Optus WAFLW Preliminary Final WrapMonday, June 28, 2021 - 3:51 PM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts was the dominant team throughout the WAFLW season in 2021 and now they get a shot at turning that into a premiership after beating Subiaco in Sunday's preliminary final at Steel Blue Oval.

Peel Thunder was already awaiting the winner having been the first team to win their way into the Grand Final for 2021 which will be held on Saturday at Mandurah's David Grays Arena.

Peel beat Swan Districts in last Sunday's second semi-final to win into the Grand Final while Swans had a second chance to host the preliminary final on Sunday up against a Subiaco who beat Claremont in the first semi-final.

After both teams kicked a goal each in the first quarter, Swan Districts dominated the preliminary final after quarter-time with six goals to four behinds to win 7.8 (50) to 1.6 (12) and book in a spot against Peel Thunder in the Grand Final.

Swan Districts now has the chance to win its first WAFLW premiership backing up reaching the Grand Final in 2019 and then bowing out in the first semi-final of 2020.

It was a brave second half of the season from Subiaco just to get to the preliminary final. The Lions losing four of their first five matches, and six of their first eight before storming home to reach the finals for a third straight year in the WAFLW competition.

It was always going to be a fascinating contest with Swan Districts having been the standout team all season but Subiaco finishing the season on fire and then beating Claremont in the first semi-final to book in the preliminary final meeting with Swans.

This was a second preliminary final clash between the two teams in the last three years with Swans beating the Lions by 45 points two years ago, but this was a much tighter affair early on at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday.

It was a goal apiece in the opening term with Swan Districts taking just the one-point lead into quarter-time.

Swans kicked another goal in the second term and with Subiaco only managing the three behinds, that saw the black-and-whites extend their advantage to five points at the half-time break.

Swan Districts then kicked away further in the third term kicking two goals and holding the Lions to just the one behind as the lead for Swans grew to a commanding 18 points.

Swans really then kicked away in the final quarter to book in their Grand Final spot on the back of kicking three more goals to nil and to win 7.8 (50) to 1.6 (12).

Emily McGuire has been a mainstay at Swan Districts for a long time now including it providing her a chance to get a taste of playing AFLW, and now she's one step closer to leading Swans to a WAFLW premiership after kicking three goals on Sunday.

Nyra Anderson also kicked two goals for Swan Districts with one goal each to Sarah Wielstra and Taylah Edwards.

Along with those goalkickers, Aimee Ralph, Eliza Gelmi and Stephanie Cain were outstanding to help have a big say in Swan Districts advancing to the Grand Final.

Subiaco's lone goal in the preliminary final came in the first quarter thanks to Hayley Corlett.

Corlett was one of the best performers for the Lions all afternoon too along with Hayley Miller, Jayme Harken, Tarnica Golisano and Taylisha Brown.

Meanwhile in the WAFLW Reserves, Peel Thunder defeated Swan Districts in the preliminary final 4.7 (31) to 2.3 (15). That sees Peel advance to the Grand Final to earn another shot at East Fremantle from the second semi-final.

And in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup, South Fremantle defeated Peel Thunder 3.5 (23) to 2.4 (16) in the preliminary final to keep alive their chances of back-to-back premierships. The Bulldogs will now play West Perth in the Grand Final.

OPTUS WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – PRELIMINARY FINAL

SWAN DISTRICTS        1.3    2.4    4.6    7.8 (50)
SUBIACO            1.2    1.5    1.6    1.6 (12)

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – McGuire 3; Anderson 2; Wielstra, Edwards.
Best – Ralph, Gelmi, Cain, McGuire, Edwards.
SUBIACO: Goals – Corlett.
Best – Miller, Corlett, Harken, Golisano, Brown.