This weekend in the WAFLW, fans were treated to two thrilling matches with a combined margin of two points. Claremont have advanced to the grand final, while East Fremantle’s hopes of joining them for a fourth time have been ended. 

Here is all the action from week one of finals. 

CLAREMONT 4.5 (29) def. SUBIACO 4.4 (28)

Claremont have booked their fourth straight appearance in the WAFLW after triumphing in extra time over Subiaco at Revo Fitness Stadium. 

The result was much closer than Round 18’s clash, where Claremont steamrolled Subiaco, with the visitors finding their feet again. Despite that blunder, Sunday’s clash showed just how even the battle between the top two has been all season, with both sides sitting a class above the rest. 

Much like their battle for the minor premiership, the lead see-sawed between the two sides all game. Subiaco had their chances, taking the lead into the main and three-quarter time breaks, and having eight more inside 50s than Claremont. 

But beating Claremont was always going to be a tough ask, given they’ve played in every grand final since Subiaco last played in a final in 2021. 

Megan Green delivered the knockout blow, kicking the behind that saw Claremont book their ticket to the big dance four minutes into extra time. Along with her handy point, she also kicked two goals, while Jacinta Valentini and Bec Anderson kicked the other two. 

Claremont young gun Juliet Kelly (24 disposals, 15 tackles) delivered a performance that would put her firmly on AFLW recruiters’ radars, while Matilda Sergeant (23 disposals, 14 tackles) also provided some much-needed grunt through the middle against Subiaco’s stacked engine room.

Down back, Abby Maynard (24 disposals, 4 marks) held her nerve and delivered an outstanding, career-best performance in one of the most high-pressure games of the season.

Subiaco’s Krstel Petrevski (24 disposals, 10 tackles) put up a solid performance, as did Hayley Corlett (20 disposals, 7 tackles) and Paige Sheppard (20 disposals, 6 tackles), who fought hard in the middle all day. 

Meanwhile, Olivia Wolmaran (14 disposals, 2 goals) and Olivia Crane’s (19 disposals, 9 marks) draft stocks continue to climb, with both prospects playing impressive games. 

Tess Lyons also played well in the ruck, finishing with 38 hitouts, while Aimee Schmidt and Sian Bosich kicked one goal each. 

Subiaco will host Swan Districts at Sullivan Logistics Stadium this Sunday, as both sides scrap it out for the final place in the Grand Final. 

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.4 (16) def. EAST FREMANTLE 2.3 (15)

Swan Districts have kept their season alive after a gritty two-goal final-quarter blitz saw them take out a one-point win against East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval.  

This semi-final promised a mouthwatering match-up on paper, and for much of the match, it delivered, although the scoreboard didn’t show it. It was looking grim for the home side at one point, as last year’s grand finalists defended well to keep them goalless for three quarters. 

But they didn’t get the reward for their efforts and have since been eliminated – their hopes of making a fourth straight final dashed in a quarter. 

The Black Ducks dug deep and overcame the 12-point deficit, their season living to fight another weekend courtesy of goals from Kayley King and Adi Griffiths. Down the other end, the Swans’ defence kept the Sharks’ forwards at bay, holding them scoreless in the final term. 

Jaime Henry (34 disposals, 8 tackles) did what she does best and racked up plenty of the ball, as did AFLW draft hopeful Carys D’Addario (26 disposals, 4 inside 50s), who gave an eye-catching performance in the middle too.

Naomi Baker (18 disposals, 7 tackles) and Emma Humphries (17 disposals, 2 inside 50s) also played exceptional games, as did Megan Carron (10 tackles, 9 disposals), who brought the defensive pressure. 

Although East Fremantle had 69 fewer disposals, they still used the ball cleanly and efficiently, with captain Ashleigh Gomes (16 disposals, 8 tackles) and Noa McNaughton (16 disposals, 5 tackles) their equal-top disposals getters.

You also cannot question the grit from Natasha Entwistle (17 tackles, 9 disposals), who applied plenty of pressure on Swan Districts’ ball carriers, while ruck Brooke Repacholi (34 hitouts, 13 disposals) also played a solid game. 

Down back, Madison Evans (11 disposals, 3 tackles), Jae Flynn (11 disposals, 3 marks) and Maya Louvel-Finn (12 disposals, 6 tackles), who masterfully contained Swan Districts’ threatening forward line, including league-leading goalkicker Taylah Edwards. 

The Sharks’ two goal scorers were Leanne Gubbins and Angelique Raison.

IMAGE: Jack Foley Photography