Harken leads Kia WAFLW side to breakthrough victory over SANFLW

Claremont champion Jayme Harken has added yet another accolade to her ever-growing trophy cabinet, leading the Kia WAFLW State Team to their first win over the SANFL at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

The two-time Dhara Kerr Medal winner and dual Lou Knitter medallist won her first State Game best-on-ground award in her captaincy debut as WA destroyed South Australia by a staggering 92 points.

Harken was the unanimous winner of the medal after getting a maximum nine votes after racking up a game-high 30 disposals to go with eight tackles in the breakthrough 15.9 (99) to 1.1 (7) victory.

She edged out Perth and former Fremantle forward Poppy Stockwell and Subiaco midfield star Krstel Petrevski who were also among the votes.

Stockwell was brilliant up forward with a game-high four goals, while East Perth livewire Lucy Greenwood (three goals), Subiaco pair Courtney Lindgren and Petrevski and Perth skipper Holly Britton (all two goals) also hit the scoreboard.

Swan Districts gun Jaime Henry was also among the best in her long-awaited State debut, amassing 28 disposals in an eye-catching display, with Subiaco’s Lisa Steane, who won the medal in last year’s narrow loss to SA at Adelaide Oval, and her club teammate Paige Sheppard combining for 54 touches.

Perth on-baller Isabella Shannon was another standout performer with 21 disposals, seven marks and a goal.

Western Australia set the tone for their victory with a three-goals-to-none opening term as Harken and Henry got to work, however their accuracy let SA off the hook.

The Black Swans straightened things up in front of the sticks in the second term, kicking another four goals to none to open up a 47-point half-back lead.

The game was well beyond doubt by three-quarter time with WA piling on another seven unanswered majors before South Australia finally kicked their first in the final term.