WAFLW Team of the Week – Round 3Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - 12:35 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE were plenty of big time performances across Round 3 of the WAFLW competition that saw victories for Subiaco, Swan Districts and East Fremantle.

The round's action got underway at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Friday night with Subiaco claiming a hard earned 5.6 (36) to 2.5 (17) victory against South Fremantle.

The other two Round 3 match ups took place on Sunday afternoon beginning with Swan Districts opening its account for 2022, defeating the league's newcomers West Perth 15.8 (98) to 1.3 (9).

Then lastly, it was a terrific contest between two teams who had yet to lose so far in 2022 at Revo Fitness Stadium, and it was East Fremantle who prevailed against Claremont 4.4 (28) to 4.2 (26).

Those results mean that despite suffering their first loss of the season, Claremont remains on top of the WAFLW ladder thanks to their superior parentage and 2-1 record.

Peel Thunder and East Fremantle are both 2-0 with the Thunder just ahead of the Sharks courtesy of percentage. South Fremantle (1-2) is in fourth position ahead of Swan Districts (1-2), Subiaco (1-2) and West Perth (1-2).

WAFLW TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 3
BACK: Alex Williams (EF), Casey Byrne (SF)
HALF-BACK: Liana Burchell (S), Claire Ortlepp (C), Madison Dodd (S)
CENTRE: Tara Stribley (SD), Sharon Wong (EF), Tarni Golisano (S)
HALF-FORWARD: Mylee Leitch (EF), Kellie Gibson (EF), Ella Smith (C)
FORWARD: Bethany Bond (SD), Ashley Sharp (SD)
RUCK: Adele Arnup (C), Jess Cox (SD), Tahlia Holtze (SF)
INTERCHANGE: Lauren Wakfer (SF), Beth Beckett (EF), Lauren Gauci (SF), Hanna Dethlefsen (S), Sasha Goranova (C)

Each week of the WAFLW season during 2022, we will be selecting a Team of the Week as well, and here's how the side for Round 3 came together.

The round got underway on Friday night under lights at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and from the hard earned win for Subiaco, Liana Burchell and Madison Dodd both impressed down back.

They earned spots at half-back in the Team of the Week as a result of their performances with Burchell finishing with 19 possessions, three marks and three inside-50 entries, and Dodd 18 disposals and five tackles.

Tarni Golisano also earned herself a spot on the wing after racking up 23 possessions, six tackles, eight inside-50 entries and four marks while Hanna Dethlefsen got a spot on the interchange after her 12 touches, three marks and a goal.

From that same game, South Fremantle's Casey Byrne was again named in the back-line of the Team of the Week after her game made up of 17 possessions.

Tahlia Holtze continued her brilliant form to start the season for the Bulldogs too with another 18 disposals, seven tackles and five inside 50s to earn a spot on the ball.

Lauren Wakfer had another impressive game in the ruck with 15 possessions, 20 hit outs, five marks, five tackles and three inside-50 entries to earn a place on the interchange along with South Fremantle teammate Lauren Gauci, who had 17 touches, five marks and four tackles.

Then from Sunday's games, Swan Districts had an 89-point win against West Perth and from that side, Tara Stribley produced 17 possessions, five marks and two goals to be named on the wing in the Team of the Week.

The Swan Districts forward-line had a big afternoon and that's why Ashley Sharp and Bethany Bodd both made the Team of the Week. Sharp celebrated her 100th game for Swans with three goals from 12 possessions and four marks while Bond also kicked three goals from nine kicks.

Swan Districts captain Jess Cox was also superb and earned a spot on the ball for her 27 possessions, six marks and four inside 50s as she skippered Swans to a win for the first time.

Perhaps the game of the season so far then took place at Revo Fitness Stadium and in East Fremantle's win over Claremont, there were a host of standout performers for the Sharks.

For the second straight week Alex Williams earned herself a spot in the back-line for her supremely impressive work defensively.

Sharon Wong was named in the centre after she finished with 16 possessions and 12 tackles with Mylee Leitch and Kellie Gibson both included in the forward-line. Leitch kicked two goals from 11 disposals while Gibson had 15 touches, six marks, six tackles and a goal.

Beth Beckett also earned a spot on the interchange after finishing with 14 possessions and eight tackles for the Sharks.

Meanwhile for Claremont, Claire Ortlepp was tremendous to be named at centre half-back after her performance made up of 21 touches, five marks and three tackles.

Ella Smith was named at half-forward on the back of her 12 disposals and two goals while Adele Arnup was superb in the ruck with 13 touches, 20 hit outs and four tackles.

Sasha Goranova earned a spot on the bench as well after 17 possessions and four tackles.

Round 4 in the WAFLW competition for 2022 begins on Saturday evening at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium with a battle of the undefeated sides with Peel Thunder hosting East Fremantle.

Then on Sunday, West Perth plays its first ever home match in the WAFLW competition against Claremont at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval before Swan Districts faces Subiaco at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.