Optus WAFLW Round 15 WrapMonday, June 14, 2021 - 7:35 PM - by Chris Pike

IT was the final round in the WAFLW competition on the weekend with Claremont locking away a home first semi-final with a win against Peel Thunder while Subiaco also geared up for that clash with another win.

It has been quite the exciting Optus WAFLW Premiership Season and it came to a tremendous conclusion on the weekend with Subiaco and Claremont fighting over the hosting rights for the first semi-final.

Subiaco put the pressure back on Claremont with the Lions beating East Fremantle to open Round 15 on Saturday afternoon at Leederville Oval, 7.6 (48) to 5.6 (36).

That result meant that Subiaco would finish third and host the first semi-final this coming weekend unless Claremont was able to beat the second placed Peel Thunder on Sunday.

The Tigers were able to pull off that win against the reigning premiers to secure hosting rights to the first semi-final, with Claremont beating Peel 6.5 (41) to 4.8 (32) at Revo Fitness Stadium.

The final game of the round also took place on Sunday afternoon with the bottom placed South Fremantle hosting minor premiers Swan Districts at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. 

There would be no upset and the Bulldogs went through a second season winless as Swans prevailed 11.9 (75) to 2.0 (12) ahead of their premiership assault.

Those results mean that Swan Districts finishes clear on top of the WAFLW ladder with a 14-1 record with Peel Thunder in second place at 10-5. Those two teams will now meet in this Sunday's second semi-final at Steel Blue Oval with a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs.

Claremont end up in third position with an 8-7 record to end up percentage ahead of the also 8-7 Subiaco. Those two teams now clash in Sunday's first semi-final at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Meanwhile in the last round of the Youth Girls Rogers Cup, South Fremantle defeated East Fremantle 4.6 (30) to 1.3 (9) and also on Saturday West Perth beat East Perth 10.0 (60) to 0.1 (1).

Then on Sunday, Peel Thunder downed Swan Districts 4.18 (42) to 2.1 (13) while Claremont beat Subiaco 11.10 (76) to 1.1 (7).

That sets up West Perth to take on South Fremantle on Sunday in the second semi-final while Peel Thunder plays East Fremantle in the first semi-final.

And in the WAFLW Reserves, East Fremantle plays Peel Thunder on Sunday in the second semi-final and Swan Districts takes on Claremont in the first semi-final.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 15

SUBIACO 7.6 (48) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 5.6 (36)

Subiaco had to beat East Fremantle at Leederville Oval on Saturday to remain a chance of finishing in third position, and the Lions at least took care of their side of the bargain.

After winning the inaugural WAFLW premiership in 2019 and then getting to a preliminary final in 2020, East Fremantle had no chance of reaching finals in 2021 entering Saturday's game, but they sure could put a spanner in Subiaco's finals preparation.

Subiaco had been the best team of the first two home and away seasons in the WAFLW competition finishing on top of the ladder both years and then bowing out in the preliminary final of 2019 and losing in the Grand Final last year.

But the Lions made a horror start to 2021 losing four of their first five matches including only scoring a behind the entire game back in Round 3 against East Fremantle.

Subiaco ended up falling to a 2-6 record and finals looked a long way off, but the Lions got some key players back and now they actually enter the finals as the form team of the WAFLW competition.

Subiaco went on to win six of their last seven matches of the season to give themselves a chance of finishing third to host the first semi-final with Saturday's win over East Fremantle.

It was a tight opening to the game at Leederville Oval with Subiaco leading by just four points at quarter-time.

It was then a goal apiece again in the second quarter with the Lions only clinging to a five-point advantage by half-time.

Subiaco was able to kick away in the third quarter with three goals to one before then holding on for the eventual 7.6 (48) to 5.6 (36) to ensure they took some impressive winning form into the finals.

Amy Hunt ended up kicking two goals in the win for Subiaco with one each to Maggie MacLachlan, Abbey Dowrick, Jamie Rust, Heyley Corlett and Dahna Lee.

Abbey Dowrick, Jayme Harken, Rust, Lara Filocamo and McKenzie Dowrick were all among the standout performers in the victory for the Lions.

Philipa Seth finished up kicking two goals to close out the season for East Fremantle with singles to Kahra Sprylan, Gabby Radojkovich and Lauren O'Connor.

Best players on the day for the Sharks included Marni Alston, Roxy Roux, Seth, Sharon Wong and Emily Burton.
 

CLAREMONT 6.5 (41) defeated PEEL THUNDER 4.8 (32)

The pressure was back on Claremont needing to beat Peel Thunder on Sunday to maintain third position and to earn the hosting rights of the first semi-final.

It was going to be anything but easy for Claremont to get the win it needed, though, after Subiaco beat East Fremantle on Saturday to at least move into third spot for the time being before the Tigers played their final game of the season.

Peel was fresh off handing Swan Districts its first loss of the WAFLW season as well with the Thunder gearing up for their own finals campaign from second position as the reigning premiers.

So the stage was set for a fascinating contest and Peel peppered the goals in the opening term, but only managed to kick one goal from their five attempts to lead by just the three points at quarter-time.

Claremont knew what was at stake and took things up a gear in the second term with three goals to just one behind from Peel and that saw the Tigers take a 15-point advantage into half-time.

Peel worked back into the game with another two goals in the third quarter to be within a goal by three quarter-time, but Claremont did enough to hold on for the 6.5 (41) to 4.8 (32) victory to ensure they will host Subiaco in the first semi-final back at Revo Fitness Stadium this Sunday.

Claremont needed to get the win to earn the rights host the first semi-final and they did so with two goals each to Amber Goodwin-Wissink and Brooke Whyte. Tessa Doumanis and Mhicca Carter also kicked a goal each.

The standout performers for the Tigers in the important win included Sophie McDonald, Jessica Low, Madeleine Scanlon, Rachel Ortlepp and Whyte.

Peel's goals on the day all came from single sources with one each to Ella Roberts, Kate Bartlett, Nel Baxter and Kira Phillips.

Best players during the game for the Tunder included Roberts, Chloe Wrigley, Gracie Fenton, Cassie Davidson and Abby Barnden.
 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.0 (12) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 11.9 (75)

Swan Districts geared up for its premiership assault with a solid 63-point win against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday.

Swan Districts had won its first 13 games of the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season before dropping a game last week against their second semi-final opponent Peel Thunder.

Swans wouldn’t have wanted to enter the finals in losing form but the Bulldogs had just the one more chance to try and avoid starting their life in the WAFLW competition with two winless seasons.

It would take a massive effort from South Fremantle to be able to upset the minor premiers and premiership favourites for 2021, though, and Swan Districts didn’t take long to put its foot down despite being away from home on Sunday.

Swan Districts kicked three goals in the opening quarter and held South Fremantle scoreless to take a 19-point lead into quarter-time.

Even though the Bulldogs managed to get on the board with a goal in the second term, Swans pulled further away by kicking four more goals themselves and that saw them take a commanding 41-pont lead into the half-time break.

Swan Districts again held South Fremantle scoreless in the third quarter with the black-and-whites managing to kick another two goals to extend their lead to 53 points by three quarter-time.

South Fremantle did kick a second goal for the game in the last quarter but Swan Districts further extended its lead with two more goals to come away with the 11.9 (75) to 2.0 (12) victory.

It was a good tune up for the finals assault for Swan Districts with two goals apiece to Tara Stribley, Imahra Cameron, Emily McGuire and Taylah Edwards. 

Meanwhile, Brianna Hyde, Abbygail Bushby and Sarah Wielstra kicked a goal each for the black-and-whites.

The standout performers in the 63-point win for Swan Districts were Nyra Anderson, Kloe Taylor, Brianna Hyde, Wielstra and Jessica Cox.

South Fremantle's goals in their final game of the season were kicked by Melissa Silcock and Lauren Wafker.

Best players on the afternoon for the Bulldogs included Lara Rodin-Zimdahl, Makaela Tuhakaraina, Reanne Pickett, Wafker and Liusaidh Gilchrist.