10 players to watch as ATCO WAFLW finals kick off

With ATCO WAFLW finals kicking off this week, we take a look at some of the most important names who are set to have a big impact on their team’s premiership hopes.

Jaime Henry (Swan Districts)

The Swan Districts ball magnet has been the best and most consistent player this season as she continues to put her name in lights for higher opportunities.

The hard-working Henry’s improvement has been a major reason behind the minor premiers’ success, with the 20-year-old averaging a competition-high 34 disposals and nine tackles per game on the back of taking her fitness to another level.

She’s already the raging favourite to win the Dhara Kerr Medal, can Henry cap off a career-best season with a premiership medal?

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Jayme Harken (Claremont)

When it comes to big-game players in the WAFLW, it doesn’t get any better than Jayme Harken.

The prolific Claremont midfielder has won a pair of Lou Knitter Medals as the best player on grand final day and has the ability to step up when her team needs it.

Ash Sharp (Swan Districts)

What a comeback story it’s been for the former Fremantle forward.

Ash Sharp hasn’t missed a beat in her first WAFLW campaign since 2022 after taking a break from footy for the birth of her three children.

Sharp recently won the Joanne Huggins Award as the competition’s leading goal-kicker during the home-and-away season after booting 36.14 in 16 appearances.

She’s only been held goalless twice so far this season and looms as a handful for opposition defenders during the finals series.

Mackenzie Webb (East Fremantle)

The dual Claremont premiership defender has enjoyed a frest start at The Good Grocer Park and is a strong chance to win the Sharks’ fairest-and-best award in her debut season at the club.

The 22-year-old has been such a consistent contributor in the back half and looms as a key to East Fremantle’s flag hopes.

Hayley Bullas (Claremont)

The Bull is back in a big way heading into finals.

The former West Coast and Sydney AFLW star made her long-awaited return to footy midway through the season and has been building nicely ever since.

She was named WAFLW Player of the Round in the last week of the home-and-away season after amassing 34 disposals, 14 tackles and two goals in the easy win over South Fremantle.

Bullas’ experience will be vital for a Tigers outfit looking for a hat-trick of flags, especially with Matilda Sergeant injured and Juliet Kelly drafted to Adelaide.

Tahleah Mulder (South Fremantle)

The reigning South Fremantle fairest-and-best winner will need to be at her brilliant best of the Bulldogs are to go deep into finals.

Mulder looms at Souths’ most important player after fellow stars Natasha Entwistle and Madi Evans were picked up by AFLW clubs West Coast and Brisbane in recent weeks.

The 24-year-old knows how to find the footy and is strong defensively, averaging 21 disposals and eight tackles per game.

Bec Anderson (Claremont)

Anderson has impressed as the main focal point for the Tigers in 2026.

Still only 20 years old, Anderson is thriving up forward with 27 goals in 16 appearances including multiple majors in 10 of those games.

Only Ash Sharp has kicked more goals than Anderson this season in a sign of just how important she is to Claremont’s finals campaign.

Jae Flynn (East Fremantle)

Flynn is one of the more experienced heads at East Fremantle and has been in excellent form this season as a running defender.

Is a bit of an all-rounder down back who can provide rebound from half-back or shut down an opponent.

She’s saved her best for a couple of other top-four outfits this season with had 26 and 13 tackles against Claremont in Round 13 and 22 and 10 tackles against Swan Districts in Round 14.

Ash Gomes (South Fremantle)

The former East Fremantle premiership captain adds so much experience to the South Fremantle line-up after moving to Fremantle Community Bank Oval during the off-season.

Gomes will no doubt have a point to prove coming up against her old team in Sunday’s do-or-die First Semi-Final clash at The Good Grocer Park.

Chloe Reilly (Swan Districts)

Another player who has switched teams ahead of this season, Chloe Reilly has been a valuable addition for the Black Ducks.

The former East Fremantle forward, who was a two-time leading goal-kicker at the club, has reinvented herself up the ground for Swan Districts and been a consistent contributor.

Reilly is averaging a career-high 15 disposals per game this season and is still managing to hit the scoreboard regularly with 11 majors in 16 games.