Optus WAFLW Round 11 WrapTuesday, May 11, 2021 - 5:25 AM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFLW competition is now set for a fascinating final month of the 2021 home and away season following the results in Round 11 on Sunday afternoon.

All three matches in Round 11 of the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season took place on Sunday afternoon, and the results leave five teams all in a frantic race for top four positions, and an especially hot race to see who ends up finishing second to earn a spot in the second semi-final.

Subiaco might have struggled in the first part of the 2021 season but the Lions are building some impressive form now that they continued on Sunday to defeat Claremont 4.6 (30) to 2.7 (19) at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium.

South Fremantle's quest for a first ever WAFLW victory continued in vain with East Fremantle too good in the derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, winning 5.9 (39) to 2.3 (15).

Swan Districts then moved further clear in top spot with a thrilling win over reigning premiers Peel Thunder at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval, prevailing 6.6 (42) to 6.5 (41).

Those Round 11 results mean that Swan Districts sits three games clear out on top of the WAFLW ladder with a perfect 10-0 record with Peel Thunder remaining in second spot at 7-3.

Claremont is still third at 6-4 just ahead of Subiaco (4-6) with East Fremantle (3-7) and South Fremantle (0-10) the two teams still sitting outside the top four with a month of the home and away season remaining.

Meanwhile in the WAFLW Reserves on Sunday, Claremont defeated West Perth 9.5 (59) to 3.5 (23) while East Fremantle narrowly beat Swan Districts 3.6 (24) to 3.4 (22) and Peel Thunder beat South Fremantle 7.9 (51) to 0.2 (2).

And in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup, Subiaco defeated East Perth 4.6 (30) to 1.3 (9) on Saturday night, and then on Sunday West Perth beat Claremont 9.9 (63) to 5.3 (33), East Fremantle downed 5.10 (40) to 3.2 (20) and South Fremantle defeated Peel Thunder 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28).
 

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 11

CLAREMONT 2.7 (19) lost to SUBIACO 4.6 (30)

Subiaco consolidated its improved form as the WAFLW season has progressed with an 11-point win against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Only a couple of weeks ago and Subiaco was facing an uphill battle to stay in contention for a top four spot, but now all of a sudden with some AFLW players back and some improved form, suddenly they again look a genuine threat in 2021 as they have been the first two WAFLW seasons.

That continued for the Lions on Sunday against a Tigers team now just clinging to third spot on the ladder only a couple of weeks after battling with Swan Districts over top spot.

Despite Claremont having more scoring shots than Subiaco in the opening quarter, it was Subiaco who went into quarter-time leading by four points on the back of kicking the only goal of the first term.

Claremont was able to find its accuracy during the second quarter and put two goals on the board and while holding Subiaco to just the one behind, the Tigers went into the half-time interval leading by eight points.

Those two goals would be the only ones Claremont would kick for the entire match, though, with Subiaco kicking the only two goals of the third quarter, and then one more in the last term to end up winning 4.6 (30) to 2.7 (19).

Hayley Miller's return has had a big part in Subiaco's rejuvenation this WAFLW season and she kicked three goals in a best on ground performance for the Lions on Sunday.

Jayme Harken kicked the other goal for Subiaco with Claire Ortlepp, Tayla Thorogood, Jessica Ritchie and Kia Buckley all tremendous performers as well.

Rachel Ortlepp and Amy Franklin were the goal scorers for Claremont with Matilda Sergeant, Ella Smith, Jessica Low, Jasmin Stewart and Matilda Dyke among their best on the afternoon.
 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.3 (15) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 5.9 (39)

South Fremantle threw everything into trying to make its first ever WAFLW win happen against East Fremantle on Sunday, but ultimately the Sharks were too strong and kept themselves in the top four race in the process.

It was always going to be a fascinating WAFLW derby on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle hunting its first ever win in the competition while East Fremantle needed to win to stay in the finals hunt.

It was just their third meeting ever in the WAFLW competition and the Sharks started the better with the only goal, and three scoring shots of the opening quarter.

But South Fremantle came out firing in the second quarter and all of a sudden that elusive first ever win was within touching distance. 

The Bulldogs kicked two goals for the second term with the Sharks managing just three behinds, and that meant South Fremantle went into the half-time break leading by two points.

The tensions grew during the third quarter with neither team able to kick a goal. South Fremantle added two behinds and East Fremantle three to leave the Bulldogs still leading by a point heading into three quarter-time.

So South Fremantle could sniff victory heading into the fourth quarter, but East Fremantle would have none of it going on to kick the only four goals of the last term to end up winning 5.9 (39) to 2.3 (15).

Holly Denholm and Zoe Huggett were the goal scorers for South Fremantle.

Best players for the Bulldogs included Mim Strom, Tahlia Holtze, Breanne Spencer, Ella Ward and Tash Vaughan-Taylor.

Roisin Walsh kicked two goals for East Fremantle with singles to Roxy Roux, Kahra Sprylan and Stephanie Sparke.

Kahra Sprylan, Gabby O'Sullivan, Philipa Seth, Marni Alston and Skye Prentice were all standout performers for the Sharks.
 

SWAN DISTRICTS 6.6 (42) defeated PEEL THUNDER 6.5 (41)

Swan Districts went a giant leap towards securing the minor premiership in the WAFLW competition for 2021 and kept its undefeated season alive in the process, but only by a solitary point against Peel Thunder on Sunday.

Swan Districts came into the game at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday afternoon looking to keep its unbeaten record in the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season going, and while they did it in the end, the Thunder certainly made them earn it.

Peel are the reigning premiers in the WAFLW competition and this could very well end up being a Grand Final preview based on what a tremendous contest it was, and how close it turned out to be.

Swans made a flying start by kicking the only two goals of the opening quarter and on their home turf, the 14-point lead at quarter-time did appear to have them right on track to keep their undefeated streak rolling.

But the Thunder were able to hit back in the second quarter and kicked three goals themselves. Swans added just the one and that saw the home team take the narrowest of leads into the half-time break, up by a solitary point.

That set the stage for a cracking second half and it didn’t disappoint starting with Swan Districts kicking away again in the third quarter. Swans managed to kick the only three goals of the term to head into three quarter-time having opened up a handy 20-point advantage.

But the Thunder aren’t the reigning WAFLW premiers for nothing and with the breeze at their back, they threw everything into the final term attempting to hand Swans their first loss of the season and to keep the race for the minor premiership alive with a month to go in the season.

That saw Peel manage the only three goals of the final term and keep Swan Districts to just the one behind, but ultimately Swans managed to hold on to win by the slimmest of margins, 6.6 (42) to 6.5 (41).

The result all but wraps up top spot for Swan Districts with a month remaining in the season and with them sitting three games clear, but Peel remains in second position as well despite the defeat.

Tara Stribley ended up kicking two goals for Swans with Mikayla Bowen, Mikayla Hyde, Kellie Gibson and Sarah Wielstra adding one each.

Best on the afternoon for Swan Districts were Bianca Webb, Dana East, Melisha Hardy, Tara Stribley and Aimee Ralph.

Kate Bartlett continued her outstanding run of form for the Thunder with another four goals with Kaitlin Hayes and Kira Phillips adding one goal each.

Peel's best players include Sabreena Duffy, Chloe Wrigley, Courtney Rowley, Kate Bartlett and captain Cassie Davidson.