Optus WAFLW Round 9 WrapTuesday, May 18, 2021 - 1:25 PM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO has been the big mover in the WAFLW competition turning themselves into a genuine threat once again while Peel Thunder and Swan Districts remaining secure in the top two positions.

Thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown going back a few weeks that forced Round 9 of the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season to be postponed, this weekend was decided the perfect time to fit it in and to push the rest of the season back an extra week.

That set the stage for three fascinating match ups across the weekend including a clash between the unbeaten top team and winless bottom team along with a fight over second spot, and a clash between the teams battling over fourth.

The rescheduled Round 9 action in the WAFLW season got underway on Saturday afternoon at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and Swan Districts was able to get on top of the Bulldogs early.

Swans went on to lead South Fremantle 6.2 (38) to 0.1 (1) on home turf late in the first half but the game had to be abandoned when Bulldogs youngster Cali Hunt was taken to hospital after a heavy collision that led to a significant delay.

Reigning premiers Peel Thunder then took a giant leap towards securing second position and a spot in the second semi-final against Swan Districts by beating the third placed Claremont 7.6 (48) to 5.7 (37) at Mandurah's David Grays Arena also on Saturday afternoon.

The last game of Round 9 then took place on Sunday afternoon at Leederville Oval and that saw Subiaco continued its resurgence this WAFLW season beating East Fremantle 10.6 (66) to 2.1 (13).

That means that with four rounds of the home and away season to go in the WAFLW competition, Swan Districts remain clear out on top of the ladder with a perfect 10-0 record.

Peel Thunder is second at 8-3 ahead of Claremont (6-5) and Subiaco (5-6) who round out the top four. East Fremantle (3-8) is fifth and South Fremantle (0-10) in last place.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 9

SWAN DISTRICTS 6.2 (38) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 0.1 (1)

It was the battle of top against bottom at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon, and unsurprisingly things played out to expectations during the first half.

Swans were back on home turf at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval on Saturday to open Round 9 in the WAFLW competition, which was being played this weekend having been forced to be rescheduled back three weeks ago thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Despite Rounds 10 and 11 having already been played, the rescheduled Round 9 was slotted in to take place this weekend and the final four weeks of the home and away season to follow all pushed back one further week.

It did always appear it was a big job ahead of South Fremantle with the Bulldogs heading to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday afternoon searching for their first ever win in the WAFLW competition.

Their challenge was up against a Swan Districts team who reached the first ever WAFL Grand Final back in 2019, again played finals in 2020 and now has been the dominant team of the competition so far in 2021.

The two teams first did battle this season back in Round 2 and on that occasion Swan Districts came away with the 53-point win against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Saturday afternoon's game was just the second time they have faced one another and the contest played out true to form as the first half unfolded at Steel Blue Oval.

In the end, Swan Districts was leading the game over South Fremantle 6.2 (38) to 0.1 (1) late in the second quarter before a nasty yet accidental incident took place.

South Fremantle young player Cali Hunt was involved with a clash with a Swan Districts player that left the Bulldog 20-year-old motionless on the ground for some time. She eventually left the venue on an ambulance.

The good news is that a couple of days later Hunt appears to not have suffered serious or long-term injuries, but the serious nature of the incident combined with the significant time delay meant that the rest of the game was abandoned.

Whether or not the result will be a draw, not counted at all for the season or announced as a win for Swan Districts is yet to be determined.

Either way Swan Districts sits clear on top of the WAFLW ladder either with a perfect 10-0 or 11-0 record while South Fremantle remains winless from either 10 or 11 attempts this season.

Emma Nanut ended up kicking two goals in the win for Swan Districts with one each to Brianna Hyde, Shannan Rene, Tara Stribley and Sarah Wielstra.

PEEL THUNDER 7.6 (48) defeated CLAREMONT 5.7 (37)

Second position on the WAFLW ladder was well and truly on the line on Saturday when Peel Thunder hosted Claremont at Mandurah's David Grays Arena.

With Peel coming into the game in that second spot with a 7-3 record but Claremont was not far behind at 6-4 meaning with four games to go after the game on Saturday, there was plenty on the line.

The Thunder might have lost the previous week but that was only by a point against Swan Districts and prior to that they were in good form beating East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Subiaco, and the Sharks again since a Round 5 loss to Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

It's been a bit of a rocky ride for the Tigers since that last win over the Thunder with a loss to Swan Districts, win over South Fremantle, victory against East Fremantle, loss to Swans again and then a defeat to Subiaco.

So Peel did come into the game in slightly better form but it was a hot opening to the contest with two goals apiece in the first quarter, and Claremont leading by a solitary point away from home at half-time.

Claremont extended its advantage during the second quarter too kicking two goals to one to heading into the half-time interval leading by nine points against the reigning premiers.

Peel got back into the contest during the third quarter by kicking two goals to one and closed the gap on the Tigers to just two points by three quarter-time setting the stage for a cracking finish.

Peel managed to use the energy of playing at home to kick the last two goals while holding Claremont to two points to come away with the 7.6 (48) to 5.7 (37) victory.

It's a crucial win in terms of Peel's hopes of finishing second to claim a spot in the second semi-final while Claremont is now locked in a battle over Subiaco for third position.

Kira Phillips got right to her best form that saw her star in Peel's premiership triumph last year by kicking four goals for the Thunder to be the major difference on the field.

Sabreena Duffy, Ella Roberts and Kate Bartlett all kicked a goal each for Peel with Cassie Davidson, Roberts, Duffy, Gracie Fenton and Courtney Rowley all among their standout players.

Tessa Doumanis kicked two goals for Claremont with singles to Charlotte Tompkins, Brooke Whyte and Amy Fortescue.

Jessica Low, Doumanis, Hayley Bullas, Sophie McDonald and Kate Orme were among the best on the day for Claremont.
 

SUBIACO 10.6 (66) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 2.1 (13)

Subiaco maintained its tremendous form headings towards the end of the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season with a 53-point win at home over East Fremantle on Sunday.

The game was crucial in terms of the race towards a finals position with Subiaco looking to move further clear in fourth position while East Fremantle had to win to maintain touch with the Lions.

Subiaco might have finished on top of the ladder in both of the first two WAFLW seasons, and reached the Grand Final in 2020, but the Lions struggled to start 2021 and reaching finals looked a long way off.

But Subiaco is built some strong form in recent weeks and with East Fremantle struggling with just the three wins for the season and two of them coming against the winless South Fremantle, Sunday loomed as a defining match up for both sides.

The battle took place on Sunday afternoon at Leederville Oval to close the rescheduled Round 9 of the season, and it was East Fremantle who started the better kicking the only goal of the opening quarter.

The Lions were then able to turn around by kicking two goals to one in the second term and that meant that scores were all tied up by half-time.

It was then all Subiaco in the second in a remarkably dominant display to fully show that not only are they looking on track to reach the finals for a third straight season, but there's no reason to suggest they aren’t now a genuine premiership threat as well.

The Lions kicking four goals to nothing in the third quarter, and another four goals to nothing in the last term to hold the Sharks completely scoreless after half-time on their way to the 10.6 (66) to 2.1 (13) victory.

The win moves Subiaco two games clear now of East Fremantle in fourth position, and within just one game of the third placed Claremont.

Amy Hunt kicked three goals for Subiaco with one each all to Lara Filocamo, Beatrice Devlyn, Abbey Dowrick, Kate Pocsidio, Claire Ortlepp, Hayley Corlett and Sarah Walters.

Filocamo, Jessica Ritchie, Corlett, Devlyn and Dowrick were among the standout performers for the Lions.

Sharon Wong and Nadya Browne were the goal scorers for East Fremantle while Paisley Prentice, Anjelique Raison, Emily Burton, Doma Fedele and Larissa Versaci all fought hard for the Sharks.