Optus WAFLW Round 7 WrapTuesday, April 13, 2021 - 10:18 AM - by Chris Pike

IT was a fascinating Round 7 of the 2021 Optus WAFLW Premiership Season with rematches from the first two Grand Finals in league history, and now Swan Districts remains undefeated but Peel Thunder and Claremont remain breathing down their neck.

Following a week off over Easter, the WAFLW season resumed on Saturday with the opening game of Round 7 taking place at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium. That saw Claremont prove too good as the Tigers beat South Fremantle 8.4 (52) to 0.5 (5).

Then later on Saturday at Mandurah's David Grays Arena, it was a rematch of last year's Grand Final in the WAFLW competition with Peel Thunder earning another victory against Subiaco, winning 6.6 (42) to 3.4 (22).

And then Round 7 concluded on Sunday afternoon with a rematch of the 2019 WAFLW Grand Final. It took place at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park with Swan Districts defeating East Fremantle 7.9 (51) to 2.2 (14).

Those results mean that Swan Districts remains clear on top of the WAFLW ladder with a perfect 7-0 record. Peel Thunder is second at 5-2 and they sit just percentage ahead of the also 5-2 Claremont.

East Fremantle (2-5) is clinging to fourth position only percentage ahead of the fifth placed Subiaco (2-5) with South Fremantle (0-7) yet to taste victory in the WAFLW.

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Meanwhile, Round 7 in the WAFLW Reserves saw Swan Districts defeated South Fremantle 2.3 (15) to 1.2 (8) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Claremont beat Subiaco at Leederville Oval, and East Fremantle beat West Perth 3.9 (27) to 0.3 (3) at New Choice Homes Park.

Swan Districts (5-1) also sits on top of the WAFLW Reserves ladder ahead of East Fremantle (4-2), Peel Thunder (4-2), Claremont (3-3), South Fremantle (3-3), West Perth (2-4) and Subiaco (0-6).

Then in the Youth Girls Rogers Cup, Peel Thunder beat East Perth 14.18 (102) to 0.0 (0). Then South Fremantle defeated Swan Districts 10.8 (68) to 0.0 (0), Claremont downed Subiaco 6.5 (41) to 1.6 (12), and then West Perth beat East Fremantle 5.8 (38) to 4.3 (27).

West Perth remains undefeated and on top of the Rogers Cup ladder with a perfect 7-0 record. Peel Thunder (5-2) is second ahead of East Fremantle (5-2), South Fremantle (4-3), Claremont (4-3), Swan Districts (2-5), Subiaco (1-6) and East Perth (0-7).

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CLAREMONT 8.4 (52) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 0.5 (5)

The WAFLW season resumed after a weekend off over Easter and Claremont was able to continue its good form with a home win on Saturday over South Fremantle by 47 points.

It was an important win for the Tigers too to keep them in touch for a top two finish while the Bulldogs are still chasing that elusive first ever victory in the WAFLW competition.

Claremont and South Fremantle, in fact, are the only two teams yet to reach a Grand Final in the WAFLW competition, but the Tigers took a step closer towards making that possible in 2021 after their performance on Saturday on home turf at Revo Fitness Stadium.

The Tigers started the game on fire kicking the only three goals of the opening quarter. They added two more goals in the second term and that saw Claremont head into the half-time break leading South Fremantle by 30 points.

Claremont kicked another two goals in the third quarter and then another in the last to hold South Fremantle goalless and end up winning 8.4 (52) to 0.5 (5).

Tessa Doumanis and Ella Smith kicked two goals each for Claremont with Andie Payne, Amber Goodwin-Wissink, Sarah Garstone and Kate Orme all kicking a goal each.

Ella Smith, Jacinta Valentini, Rachel Ortlepp, Kate Orme and Tessa Doumanis were all among the most impressive performers in the win for the Tigers.

South Fremantle might have not managed to kick a goal for the game but Lara Rodin-Zimdahl had her chances finishing with three behinds.

Kiara Templeman, Sheridan Kowald, Tahlia Holtze, Pia Durk and Lara Rodin-Zimdahl all were among the best performers in the loss for South Fremantle.
 

PEEL THUNDER 6.6 (42) defeated SUBIACO 3.4 (22)

Peel Thunder and Subiaco did battle in last year's WAFLW Grand Final so there's always a little bit of extra feeling in contests the following season, and it was Peel who proved too strong once again.

Subiaco had been the minor premiers for the second straight season in 2020 and the Lions were able to get into the Grand Final, but Peel just wouldn’t be denied on their way to the premiership triumph.

Now Peel has been able to keep that momentum going into the new season and that continued on Saturday evening at Mandurah's David Grays Arena with the Thunder winning to maintain second position on the ladder.

Peel ended up beating Subiaco 6.6 (42) to 3.4 (22) on home soil to improve to a 5-2 record on the season and to remain percentage clear in second spot on the ladder while the Lions slipped to 2-5.

But they are still just percentage outside the top four so they are still in the mix for another WAFLW finals appearance.

The game was played under lights in Mandurah and Peel made an impressive start kicking the only two goals of the first quarter. Subiaco got a goal back in the second term but Peel still was on top by seven points at half-time.

The game was right on the line by three quarter-time with the Lions kicking two goals in the third quarter to just one from the Thunder meaning Peel was only on top by a solitary point heading into the fourth stanza.

But Peel was impressive to close out the game kicking three goals to nil in the final quarter to end up winning by 20 points and hold on to second position on the WAFLW ladder.

Kira Phillips was a dominant target in attack for Peel and the spearhead earned six shots on goal and converted to kick three of them. Kate Bartlett also kicked two goals for the Thunder and Nel Baxter one.

Nel Baxter, Krystal Carter, Cassie Davidson, Kira Phillips and Chloe Wrigley were all tremendous on the evening for the Thunder.

Kia Buckley kicked two goals for Subiaco and Tarnee Tester one.

Caitlin Walker, Jayme Harken, Ashtyn Cowie, Jessica Ritchie and Abbey Dowrick battled hard for the Lions.
 

EAST FREMANTLE 2.2 (14) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 7.9 (51)

East Fremantle and Swan Districts did battle in the first ever WAFLW Grand Final, but Swans continue to be the standout team of 2021 after another impressive win on Sunday.

The Sharks and Swans were long standout female football programs in WA football and on the back of that, they reached the first ever WAFLW Grand Final back in 2019 with East Fremantle ending up claiming that historic first ever premiership.

The two teams then locked horns once again last year in the first semi-final with Swan Districts earning a measure of revenge to knock out East Fremantle and advance to the preliminary final, but Swans have been the dominant team so far of 2021.

The week off didn’t halt the momentum Swan Districts had been building and they kept their undefeated run to start the season going with the 7.9 (51) to 2.2 (14) win over East Fremantle on Sunday at New Choice Homes Park.

It was East Fremantle who started the better on Sunday, though, with the only goal of the first quarter on their home ground. Swan Districts responded with the only goal of the second quarter and that saw them lead by a solitary point at half-time.

Swan Districts was then able to hold East Fremantle scoreless in the second quarter while kicking two goals themselves and extending their advantage to 17 points by three quarter-time.

Swans then pulled away even further with four goals to one in the final term to come away winning by 37 points to keep their undefeated run in 2021 going.

Shannan Rene and Fiona Boucher kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with Abbygail Bushby, Hope Ugle-Hayward and Taylah Edwards kicking a goal apiece.

Among the better players for Swans were Jessica Cox, Stephanie Graskoski, Danielle Wright, Shannan Rene and Lauren Osborne.

East Fremantle's goals came courtesy of Georgie Cleaver and Sara Lewis.

The best for the Sharks included Sharon Wong, Samara Pluschke, Laura McClelland, Madeline Ross and Nadya Browne.