WAFLW Round 15 WrapTuesday, May 31, 2022 - 8:03 AM - by Chris Pike

EAST Fremantle and Claremont locked away their top two WAFLW positions with emphatic performances against finals contending teams in Round 15 while Swan Districts got a much-needed victory to keep themselves inside the top four.

It was Indigenous Round in the WAFLW competition and with it being just the third last round of the 2022 season, there was plenty on the line and in the end the Sharks and Tigers showed their dominance, and Swans got the win they needed to remain on track to play finals again.

There was the one match on Saturday afternoon as part of Indigenous Round and that took place at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium with Claremont defeating Peel Thunder 5.10 (40) to 2.3 (15).

Mikayla Western and Ella Smith kicked two goals each for Claremont while Sasha Goranova gathered 21 possessions. Ella Roberts racked up 30 touches for Peel.

The other two matches in Indigenous Round took place on Sunday with East Fremantle beating Subiaco 9.9 (63) to 2.1 (13) at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park.

Julia Teakle kicked another three goals for the Sharks with Ashlee Atkins and Sharon Wong both finishing with 21 touches. Dahna Lee kicked two goals for the Lions with Jayme Harken gathering 22 possessions.

Then at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval, Swan Districts beat South Fremantle 5.6 (36) to 2.4 (16).

Jaime Henry kicked two goals for Swan Districts and Isabella Edgley racked up 25 disposals. Lauren Vecchio had 21 touches and 12 tackles for the Bulldogs.

Following 15 rounds of the 2022 WAFLW season, East Fremantle has all but secured the minor premiership with their perfect 12-0 percentage and now superior percentage with two games to go.

Claremont is also now guaranteed of a top two finish following their Round 15 win sitting with a 10-2 gap with a four-game gap on the rest of the field.

Peel Thunder is clinging to third position with a 6-6 record just percentage ahead of the fourth placed Swan Districts who are 6-7 but also have a bye to come.

Subiaco is in fifth position at 5-7 to be a game and percentage out of the top four, but they are still alive to be in front of South Fremantle (4-9) and West Perth (0-12).

Meanwhile, in Round 15 of the WAFLW Reserves it was Peel Thunder defeating Claremont 5.4 (34) to 3.10 (28) at Lane Group Stadium and East Fremantle won big 10.11 (71) to 0.3 (3) against Subiaco at New Choice Homes Park.

Then in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup Round 15 action, Saturday's clashes saw East Perth and West Perth play out a draw at Leederville Oval with the Royals 6.7 (43) and the Falcons 7.1 (43). Claremont also defeated Peel Thunder 7.9 (51) to 2.5 (17).

Then on Sunday, it was East Fremantle defeating Subiaco 7.13 (55) to 5.2 (32) and South Fremantle beating Swan Districts 5.7 (37) to 3.3 (21).

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 15

PEEL THUNDER 2.3 (15) lost to CLAREMONT 5.10 (40)

Claremont dominated the reigning premiers Peel Thunder in the first half on the way to a 25-point victory on Saturday at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium.

The Thunder had the chance to all but secure themselves third position with a victory at home on Saturday, but it wasn’t to be with Claremont dominating from the outset to guarantee themselves second position with two rounds to go.

Claremont kicked the only three goals of the first half to set up the eventual 5.10 (40) to 2.3 (15) victory away from home.

Peel might have been the reigning premiers and in a decent run of form in recent times to have all but locked up a finals spot, but Claremont dominated from the outset on Saturday in Mandurah.

The first three scoring shots for the Tigers were behinds before they kicked the first goal courtesy of Mikayla Western. Ella Smith also added a second goal before quarter-time to see Claremont end up leading by 17 points by quarter-time.

Peel's lone score in the first half came early in the second quarter and that was a behind to Kira Phillips. But following that Claremont kicked another goal through Ella Slocombe and that saw the Tigers on top by 27 points at the main break.

There was just the two scoring shots between the two teams in the third quarter and it was a goal apiece. Kate Bartlett kicked truly for Peel and Western kicked her second for Claremont with the Tigers still leading by 27 points at three quarter-time.

It was then another goal apiece in the final term with Claremont ending up winning 5.10 (40) to 2.3 (15) at Lane Group Stadium.

Mikayla Western and Ella Smith both kicked two goals apiece for Claremont with Ella Slocombe the other goal scorer.

Sasha Goranova continued her outstanding form for the Tigers with another 21 possessions and eight tackles while Jasmin Stewart had 17 touches, Katherine Bennett 15 and Matilda Dyke 11 to go with 19 hit outs.

Peel's two goals for the game came courtesy of Kate Bartlett and Kira Phillips.

Ella Roberts was superb for the Thunder despite the loss with 30 possessions, six marks, six tackles and five entries inside the forward 50.

Gracie Fenton added 21 touches, Cassie Davidson 20, Tanisha Anderson 18 and Greta McKinley 17.

EAST FREMANTLE 9.9 (63) defeated SUBIACO 2.1 (13)

East Fremantle produced another dominant performance to beat Subiaco by 50 points at New Choice Homes Park on Sunday.

The Sharks were back on their home turf to host the Lions in Round 15 of the WAFLW competition and it didn’t take long for them to stamp their authority even against a Subiaco team who had been in their best patch of form of 2022 coming into the contest.

East Fremantle kept its unbeaten record going to lock away the minor premiership with two games to go with the 9.9 (63) to 2.1 (13) win against a Subiaco team who now faces an uphill battle to make the finals in 2022.

East Fremantle would guarantee top spot with a win at New Choice Homes Park on Sunday but it was going to be a challenge against a Subiaco team in their best form of the season and trying to break into the top four.

It was all the Sharks, though, in the opening term with the only four scoring shots including goals to Ashlee Atkins and Julia Teakle.

It was more of the same from East Fremantle to start the second quarter as they had the first five scoring shots once more including a second goal to Teakle and another to Doma Fedele.

When Mylee Leitch kicked another the lead for the Sharks was out to 34 points before Subiaco finally got its first score on the board which was a goal to Dahna Lee.

East Fremantle responded, though, before half-time with a goal to Anjelique Raison and that saw the Sharks on top by 35 points at the long break.

Subiaco started better in the third quarter with a goal to Lee but East Fremantle also added another through Teakle just before three quarter-time to see their advantage remain at 35 points.

The Sharks then further ran away with it in the fourth quarter with goals to Beth Beckett and Leitch to see them record the 9.9 (63) to 2.1 (13) win against the Lions.

Julia Teakle once again stood tall in attack for East Fremantle kicking another three goals from 11 possessions, four tackles and three marks.

Mylee Leitch also kicked two goals for the Sharks with a goal apiece to Beth Beckett, Ashlee Atkins, Doma Fedele and Anjelique Raison.

Along with her goal, Atkins gathered 21 disposals for East Fremantle with Sharon Wong finishing with 21 touches and 11 tackles.

Amber Kinnane also had 19 touches, Ashleigh Gomes, Beckett 16 and Larissa Versaci 14 to go with 10 tackles.

Dahna Lee kicked both of Subiaco's goals from six kicks, five marks and three tackles.

Jayme Harken gathered 22 disposals for the Lions, Jamie Rust 18 and Madison Dodd 15 along with seven tackles.

SWAN DISTRICTS 5.6 (36) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.4 (16)

Swan Districts scored a much-needed 20-point win at home against South Fremantle on Sunday.

Swans were only narrowly clinging to fourth position coming into Saturday's clash at Steel Blue Oval and with a bye still to come, they desperately needed to beat the Bulldogs should they want to stay in the top four.

However, South Fremantle were still trying to keep their own finals aspirations alive setting the stage for a fascinating contest, and it was Swan Districts who proved too strong winning 5.6 (36) to 2.4 (16).

Swan Districts needed a win or face the risk of seeing their finals aspirations slipping away and following a scoreless opening term from both teams, Swans had the first three scoring shots of the game. 

However, they couldn’t convert and it was South Fremantle kicking the first goal thanks to Zoe Huggett.

Swans were able to respond with the last two goals of the half thanks to Jaime Henry and that saw the home team heading into the major break with a 10-point lead.

The black-and-whites then opened the second half with a goal to Ashley Sharp before South Fremantle was able to stay in touch with a goal to Cali Hunt shortly before three quarter-time.

Swans were able to kick the only two goals of the last quarter, though, courtesy of Taylah Edwards and Courtney Zappara to secure the 5.6 (36) to 2.4 (16) victory that keeps them in the top four with two rounds to go.

Jaime Henry was the only multiple goal scorer in the game kicking two from her 20 possessions and seven tackles.

Ashley Sharp, Courtney Zappara and Taylah Edwards also kicked a goal apiece for Swan Districts.

Isabella Edgley collected 25 touches for Swans, Abbygail Bushby 22, Emily McGuire 21, Ruby Mahony 20 (11 tackles) and Naomi Baker 17 while Sarah Wielstra had 14 disposals, 16 hit outs, five marks and three tackles in the ruck.

South Fremantle's goal kickers were Cali Hunt and Zoe Huggett.

South Fremantle captain Lauren Vecchio was terrific with 21 possessions and 12 tackles while even earning six free kicks her way.

Kiara Templeman also finished with 18 disposals for the Bulldogs, Bryany Parker 16 (seven tackles), Casey Byrne 16 and Molly O'Hehir 11 to go with 10 tackles.