WAFLW Round 3 RecapMonday, March 18, 2024 - 1:28 PM - by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle opened its account with a win on Saturday to open Round 3 of the WAFLW season while Claremont won the grand final rematch and there were strong victories for West Perth and Swan Districts.

Round 3 of the 2024 WAFLW season got underway on Saturday at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium featuring two teams looking for a first win of the campaign.

It was South Fremantle who ended up prevailing 10.11 (71) to 0.4 (4) against Peel Thunder with the Bulldogs hitting back after the first two losses to Claremont and East Fremantle.

Noa McNaughton, Poppy Stockwell and Pippa Sideris all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle with Liusaidh Gilchrist racking up 25 possessions, Renee Morgan 22, Molly O'Hehir 22, Alyssa Smogavec 21 and Ariana Hetherington 19.

Peel didn't manage a goal but Ebony Dowson finished with 25 disposals, Ebony Bilcich 23 and Evie Cowcher 21.

Swan Districts made it back-to-back wins as well at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday but there were encouraging signs from East Perth in the 7.4 (46) to 3.9 (27) result.

Courtney Zappara kicked another two goals in the win for Swan Districts with Lily Paterson gathering 21 possessions, Cary D'Addario 19, Kayley King 17 and Isabella Edgley 17 while Hope Ugle-Hayward laid 10 tackles.

East Perth's goals were kicked by Chloe Sauzier, Hannah Challender and Matilda Bennett who also had 22 hit outs with Layla Firns amassing 14 touches, Jessica Rentsch 14, Jess Verbrugge 12 and Kayley Kavanagh 12.

Also on Sunday, West Perth maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a 4.10 (34) to 1.7 (13) victory against Subiaco at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium.

West Perth's goals were kicked by Mia Russo, Erin O'Brien, Ritha Dunn and Kenleigh Duve while Taylor Ferguson racked up 30 possessions, Megan Kauffman, Imahra Cameron 25, Emily Bennett 21 and Tarni Golisano 19 against he team she was formerly captain of.

Subiaco's goal was kicked by Charlotte Newland with Madison Dodd collecting 22 disposals, Krstel Petrevski 22, Beatrice Devlyn 21 and debutant Verity Simmons 10.

Claremont and East Fremantle have met in the last two WAFLW grand finals with a win apiece, and they clashed for the first time in 2024 on Sunday with the Tigers beating the Sharks 7.3 (45) to 1.5 (11) at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Bec Anderson kicked two goals for Claremont with Jayme Harken picking up 32 disposals, Emily Bonser 21, Claire Ortlepp 19, Laura Cinnani 19 and Jacinta Valentini 18.

East Fremantle's lone goal came courtesy of Chloe Reilly with Zippy Fish amassing 24 touches, Chloe Wrigley 22 and Ashleigh Gomes 18.

Meanwhile, Round 3 of the Rogers Cup season got underway on Saturday night with South Fremantle beating Peel Thunder 7.6 (48) to 5.7 (37) at Lane Group Stadium.

The other three matches took place on Sunday with Swan Districts beating East Perth 3.8 (26) to 2.5 (17), West Perth defeating Subiaco 6.11 (47) to 3.2 (20) and East Fremantle downing Claremont 9.8 (62) to 2.9 (21).

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 3

PEEL THUNDER 0.4 (4) lost to SOUTH FREMANTLE 10.11 (71)

SWAN DISTRICTS 7.4 (46) defeated EAST PERTH 3.9 (27)

WEST PERTH 4.10 (34) defeated SUBIACO 1.7 (13)

CLAREMONT 7.3 (45) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 1.5 (11)