WAFLW R12 MATCH REPORT

Saturday’s weather well and truly suggested that the ‘Thunder were well and truly driving up the freeway to face the Falcons at HIF Health Insurance Oval.

Our HART Sports Rogers Cup side faced a valiant Peel Thunder outfit who’s first Quarter really put our youthies’ on the back-seat with relentless pressure and repeat entries putting our determined backline unit in the firing line. Olivia Ferguson, returning off an ankle injury after her WAFLW debut was fantastic with her intercepts and D50 exit kicks, ably supported by young-gun Indie Scott and exponential-improver Charli Clarke, in her first year of Rogers Cup.

After Peel led at the first change, the Falcons clicked into gear and adjusted to the conditions really well. The tide turned significantly after a fantastic goal off the boot of Arybella Nelson in an Akermanis-like snap from the pocket.

Hayley Mann was at her absolute best, showcasing her elite leg speed both inside and on the outside – She was judged best afield in a game where the Falcons ran away winners.

Rogers Cup: West Perth 7.15 (57) def Peel Thunder 1.5 (11)

The WAFLW League side followed at 3:40pm in what was touted as a physical contest where Peels experience would be up against our excitable youth.

It was young gun Hayley Bidefeld, the 2024 Rogers Cup Competition Fairest & Best, who set the tone early with impressive line-breaking speed out of the midfield where no one was catching.

It was also developing young-gun tall forward, Leuca Krmpotic who was all the talk with a miraculous drop-punt goals on the run from deep in the left pocket – Sailing through for a hugely celebrated goal.

The Falcons continued to shift the ball between the arcs, forcing the Thunder to defend uncomfortably – And ultimately, the weight of forward entries proved too much.

The Falcons were inaccurate which left a lot begging from a scoreboard perspective.

Carn the falcons!

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 12

WEST PERTH                                      0.4         2.6         3.9        5.10         (40)

PEEL THUNDER                                0.0         1.0          1.1         1.1        (7)

WEST PERTH – Goals: 2 – L Krmpotic, L Van Den Heever 1 – T Ferguson,

Best:L Grassenis, L Van Den Heever, M Robis, E Jackson, M Dodd

PEEL THUNDER – Goals: 1 – L Kane,

Best:G Evans, C Davidson, K Carter, H Bilcich, T Collard