Swans open WAFLW account with win over Tigers

THE second round of inaugural Optus WAFL Women's Premiership Season took place on Sunday afternoon with Swan Districts recording its first victory defeating Claremont at Steel Blue Oval.

The inaugural season of the WAFLW got underway the previous Sunday with East Fremantle defeating Peel Thunder, and Subiaco getting the better of Swan Districts.

It was then Round 2 of the debut season on Sunday afternoon and the action got underway at Leederville Oval with Subiaco beating East Fremantle 7.4 (46) to 5.5 (35).

The second match of the round took place at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and that saw Swan Districts defeat Claremont 9.9 (63) to 4.3 (27).

The results mean that after two rounds of the 2019 WAFLW season, Subiaco is out on top of the table with a perfect 2-0 record after winning their opening two matches.

East Fremantle and Swan Districts are both 1-1 having played the first two rounds as well while Claremont and Peel Thunder have lost their only appearances.

Round 3 sees the two WAFLW matches take place this Sunday afternoon, both bouncing down at 2pm, with East Fremantle playing Swan Districts at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park, and Claremont hosting Peel Thunder at Claremont Oval.

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Swan Districts was back home for its second straight week to open the WAFLW season and on Sunday it was Claremont making its first appearance in the new competition at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

Swan Districts had started the new WAFLW competition with a loss to Subiaco the previous Sunday but having been one of the powerhouses throughout the WA Women's Football League, the black-and-whites hit back with an impressive showing on Sunday.

The Round 2 WAFLW action took place at Steel Blue Oval and Swan Districts came away with the 9.9 (63) to 4.3 (27) victory against Claremont on home soil.

On the back of the loss to Subiaco the previous Sunday, Swans opened the game impressively this Sunday back in front of their home fans.

Swan Districts held Claremont scoreless in the opening quarter while having five shots themselves for two goals to lead by 15 points by quarter-time.

Claremont fired back strongly in the second quarter and kicked four goals to two from Swan Districts to cut the half-time advantage of the Black Ducks to just the two points.

Swans once again were able to keep the Tigers scoreless in the third quarter while kicking three goals five behinds themselves. That saw the home team lead by 25 points heading into the final term.

Claremont only managed the two behinds in the last quarter and Swan Districts kicked another two goals to end up winning by the game by 36 points to open their account for the WAFLW season in emphatic fashion.

Mikayla Hyde and Emily McGuire kicked two goals each for the victorious Swan Districts with Ashley Sharp, Taylor Pescud, Aimee Ralph, Caitlin Hill and Bronwyn Hansen all kicking one goal apiece.

Aimee Ralph, Emma O'Driscoll, Taylor Pescud, Lauren Osborne and Mikayla Hyde were all among the best players for Swans in the victory.

Claremont's goals came courtesy of Zoe Timmers, Ashlee Hardisty, Allana Dickie and Amy Szeliga.

Bella Zadnik and Sophie McDonald were particularly impressive for Claremont.

It was a full day of action at Steel Blue Oval with the female football action as well starting with the Rogers Cup Youth Girls contest with South Fremantle. That saw the Bulldogs narrowly defeat Swan Districts 5.5 (35) to 5.1 (31).

And then in the reserves clash, it was another victory for South Fremantle who were able to defeat Swan Districts 8.10 (58) to 2.1 (13). But put into perspective, that is South Fremantle's league team against the reserves of Swans.

OPTUS WAFLW ROUND 2

SWAN DISTRICTS        2.3    4.3    7.8    9.9    (63)
CLAREMONT            0.0    4.1    4.1    4.3    (27)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Hyde, McGuire 2; Sharp, Pescud, Ralph, Hill, Hansen.
Best: Ralph, O'Driscoll, Pescud, Osborne, Hyde.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Timmers, Hardisty, Dickie, Szeliga.
Best: Zadnik, McDonald.