WAFLW Team of the Week – Round 5Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - 9:29 AM - by Chris Pike

IT was another fascinating Round 5 in the WAFLW competition for 2022 and a host of standout performers in the wins Swan Districts, Claremont and Peel Thunder who make up a large proportion of the Team of the Week.

We had star performers right across the three games pushing their cases forward for spots in the Team of the Week for Round 5 including two three-goal hauls, and 11 players who racked up 20 possessions or more.

All three Round 5 WAFLW matches took place on Sunday beginning at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with Claremont remaining on top of the ladder with the 8.9 (57) to 2.4 (16) win against South Fremantle.

Next up was East Fremantle successfully managing to remain the only undefeated team this WAFLW season with the 12.16 (88) to 1.0 (6) victory at New Choice Homes Park.

Then finally it was the Grand Final rematch and Swan Districts defeated Peel Thunder 7.8 (50) to 5.3 (33) at Steel Blue Oval.

Following the opening five rounds of the 2022 WAFLW season, Claremont remains on top of the ladder with a 4-1 record on the back of their massive percentage of 456.7.

East Fremantle remains the only undefeated team remaining to sit in second spot at 4-0 ahead of Swan Districts (3-2) who have now won three straight and reigning premiers Peel Thunder (2-2).

South Fremantle (1-3) sits in fifth position in front of Subiaco (1-3) and West Perth (0-4).

It all leads to another fascinating round to come this Sunday as well with West Perth playing Subiaco, East Fremantle taking on South Fremantle, and Claremont facing Peel Thunder.

WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 5
BACK: Eliza Gelmi (SD), Kiara Templeman (SF)
HALF-BACK: Madeleine Scanlon (C), Ebony Dowson (PT), Jaime Henry (SD)
CENTRE: Mikayla Western (C), Ashleigh Gomes (EF), Kate Orme (C)
HALF-FORWARD: Brooke Whyte (C), Larissa Versaci (EF), Georgie Cleaver (EF)
FORWARD: Abbygail Bushby (SD), Ashley Sharp (SD)
RUCK: Lauren Quaife (PT), Sharon Wong (EF), Jess Cox (SD)
INTERCHANGE: Lauren Wakfer (SF), Liusaidh Gilchrist (SF), Melisha Hardy (SD), Emily Elkington (C), Kate Bartlett (PT)

Each week of the WAFLW season during 2022, we will be selecting a Team of the Week as well, and here's how the side for Round 5 came together.

Claremont kept its hot form going to start the 2022 WAFLW season with their fourth big win already and from that win over South Fremantle, Madeleine Scanlon was named to half-back in the Team of the Week for her 18 possessions, four marks and two tackles for the Tigers.

Kate Orme was against tremendous on the wing again with 26 disposals, four marks and a goal while Mikayla Western was named on the other wing too for her game made up of 20 touches, six marks, three tackles and a goal.

Brooke Whyte kicked three goals from 17 possessions and six marks to earn her spot at half-forward while Emily Elkington was also named to the interchange with 17 disposals and eight tackles.

South Fremantle had some standout performers in the loss to Claremont as well including Kiara Templeman down back. She had 16 disposals and four tackles herself while limiting the dangerous Tessa Doumanis to just six kicks and one behind.

Lauren Wakfer was again terrific for the Bulldogs in the ruck with another 14 touches, 18 hit outs, eight tackles, four inside 50s and two marks while Liusaidh Gilchrist always got named to the interchange for her 18 possessions, four marks, three inside 50s and two tackles.

East Fremantle kept their winning form going to start the season with Ashleigh Gomes claiming the centre position on the back of her game that was made up of 26 disposals, five tackles and four entries inside the forward 50.

Larissa Versaci was also named at centre half-forward of the Team of the Week after producing 27 touches, six marks, six tackles, three inside-50 entries and a goal.

Georgie Cleaver put together an impressive all-round performance as well made up of 21 possessions, 12 hit outs and a goal to earn a place in the forward-line.

Sharon Wong kept her great form going early in the new season with 22 touches, seven tackles and a goal for the Sharks to be named as the ruck-rover in the Team of the Week.

Swan Districts delivered an impressive performance to win their Grand Final rematch with Peel Thunder. Jaime Henry was impressive down back to earn a spot at half-back after producing nine possessions, three marks and two tackles.

Eliza Gelmi had a fascinating battle down back for Swans as well on young Peel spearhead Kate Bartlett. Bartlett ended up kicking two goals but had just seven kicks and Gelmi did well limiting her influence to earn a place in the Team of the Week.

The Swan Districts forward-line was impressive as well and that's why both Abbygail Bushby and Ashley Sharp earned spots in the Team of the Week. Bushby was brilliant with 27 possessions, six inside 50s, five marks, four tackles and a goal while Sharp kicked three goals from eight kicks and four tackles.

Swans captain Jess Cox continued her brilliant midfield form as well with another 18 disposals, four marks and three tackles to be named in the on-ball brigade in the Team of the Week.

Melisha Hardy from Swans also earned a spot on the interchange for her terrific performance to hold Peel speedster Bailey Molloy to just one handball the entire game while having nine touches and two tackles herself.

While it was a loss for the Thunder, Ebony Dowson produced an impressive performance to be named at centre half-back in the Team of the Week after finishing with 24 possessions and five marks.

Lauren Quaife had an impressive performance in the ruck as well for the Thunder finishing with 23 hit outs to go with five disposals and two tackles to be named in that spot in the Team of the Week.

Kate Bartlett also earns a place after her hard work trying to fight off the defensive work of Eliza Gelmi. She did still kick another two goals from 10 possessions.