It was a challenging start to the WAFLW season for East Fremantle, going down to South Fremantle 0.4 (4) to 7.11 (53).

Despite the result, there were several strong individual performances and promising signs for the group moving forward.

Amber Kinnane was outstanding through the midfield, finishing with 20 disposals and 5 tackles in a tireless performance. New captain Tiani Teakle led from the front in defence, collecting 17 disposals and 4 marks in a composed and commanding display.

Noa McNaughton and Jae Flynn also worked hard all day, each finishing with 16 disposals and providing important drive and consistency around the ground.

The match also marked a significant milestone for six debutants, with Avuya Nomlatyu, Abbey Partridge, Meg McAullay, Zoe Kelely, Breanna Wills and Storm Johnson all representing the Club at WAFLW level for the first time. Each showed positive signs and will benefit from the experience as the season progresses.

While the result didn’t fall our way, the foundation is there, with a mix of emerging talent and strong leadership to build on in the weeks ahead.

East Fremantle’s Rogers Cup side produced an outstanding second-half comeback to defeat South Fremantle by 13 points, 7.8 (50) to 5.7 (37), in a performance full of resilience and composure.

After trailing at half-time, the Sharks lifted their intensity around the contest and began to take control of territory. A four-goal second half, including a dominant final quarter (3.4 to 1.1), showcased the group’s maturity and ability to respond under pressure.

It was a particularly special day for the Club, with three debutants pulling on the royal blue and white for the first time — Bella Godecke, Stella Hasleby and Phoebe Lindsay — all of whom made strong contributions and looked right at home at the level.

Samara Frost led the way on the scoreboard with three goals, while the Sharks’ best contributors included Chelsea Natta, Brooke Peachey, Stella Hasleby, Laila O’Connor and Olivia Keady.

The win is a fantastic way to open the season and highlights the depth, belief and emerging talent within the Rogers Cup program.

With Round 1 now behind us, the focus quickly shifts to next weekend as we take on Peel Thunder. The Rogers Cup side will be full of confidence following their impressive come-from-behind win and will be looking to carry that momentum into another strong performance. Meanwhile, the WAFLW group will be eager to respond, taking valuable learnings from their opening game as they aim to bounce back and put together a more complete four-quarter effort.