Optus WAFLW Round 12 WrapMonday, August 5, 2019 - 11:35 AM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts delivered a commanding performance in the WAFL Women's competition on Saturday while on Sunday, East Fremantle beat Subiaco to mean the race for the minor premiership just got a whole lot more interesting.

With Peel Thunder having the bye in Round 12 of the WAFLW 2019 Optus Premiership Season, that left the top four teams in the competition to all go to battle with a game each on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The Round 12 action got underway on Saturday afternoon at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and it ended up being a dominant victory for Swan Districts who defeated Claremont 9.7 (61) to 1.3 (9) on their home turf.

Then on Sunday afternoon at Leederville, it was a rematch of last year's Grand Final in the WAWFL league competition, and it was East Fremantle who prevailed 5.4 (34) to 3.7 (25).

The results in Round 12 of the WAFLW competition mean that the race for positions for all four of the top teams remains on in earnest.

Despite the loss on Sunday, Subiaco (7-3) does remain atop of the ladder but East Fremantle (6-4) is knocking right on the door while also now having a superior percentage to that of the Lions.

Swan Districts then improved to third position with its win on Saturday with a 5-5 record while Claremont (5-4) slipped to fourth spot but with a game in hand.

Peel Thunder remains in last place having won just one of its nine matches this season.

ROUND 12 OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON

SWAN DISTRICTS 9.7 (61) defeated CLAREMONT 1.3 (9)

Coming off two strong showings against the league-leading Subiaco, Swan Districts produced an emphatic performance to defeat Claremont by 52 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Swan Districts had played the past two matches both against Subiaco over the past month for a close win and a narrow defeat as they prepared to host Claremont on Saturday afternoon with the game to take place leading into the WAFL contest between Swans and the West Coast Eagles.

Swans welcomed Ebony Antonio for her first game of the WAFLW season while Gemma Houghton also made her return with the Fremantle Dockers AFLW pair boosting the black-and-whites' confidence heading into the clash with the Tigers.

Swans came out onto Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon and started impressively with a completely dominant first quarter. The black-and-whites had the only six scoring shots of the term, kicking four goals and they went into quarter-time with a 26-point advantage.

Claremont did at least score in the second quarter, but the Tigers only managed two behinds while Swans kicked another goal to boot the only five goals of the first half to head into the half-time break with a 31-point lead.

Swan Districts once again kept Claremont scoreless for the entire third quarter while the home team kicked another two goals to be on top to the tune of 45 points at three quarter-time.

Claremont did ensure it didn’t go goalless by kicking a major in the final quarter but Swan Districts booted two more as well to claim the 9.7 (61) to 1.3 (9) victory.

The win improves Swan Districts to a 5-5 record on the season to sit in third position on the WAFLW ladder.

Claremont slips to fourth spot as a result of the defeat with the Tigers holding a 5-4 record. They have played one less game than the teams above them but do have a vastly inferior percentage.

Mikayla Hyde and Imahra Cameron kicked two goals apiece for Swan Districts with Ashley Sharp, Kellie Gibson, Ebony Antonio, Bianca Webb and Gemma Houghton all kicking a goal apiece.

Swans best players in the big win included Mikayla Hyde, Webb, Aimee Ralph, Brianna Hyde and Emily McGuire.

Claremont's lone goal in the final quarter was kicked courtesy of Parris Laurie.

Jessica Low, Tiahna Scandrett, Krystle Spanos and Sarah Garstone were among the better players for the Tigers.
 

SUBIACO 3.7 (25) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 5.4 (34)

The battle over the inaugural WAFLW minor premiership is now well and truly alive thanks to East Fremantle's nine-point victory against Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Sunday afternoon.

East Fremantle's form has been building nicely throughout the season and when they've been winning, they have been doing so emphatically and that's why after a 65-point win in Round 11 over Peel Thunder, the Sharks' percentage remained the best in the competition.

Meanwhile, Subiaco was still on top of the ladder coming off a one-point win against Swan Districts so the stage was set for a tremendous clash on Sunday at Leederville Oval.

Subiaco started strongly with four scoring shots to one in the first and with the only goal to head into quarter-time leading by eight points.

East Fremantle did kick its first goal of the game in the second quarter but Subiaco also managed two more majors to remain in control by the half-time interval with a 17-point advantage.

But the game took a dramatic turn after half-time and East Fremantle came out a significantly different outfit. 

The Sharks held the Lions to no score in the third quarter while kicking three goals themselves and that saw them turn that 17-point deficit into a three-point lead by three quarter-time.

Subiaco then managed just the one behind in the last quarter and East Fremantle kicked its fifth goal and that saw the Sharks come away with the 5.4 (34) to 3.7 (25) victory.

Karly Tapner kicked two goals for East Fremantle as did Evie Gooch while Stephanie Sparke also kicked a goal for the Sharks.

East Fremantle's best players included Ashlee Atkins, Ann McMahon, Katrina Tinson, Tapner, Gooch, Ashton Hill and Sharon Wong.

All three Subiaco goals for the game were kicked by Tarnee Tester.

Subiaco's better performers were Sara Lewis, Dana Hooker and Hayley Miller.

The win sees East Fremantle remain clear in second position on the WAFLW ladder and now has really seen the race for top spot heat up. 

The Sharks are now 6-4 with the best percentage in the competition while with the loss, Subiaco is 7-3 and only holding a one-game advantage now in that top position.

Subiaco now has the bye in Round 13 of the WAFLW competition before taking on Claremont in Round 14 at Claremont Oval.

East Fremantle hosts Swan Districts this Sunday from 2pm at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park in what shapes as a fascinating contest.