Optus WAFLW Round 4 WrapMonday, August 10, 2020 - 11:22 AM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO maintained its undefeated start to the 2020 Optus WAFL Women's Premiership season while last year's wooden spooners Peel Thunder continued to impress and Swan Districts won the Grand Final rematch.

It was a fascinating weekend in the WAFLW competition with Subiaco and Peel Thunder now separating from the pack ahead of their tantalising match up next Saturday in Mandurah.

The round's action got underway on Saturday morning at Leederville Oval with South Fremantle playing its first ever road game in the competition. The Bulldogs did kick two goals for the first time but the Lions were too strong winning 14.11 (95) to 2.2 (14).

The other two matches took place on Sunday afternoon starting with Peel Thunder beating Claremont 3.6 (24) to 2.4 (16) at Revo Fitness Stadium before Swan Districts defeated East Fremantle 5.3 (33) to 3.3 (21) at Steel Blue Oval in the Grand Final rematch from the inaugural WAFLW season. 

Following four rounds in the 2020 Optus WAFLW season with just three rounds remaining, the undefeated Subiaco are out on top of the ladder with a perfect 4-0 record and a percentage at least 100 points more than their nearest rival.

Peel Thunder has moved clear in second position on the WAFLW ladder as well showing their rapid improvement after finishing last in 2020, they hold a 3-1 and second best percentage in the competition.

Claremont (2-2) and Swan Districts (2-2) are the other two teams rounding out the top four after four rounds with two wins apiece while East Fremantle is a game back at 1.3 and South Fremantle remains winless despite kicking multiple goals in a game on Saturday for the first time. 

We now have just three rounds left in the home and away season before the finals and Round 5 sees Peel Thunder play Subiaco at Mandurah's David Grays Arena.

Then on Sunday afternoon we have South Fremantle playing Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, and East Fremantle taking on Claremont at New Choice Homes Park.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 4

SUBIACO 14.11 (95) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.2 (14)

Subiaco and South Fremantle opened Round 4 of the WAFL Women's season at Leederville Oval on Saturday morning and while the Bulldogs made history in a couple more ways, the Lions proved too strong winning by 81 points.

After two scoreless games to open their life in WAFLW, South Fremantle scored its first goal the week before against Claremont through Chloe Taylor. 

Then on this Saturday morning, the Bulldogs kicked two goals for the first time in a game while it was also their first away match not held at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

That's about where the good news ends, though, with Subiaco ending up recording the 14.11 (95) to 2.2 (14) victory to remain undefeated four games into the 2020 season.

Subiaco has now beaten Claremont, East Fremantle, Swan Districts and South Fremantle to open the season and to be a game and percentage on top of the ladder with only three rounds remaining before finals.

The Lions put their foot on the gas from the start of the game. They had eight shots on goal to none in the first quarter, managed to kick four goals from those and then lead by 28 points at quarter-time.

South Fremantle managed their first ever away goal then in the second quarter, but Subiaco kicked three more majors themselves to head into half-time leading by 39 points.

The Bulldogs were again scoreless in the third term with the Lions piling on five goals to see their lead grow to 72 points. Subiaco then kicked two goals and South Fremantle one in the fourth quarter with the Lions ending u winning 14.11 (95) to 2.2 (14).

Aimee Schmidt had a day out up forward for Subiaco kicking five goals while Lara Filocamo returned to the side this week to kick three.

Kia Buckley also kicked two goals for the Lions as did Abbey Dowrick while vice-captain Tiah Haynes threatened to have a huge performance but finished with four behinds.

Lindal Rohde, captain Hayley Miller, Haynes, Schmidt and Filocamo were among the standout performers in the win for Subiaco.

South Fremantle's goals came courtesy of Kiara Templeman and Lauren Vecchio as they joined Chloe Taylor from last week as the first three goal kickers for the Bulldogs in the WAFLW competition.

Vecchio, Templeman, Ella Higgins, Deni Broadhurst and Breanne Spencer were players to perform particularly strongly on the day for South Fremantle.

CLAREMONT 2.4 (16) lost to PEEL THUNDER 3.6 (24)

Peel Thunder continued its impressive rise this WAFL Women's season with an eight-point win against Claremont despite neither team managing a goal after half-time.

Peel finished last in the inaugural WAFLW season in 2019, but things are much different in 2020 and the Thunder kept their momentum going on Sunday at Revo Fitness Stadium.

The weather wasn’t too bad in the first half of the game on Sunday afternoon and that's when the two teams were able to get some scores on the board.

The Tigers and Thunder kicked a goal apiece in the first quarter and then Peel kicked away with two goals to one in the second term to see them lead by seven points at half-time.

That proved a match-winning advantage as the rain poured down in the second half to make scoring near on impossible. 

For the second half, the Thunder managed three behinds and the Tigers two with Peel going on to win the game 3.6 (24) to 2.4 (16) to improve to a 3-1 record on the season while the Tigers are 2-2.

Kira Phillips kicked another two goals for Peel to give her nine goals on the season while Bailey Molloy was the other goal scorer.

Ebony Bilcich was once again outstanding for Peel to lead the way to the victory with Ebony Dowson, Phillips, Tanisha Anderson and Ella Roberts other strong contributors.

Bella Lewis and Amy Franklin kicked Claremont's two goals for the game.

Ella Smith, Bella Zadnik, Emily Bennett, Marley Simmons and Laura Pugh were all among the best performers in the tough conditions for the Tigers.
 

SWAN DISTRICTS 5.3 (33) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 3.3 (21)

It was a Grand Final rematch between Swan Districts and East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday, and the black-and-whites earned a measure of revenge on their home turf.

East Fremantle prevailed over Swan Districts in the inaugural WAFLW Grand Final last year to claim the first ever premiership, and nothing will take that away from them, but Swans will be feeling a little better after getting a win back on Sunday at Steel Blue Oval.

It could prove a crucial result in Swans' push to play finals too as the win means they improve to a 2-2 record on the season while the Sharks are struggling in their premiership defence at 1-3 with just the three rounds remaining before finals.

There was just the one goal kicked in the first quarter and that went the way of East Fremantle. The Sharks then maintained their edge by half-time to head into the break leading by seven points.

But Swan Districts was able to turn the tide in the second half firstly with the only two goals of the third quarter, and then two goals to one in the last term to end up winning 5.3 (33) to 3.3 (21).

Nyra Anderson kicked two goals for Swan Districts with Shanae Davison, Mikayla Morrison and Fiona Boucher the other goal scorers for the black-and-whites.

Sarah Wielstra, Davison, Mikayla Hyde, Morrison and Brianna Hyde were all outstanding for Swans as well. 

Emily Burton kicked two of East Fremantle's three goals for the game with Roisin Walsh adding the other.

Sharon Wong, Samara Pluschke, Gabby O'Sullivan, Katrina Tinson and Madeline Ross were among East Fremantle's best on the day.