WAFLW League Round 3

Our WAFLW League team took on South Fremantle who sit 2nd with a win and a draw, while our Falcons keen to continue to show the development in oppressive conditions with low 30’s temp at bounce down.

South Fremantle were on the board with an unfortunate West Perth error in the goal square allow the Bulldogs to kick off the ground from right on the line.

It was hot weather and an equally hot start, the Bulldogs were first to ball, had plenty of run and were getting free space early and a good lead and mark resulted in their second goal.

Grace Betti laid a couple of good tackles and Kayla van den Heever was working into the game as West Perth was slowly turning the momentum back in their favour. Halfway through the quarter by lifting pressure around ball, although another good mark and goal had South Fremantle out to a three goal lead.

Had it not been for the hard work of Brooke Hongell, Erin O’Brien, Natasha Spurr and Jess Roper all playing a lot tighter and able to rebound out, the margin could have been worse than the 20 point differential.

West Perth really got to working and were able to even the contest and shared the territory battle. The Falcons were increasing supply into their forward 50, just needed to get it deeper.

15min in and the reward finally came when Tia Bergin passed it to Elissa Price who goaled.

Much better quarter in terms of time in possession and territory just unable to make it count on the scoreboard.

South Fremantle were able to goal in the first minute of the third and with first ruck Cameron Dawson not returning after half time with a lower leg concern, it was going to be tougher.

This is the 2023 version Falcons and they have a lot of resilience and were showing plenty, a great passage of play from deep in defence that saw Grace Betti receive and goal  and when Elissa Price now playing ruck was able to tap to Tia Bergin who goaled, West Perth had clawed their way back into the match.

Defence across half back was really good, which turned into attack and put real pressure on South Fremantle backs and with the 2 goals were 14 points down at 3rd Quarter time.

Ebony Jackson was holding firm and using her speed across half back all afternoon. Seeing Bianca Webb finding the footy was also a good sight.

It took South Fremantle 10 minutes before they could kick the goal that p got them a safe distance ahead and not long after followed with a second and even though the Falcons worked hard to get back ascendency time and energy ran out.

While it was 19 scoring shots to 6 the shots by South Fremantle were always impacted by the pressure the backs were continually applying.

The final result of 6.13 (49) to 3.3 (21), while not the desired outcome is further evidence that things are starting to gel and build with our WAFLW players.