WEEKLY REVIEW | WAFLW ROUND 4

WAFLW

Round 4 saw the WAFLW on the road for the third week in a row to Joondalup to take on the ever-improving West Perth.  With a top 4 spot on the line the rewards were huge. Unfortunately Jade Briggs wasn’t able to get up for the game, Chloe Wrigley was unavailable and Jaide Britton was recalled back to West Coast for AFLW duties which allowed opportunities to develop the new generation coming through.  

West Perth kicked with the breeze and asserted their dominance early with 3 first quarter goals and kept us to only 1 forward entry.  Whilst the endeavour was there our execution let us down and West Perth capitalised taking a handy lead into quarter time 3-4 to 0

With a reset needed at the break, and a focus on moving the ball quicker, we started the quarter a lot stronger.  Inside the open minute Ebonee Hardie took a strong mark and goaled.  Unfortunately that was our only goal for the half whilst West Perth managed one of their own against the wind, taking a lead into half time 4.5 – 1.0

The third quarter continued to see West Perth limit our forward entries and control the football.  However our defence stood strong and only conceded one goal for the quarter 5.7-1.0

At the last break a shuffle of the magnets was on the agenda to find fresh legs and win more contested ball.  With Greta McKinley going inside to give us some drive forward,  and Chelsea Hutchinson moving from defence to the forward line took some strong contested marks help set up our second goal of the game thanks to a Kira Phillips soccer. West Perth were far too strong over the whole day and showed we have a lot of work to do running out 37 point winners.

While we are very disappointed with the result and our performance, there are still positives to take from the game with the development to our younger players.

PT 2.0 12 

WP 7.7 49  

Best Players Ebony Bilcich, Greta McKinley, Kaitlyn Shroj, Ebony Dowson and Krystal Carter

Goals Ebonee Hardie and Kira Phillips

ROGERS

Our Rogers girls played with great energy and system this week, finishing only 8 points adrift of the top of the ladder West Perth.  Despite injuries to Ava Cristodero, Esther Amory, Billie-Jae Thompson and Shareckah Jones the girls battled well through injury depletions with just two fit players left on the bench.  A measure of this mental strength materialising to effort is that we outscored the opposition in the second half. 

Another feature of the team that pleases me is the number of players that are using their non preferred side when required.  Initially this has seen scrappy kicks at least go forward, but now we are starting to hit targets and the work at training is paying off.  Play of the day started 10 seconds short of the half time siren with a centre bounce.  Charli Stewart won the tap and followed up with the rove as well, forced onto her left (non pref) she kicked to LHF where Alyssa Pearson won the contest and kicked it forward to Jonesy, who snapped a goal on her left (Non pref) from deep in the pocket, as the siren sounded.  Mayhem ensued.   

The development is coming and the signs are good, we just need some players back from injury and the wins are just around the corner.   

PT 3.4 22

WP 4.6 30 

Best Players Tessa Kongras, Emily Davenport, Dylza Geonzon, Mckayla Peck, Abbey Westra

Goal scorers Shareckah Jones, Mia Van Kleef, Lucy Kane

This weekend the WAFLW competition has a general bye for the WA State 18’s vs WAFLW ALL stars game. Good luck to our players playing in the game, for the 18’s Kaitlyn Shroj, Dakota Sexton, Kate Newson and Holly Britton and All Stars we are represented by Tanisha Anderson and Ebonee Hardie.  Congratulations also to Travis Jones who will be an All Stars assistant coach.

A huge congratulations to Chloe Wrigley who was drafted to Carlton last night, all her hard work over a number of years has finally paid off.

Our Rogers Cup team will be heading to Revo Fitness Stadium on Good Friday to play East Fremantle in a Super Round with 4 back to back Rogers Cup games fixtured on the day.