STOCKWELL STARS IN NARROW DERBY LOSS

THERE was plenty of new faces and a lot to like from South Fremantle to open the WAFLW season on Saturday but the reigning premiers East Fremantle just managed to claim the narrow three-point victory.

In a rematch from last season’s preliminary final in the WAFLW competition, the derby rivals locked horns at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to open the new season on Saturday and it was a tight affair right from the outset.

In the end, East Fremantle kicked the last two goals of the contest to begin their premiership defence with the 4.4 (28) to 3.7 (25) victory.

The inaugural Vecchio-Smith Medal for best on ground in WAFLW derbies was awarded after the game and it went the way of South Fremantle young gun Poppy Stockwell. She finished the game with a goal to go with 19 possessions, four marks, three inside-50 entries and two tackles.

Noa McNaughton kicked the other two goals of the game for the Bulldogs to go with her five kicks, five handpasses and six tackles.

The fairest and best winner from 2022 for South Fremantle, Liusaidh Gilchrist, was outstanding as well racking up 25 possessions to go with seven inside-50 entries while Renee Morgan started the new season in exciting fashion with 19 touches and nine tackles.

Molly O’Hehir also finished with 19 touches and seven tackles with captain Lauren Vecchio picking up 17 disposals, Ella Matthews 13, Caitlin Pears 12, Pippa Sideris 10 and Charlotte Vandenberg eight to go with 16 hit outs and four tackles in the ruck.

South Fremantle made the perfect start to the season-opening derby with the opening goal of the contest thanks to Noa McNaughton at the eight-minute mark of the first quarter.

East Fremantle did respond through Emmelie Fiedler shortly before quarter-time and by the first break it was the Sharks leading by just the one-point.

It was again the Bulldogs who got the better of the start to the second quarter with a second goal of the game to McNaughton, and that put the home team on top by that margin.

The familiar trend continued with the Sharks getting a goal again just before half-time courtesy of Mylee Leitch but this time it was the Bulldogs clinging to the one-point advantage at the long break.

It was Poppy Stockwell’s turn to kick truly to begin the third quarter and to extend the South Fremantle lead to seven points, but once more the Sharks answered just before three quarter-time with a second goal to Leitch to close the Bulldogs lead to just two points.

Chloe Reilly kicked the only goal from either team for East Fremantle midway through the final quarter and that was enough in the end to secure the three-point win for the reigning premiers.

Meanwhile, the action at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday got underway with the Rogers Cup match up which saw East Fremantle defeat South Fremantle 9.6 (60) to 1.2 (8).

South Fremantle’s goal was kicked by Nicole Taylor-Thorpe in the opening quarter.

South Fremantle will remain at home at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in Round 2 of the WAFLW season taking on Claremont.

The WAFLW match begins at 2pm while the Rogers Cup team will host Perth on the Friday night from 6pm.

WAFLW PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

SOUTH FREMANTLE                        1.1          2.4          3.6          3.7          (25)

EAST FREMANTLE                            1.2          2.3          3.4          4.4          (28)

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: McNaughton 2; Stockwell.

Best: Stockwell, Gilchrist, McNaughton, O’Hehir, Morgan, Vecchio, Vandenberg.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Leitch 2; Reilly, Fiedler.

Best: Wrigley, Gubbins, Fish, Gomes, Kinnane, Catherine, Obal, Wielstra.