EAST Fremantle delivered the Fremantle Derby result that nobody who witnessed their Round 1 thrashing could have predicted, holding on by a solitary point to defeat South Fremantle, 5.3 (33) to 4.8 (32), in a gripping Friday night contest at The Good Grocer Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result was sweet redemption for the Sharks, who had been on the wrong end of a one-sided affair in the season opener. Nine rounds on, the same two clubs produced one of the competition’s most dramatic game yet – a tight, scrappy, tense Derby that had everything in its final 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shannyn Pomersbach<\/a> set the tone quickly for the Bulldogs, putting her side in front within four minutes. East Fremantle steadied late in the term through Eve Wilson-Sieber<\/a> to trail by two at the first break, but what happened next changed the complexion of the game entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sharks proceeded to kick four consecutive majors across the second term and the opening stages of the third – a devastating 4.1 haul that began from the 16th minute of the first term and stretched through to the fourth minute of the third. Wilson-Sieber’s second goal, which put her side 18 points up, was the high-water mark of that run, and for a time it looked like East Fremantle was turning a tight Derby into a statement win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Fremantle, however, refused to fold. The Bulldogs found their feet in the third term and while wayward goal kicking cost them dearly – registering 1.4 for the remainder of the quarter – they chipped the deficit back to eight points by the final break, with the sense it could have been much closer had their accuracy been better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was seemingly iced in the opening 30 seconds of the final term, when Sarah Wielstra<\/a> got active to slam home East Fremantle’s fifth goal and stretch the lead to 14 points. From there, the narrative shifted decisively. Back-to-back goals to Annalie Polimeno<\/a> dragged the Bulldogs back to within two points, and the game’s final stages became an intense, grinding arm wrestle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both sides had their chances in the closing minutes, with South Fremantle threatening late. But East Fremantle’s defence held firm, and when the siren sounded, the Sharks had their sixth win of the season and the most satisfying one yet: a one-point reversal of the Round 1 Derby loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Siena Jezierski-Brown<\/a> was one of East Fremantle’s standouts – contributing a crucial goal and earning best-on-ground recognition – finishing with 13 disposals, four marks and seven tackles. Mackenzie Webb<\/a> (16 disposals, five marks, four tackles) and Tiani Teakle<\/a> (13 disposals, three marks, four tackles) again controlled the back half, while Meg McAullay<\/a> (15 disposals, two marks, four tackles) was busy through the middle and Milla Spalding<\/a> finished with 15 disposals and two marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For South, Natasha Entwistle<\/a> was enormous with 24 disposals, three marks and eight tackles, while Madison Evans<\/a> racked up 22 disposals in an industrious performance. Tahleah Mulder<\/a> (21 disposals, 11 tackles, six inside 50s) was a constant pressure source, with Makaela Tuhakaraina<\/a> (15 disposals, six tackles) and Tara Stribley<\/a> (11 disposals) also earning their recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EAST FREMANTLE 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 (33)<\/strong> SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 4.8 (32)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n GOALS:<\/strong> East Fremantle:<\/strong> E. Wilson-Sieber 2, S. Jezierski-Brown, S. Wielstra, B. Repacholi South Fremantle:<\/strong> A. Polimeno 2, S. Pomersbach, J. Bazeley<\/p>\n\n\n\n RMC BEST:<\/strong> East Fremantle:<\/strong> M. Webb, S. Jezierski-Brown, T. Teakle, M. McAullay, M. Spalding South Fremantle:<\/strong> N. Entwistle, M. Evans, T. Mulder, M. Tuhakaraina, T. Stribley<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Swan Districts claimed a Friday night thriller of its own at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, edging Subiaco 4.9 (33) to 4.5 (29) in a game that swung multiple times in the final term. With Subiaco having regained the lead through Courtney Lindgren<\/a> a few minutes earlier, it was Summer Yarran<\/a> who had the final say – nailing the game-winner in the 14th minute of the last quarter to seal the victory. Jaime Henry<\/a> was again the standout with 19 disposals and nine tackles, while Naomi Baker<\/a> was prominent with 18 disposals, seven tackles and a goal, and Yarran finished with 1.3 from 16 disposals, six marks and four tackles. For the Lions, Krstel Petrevski<\/a> and Paige Sheppard<\/a> were outstanding in defeat with 35 disposals apiece \u2014 Sheppard adding 12 tackles to hers – but it wasn’t enough to hold off a Swans side that refused to be beaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n West Perth made a statement on Saturday evening, accounting for East Perth by 30 points at HIF Health Insurance Oval, 8.6 (54) to 4.0 (24). The Falcons were the better side throughout, and despite three goals from former Falcon Elissa Price<\/a> keeping East Perth mathematically in the contest, the result rarely looked in doubt. Sabreena McKinnon<\/a> booted three for the winners, while Ellee McEvoy<\/a> was exceptional with 27 disposals, four marks, three tackles and a goal, and Katherine Bennett<\/a> chipped in with two majors from 18 disposals. Meg Brown<\/a> led the Royals’ ball-winners with 26 disposals and seven tackles in defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Claremont did what a finals contender should against Perth on Sunday afternoon at Revo Fitness Stadium, dominating from the first bounce to run out 23-point winners, 6.4 (40) to 2.5 (17). The Tigers held the Demons to just four behinds across the first three quarters, booting the game’s first six goals to lead by 36 points at the final break before Perth managed two majors in a consolation last term. Juliet Kelly<\/a> stuffed the stats sheet with a whopping 47 disposals, as well as three marks and three tackles, while Jayme Harken<\/a> had 33 disposals, three marks, six tackles and a goal. Eva Campo<\/a>, Jesse Freame<\/a> and Georgia Webb<\/a> were also terrific for Claremont. For Perth, Isabella Shannon<\/a> led the way with 24 disposals, nine tackles and a goal, while Amy Trindade<\/a> was lively with 20 disposals, five marks and a major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nAROUND THE GROUNDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n