Optus WAFLW Round 2 WrapTuesday, March 2, 2021 - 8:30 AM - by Chris Pike

PEEL Thunder continued its brilliant start to its premiership defence with a big WAFLW win on Saturday night while Swan Districts also won for a second straight time and Claremont opened its Optus Premiership Season account.

It was a remarkable fairytale story what Peel Thunder was able to deliver in the shortened and delayed 2020 WAFLW season. They went from finishing last in 2019 to going all the way to winning the premiership.

But there's certainly no premiership hangover happening at Peel based on their start to the season. Backing up a first up win at home against East Fremantle, the Thunder dominated their Grand Final rematch against Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Saturday evening, winning 10.10 (70) to 4.2 (26).

Swan Districts also made it two from two to start the new season with a commanding 8.11 (59) to 1.0 (6) victory against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday morning.

The final game of the second round in the WAFLW competition saw Claremont claim its first win of 2021 by defeating East Fremantle 2.5 (17) to 1.3 (9) at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium.

ROUND 2 OPTUS WAFLW PREVIEW

OPTUS WAFLW ROUND 1 WRAP

ROUND 1 OPTUS WAFLW PREVIEW

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON PREVIEW

Meanwhile in the WAFLW Reserves competition, Peel Thunder also won big 9.10 (64) to 1.4 (10) against Subiaco at Leederville Oval.

East Fremantle defeated Claremont 6.6 (42) to 2.3 (15) at Revo Fitness Stadium and it was Swan Districts scoring a thumping 10.13 (73) to 1.1 (7) victory against West Perth at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval.

And then in Round 2 of the Youth Girls Rogers Cup competition for 2021, Peel Thunder were also victorious against Subiaco, winning 8.14 (62) to 1.0 (6) at Leederville Oval.

East Fremantle won narrowly against Claremont 5.6 (36) to 3.11 (29) at Revo Fitness Stadium while South Fremantle were huge winners 16.14 (110) to 1.0 (6) against East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

West Perth also defeated Swan Districts 14.12 (96) to 1.0 (6) at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

SUBIACO 4.2 (26) lost to PEEL THUNDER 10.10 (70)

It was a Grand Final rematch in the WAFLW on Saturday evening to open Round 2 of the 2021 season and it was the reigning premiers Peel Thunder who proved too good for Subiaco.

Subiaco and Peel took part in the Grand Final last year and despite the Lions going into the game as warm favourites on the back of finishing the first two WAFLW seasons as minor premiership, the Thunder just wouldn’t be denied.

Peel ended up winning that remarkable premiership on the back of finishing last the previous season, and then Thunder brought that momentum with them into the start of the 2021 WAFLW season beating East Fremantle in Round 1 last Saturday night.

Subiaco, though, is not lacking motivation coming into 2021 after finishing on top of the first home and away seasons but not quite managing a premiership yet. And the Lions started off the new season with a narrow win over South Fremantle last Sunday.

So the stage was set for an enthralling Grand Final rematch at Leederville Oval on Saturday evening, but it proved to be a game controlled by the Thunder as their premiership defence continues to gather momentum.

Subiaco, though, began the season well with three goals to two in the first quarter to head into quarter-time leading by five points.

Peel then took over the game in the second quarter. The Thunder held the Lions to just the one behind while piling on four goals themselves and that saw the reigning premiers head into the half-time break 21 points to the good.

Subiaco did manage their fourth goal of the game in the third term, but Peel continued to pull away by kicking another three goals to head into three quarter-time on top by 35 points.

It was then all the Thunder once again in the last quarter with the only four scoring shots for the one goal and Peel went on to beat Subiaco 10.10 (70) to 4.2 (26).

Kate Bartlett was outstanding for Peel kicking four goals in the big win while rising star Ella Roberts kicked three. Bailey Molloy ended up with five scoring shots but had just the one goal to show for it.

The best players for the Thunder included Cassie Davidson, Abby Barnden, Courtney Rowley, Ebony Bilcich and Kate Bartlett. 

Subiaco's goals came courtesy of Amy Hunt, Kia Buckley, Tarnica Golisano and Courtney Guard.

The best performers for the Lions included Kia Buckley, Tarnica Golisano, Ashtyn Cowie, Jessica Ritchie and Courtney Guard.
 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.0 (6) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 8.11 (59)

South Fremantle and Swan Districts had good reason to feel good about their Round 1 WAFLW showing setting the stage for their match up on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

South Fremantle had a challenging first WAFLW season in 2020 but the Bulldogs put in an encouraging showing to start 2021 last Sunday against Subiaco also on home turf.

In fact the Bulldogs produced a tremendous final quarter to only end up three points short of what would have been a memorable and historic first up WAFLW victory.

Then there is Swan Districts who won their opening game of the 2021 season in a low scoring affair against Claremont last Sunday at Steel Blue Oval.

But as the morning unfolded at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday, the more Swan Districts was able to assert its control on the contest.

South Fremantle went scoreless the entire first half while Swan Districts kicked two goals in the first quarter, and added another in the third to head into the half-time leading by 22 points.

South Fremantle did get on the board in the third quarter thanks to a goal from captain Lauren Vecchio. But Swan Districts continued to pull away with another two goals to be up by 31 points at three quarter-time.

The Bulldogs were then scoreless again in the final term with Swans adding another three goals to end up winning 8.11 (59) to 1.0 (6) to continue their perfect start to the 2021 season.

Nyra Anderson kicked three goals for Swan Districts, Dana East two and Bella Edgley two.

The best performers for Swans included Dana East, Aimee Ralph, Jessica Cox, Sarah Wielstra and Bella Edgley.

South Fremantle's lone goal came from Lauren Vecchio with Pia Durk, Ella Higgins, Makayla Cocking, Ashleigh Reidy and Casey Byrne their best contributors.
 

CLAREMONT 2.5 (17) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 1.3 (9)

Claremont and East Fremantle came into their Round 2 WAFLW match up coming off opening round losses meaning both were desperate to get that first win on the board on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers and Sharks locked horns at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium and there might have been only three goals scored between the two teams across the four quarters, but that didn’t stop it being a fascinating contest.

There was the one goal scored in the first quarter and that was courtesy of East Fremantle through Sara Lewis. But that would be the only goal kicked by the Sharks for the game.

Claremont then managed its first goal in the second quarter and went into half-time leading by a point.

The Tigers kicked their second goal then in the third quarter and that would be the last major of the contest with Claremont going on to win 2.5 (17) to 1.3 (9) against East Fremantle.

Claremont's two goals were courtesy of Sasha Goranova and Jacinta Valentini.

The best contributors for the Tigers included Andie Payne, Rachel Ortlepp, Brooke Whyte, Amy Fortescue and Paige Hamilton-Smith.

East Fremantle's sole goal came from Sara Lewis while the best for the Sharks included Ann McMahon, Brianna Green, Sharon Wong, Amber Kinnane and Alex Williams.