire score in the last three quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Star midfielder Jaime Henry<\/a>‘s ridiculous season rolled on with 39 disposals, six marks, 16 tackles and five inside 50s, while Makaela Grau<\/a> helped herself to 17 disposals and four marks for the winners. Isabella Shannon<\/a> did all she could in defeat once again for Perth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Perth put a couple of tough and tight losses in the rearview mirror when the Falcons defeated South Fremantle by eight points in Joondalup. Unlike the last two weeks where the Falcons were forced to storm home to try and win, this time the home team set up the victory across the first three quarters to lead by 20 points at the last break before holding of a fast-finishing Bulldogs in the 5.8 (38) to 4.6 (30) result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Bulldog Zoe Huggett<\/a> reminded her old side what she is capable of with three goals from just five disposals, while Ellee McEvoy<\/a> (25 disposals, three marks and seven tackles) and Rikisha Nannup<\/a> (20 disposals, 6 marks and four inside 50s) were both busy. East Fremantle recruits Ashleigh Gomes<\/a>, Madison Evans<\/a> and Natasha Entwistle<\/a> were the top ball winners for South Fremantle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claremont shoed too much experience in a standalone Sunday clash against East Perth, defeating the Royals by 26 points at Revo Fitness Stadium. In a battle of first against last from 2025, the reigning premiers had to work a little bit, but were ultimately just too good, coming away with the four points, 10.6 (66) to 6.4 (40).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juliet Kelly<\/a> (36 disposals, five marks, 11 tackles, five inside 50s and a goal), Matilda Sergeant<\/a> (29 disposals, seven marks, three tackles and five inside 50s) and Sarah Viney<\/a> (24 disposals, three tackles and five inside 50s) all stuffed the stats sheet. Matilda Husband<\/a> worked forward to boot three goals in a dominant performance. For the Royals, Lucy Greenwood<\/a> (21 disposals, four marks, six tackles and a goal) and Elly Sara<\/a> (16 disposals, three marks) were once again amongst the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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