Swan Districts have booked their ticket to the WAFLW grand final after a thrilling 2-point upset win over Subiaco during Sunday’s Preliminary Final at Sullivan Logistics Stadium. 

This marks Swan Districts’ third grand final in club history and will be looking to take home a maiden flag against the reigning premiers this weekend at Mineral Resources Park.

All three WAFLW finals played to date have had a combined final margin of four points – demonstrating the tight nature and desperation across the competition. 

The visitors got away to a blistering start on the newly resurfaced Leederville Oval, taking a 25-point advantage into the first break and leaving Subiaco stunned and on the back foot. 

But the Lionesses weren’t shaken off so easily, staging a brave comeback after the first break to outscore the Black Ducks 37-14 in the final three quarters. 

With minutes left, the final margin was whittled down to single digits, but an important late goal from Summer Adjuk (13 disposals, 4 tackles) broke Subiaco’s hearts and sent Swan Districts into the Grand Final. 

AFLW Draft hopeful Carys D’Addario was the only player to get above 20 disposals, finishing on 26 and seven tackles, while also drawing first blood in kicking the opening goal. 

From there, the Swans’ dangerous forward line continued to take their opportunities, while Subiaco were left without reward despite their best efforts to lock the ball inside 50.

Kayley King booted one not long after, then Emily McGuire showed her class, rounding out the quarter with two goals of her own. 

For Swan Districts, Naomi Baker (18 disposals, 7 tackles) also impressed, while Jamie Henry (15 disposals, 9 tackles) still had a profound impact in the middle, despite having fewer disposals than usual.

Isabella Edgley also worked hard in defence to shut down Subiaco’s scoring efforts, taking five marks and finishing on 14 disposals and four tackles.

Not long after the first break, Layla Quinn-Schofield broke the drought, which opened the floodgates and led to her side kicking six of the next eight goals. 

The WA representative was enormous for Subiaco, accumulating 16 disposals, four tackles and three inside 50s, but she unfortunately copped a heavy sling tackle late in the final quarter. 

A trio of former AFLW Eagles were also among Subiaco’s best afield. Krstel Petrevski (19 disposals, 9 tackles) was potent through the middle, 50-gamer Beatrice Devlyn (14 disposals, 8 tackles) was solid down back, and ruck Tess Lyons (31 hitouts, 9 tackles) played well.

After Subiaco kicked their maiden goal, Swan Districts kicked their penultimate goal not long after. Winger Emma Humphries plucked the ball out of the Subiaco defender’s hands to kick her first goal for the season. 

The two sides continued to battle away, but the next goal came the way of Subiaco’s Jorja Schell, who took the ball on the run and sent it goalwards. 

In the third quarter, AFLW Draft fancy Olivia Wolmarans kicked her first of two goals for the day, while Aimee Schmidt got involved on the scoreboard in the final quarter. 

With an eight-point deficit and minutes left, the impossible looked realistic, with all momentum lying with the Lions. But Adjuk’s goal put the nail in the coffin. 

But Subiaco sent their season off, refusing to back down with Wolmarans and Ruby Hobbs wrapping up the day’s scoring in the final minutes of the last quarter. 

GOALS: 

  • Subiaco: O Wolmarans 2, L Quinn-Schofield, J Schell, A Schmidt, R Hobbs
  • Swan Districts: E McGuire 2, C D’Addario, K King, E Humphries, S Adjuk

BEST

  • Subiaco: K Petrevski, L Quinn-Schofield, O Wolmarans, B Devlyn, T Lyons
  • Swan Districts: C D’Addario, N Baker, J Henry, E McGuire, I Edgley

IMAGE: Jack Foley Photography