A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN WAFLW FINALS BERTH

SOUTH Fremantle is about to make history by taking part in the WAFLW finals for the first time and for coach Craig McNaughton, it should be a moment for a lot of people involved at the Bulldogs to take great pride in.

South Fremantle was coming from a long way back when first entered into the WAFLW competition back in the COVID affected season of 2020. 

The second season was equally as challenging, but from McNaughton as coach down to the playing group and everyone involved at the football club and in the women's program, a decision was made to take great steps forward in 2022.

That happened and it was a vastly more competitive South Fremantle team in 2022 and now that growth has continued in 2023 with a second place finish at the end of the home and away season with 10 wins, three losses and a draw ahead of Sunday's second semi-final against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Feelings heading into maiden finals appearance

For a whole host of reasons, the achievement of making finals in the WAFLW competition is something for a lot of people to take pride in.

There is obviously the players who have gone out on the field and performed every week this season, but the coaching staff, support staff, property staff, trainers, managers, parents and admin staff have been important in getting the team into this position.

While McNaughton's focus is on getting the team to perform on Sunday in the second semi-final against Claremont, he's also taken pause to reflect on what an achievement it is and the amount of people who have been instrumental in making a finals appearance possible.

"I'm very proud of everybody who's contributed to us being where we are. That goes from the team of dedicated coaches and assistant coaches, the support crew and that includes your strength and condition staff to trainers, team managers and everybody else," McNaughton said. 

"It takes a great effort by everybody and the players are the ones who get to run out there and do the job on the weekend, but I'm proud of everybody who has contributed over not just this season, but the last two years now. 

"I'm very proud and of course, mostly proud of the girls themselves who have dedicated themselves since the end of 2021. We made the changes to no longer have a reserves side, changed the way that we went about things in terms of standards and expectations. 

"So for them to get on board and over two years maintain that level of commitment and willingness to learn, I'm really proud."

Heading into finals a genuine contender

Not only is South Fremantle making history by playing finals in the WAFLW for the first time starting this Sunday, but the Bulldogs are anything but just making up the numbers.

They clearly have been one of the best two teams all season to have earned second position on the ladder and the finals double chance having beaten every side in the competition aside from Sunday's opponent Claremont who hasn’t lost a game to anybody.

To not only make finals for the first time, but to have done so in such emphatic fashion is rightfully another source of pride for McNaughton.

"We definitely feel as though we earnt second spot. Getting early wins on the board is really important and that's what we managed to do, and then like every club we lost some players through injury or getting players picked up to go to the higher level," McNaughton said.

"That's also the great thing about our competition, we're here to try and develop players to give them that next level opportunity. Over the last few weeks, despite some changes in personnel we've come up against sides vying for finals, and I think we've stood up really well. 

"We've been tested at the end of the season and we've managed to get across the line in most of these games. It just shows that we've got some depth and cover, and we can adapt. To finish with 10 wins was just a great milestone for us really."

The stunning debut month of Morgan

There's a good blend of youth and experience in the South Fremantle team preparing to play finals for the first time, and one 16-year-old who has quickly embraced her WAFLW opportunities late in the season is Renee Morgan.

She has produced spectacular form over the past month since coming into the WAFLW team and is now going to be a key player in the finals campaign. Despite her being only 16, McNaughton is anything but surprised with what she's been able to do.

"Under Andrew McCarrey in the Rogers Cup team she's been developing really nicely and probably by continuing to dominate those Rogers games where she got her confidence up and then start training with the league squad, it's just been a measured introduction for Renee," he said.

"We do have a few girls around her age in the team as well so we're mindful of not having too young a side but there's a lot of 16 or 17-year-olds running around across the competition. 

"You still do need to get the balance right with some experience, but in terms of Renee's ability, I'm absolutely not surprised with how she's performing. To immediately having the impact she is and find so much of the ball, to use it well and she's taking marks and hitting targets left and right. 

"I would say she's exceeded my expectations in four games, but it certainly hasn’t surprised me given her ability."

The amazing transition of Hetherington

One player at South Fremantle who could very well be the story of this WAFLW season is Ariana Hetherington. 

On the back of being a captain at the Rockingham Flames in the NBL1 West competition where she played 140 games and was captain, she made the transition to football in 2023 and has quickly emerged most likely the best ruck in the competition. 

Not only that, but her leadership has stood out to McNaughton even if it's her first year playing a new sport.

"Ari's just a great athlete. She was a basketballer, now she's a footballer and I dare say there's not too many sports she wouldn’t be very competent in," McNaughton said. 

"It's also her character and leadership that I've found equally pleasing to have around the footy club because we do have a really young squad. By no means is Ari a veteran, but she was the captain at Rockingham Flames so her leadership has been evident from the moment she joined us and we put her in the leadership group. 

"Her transition has been seamless to be that leader, that comes naturally to her and she just gets it as a leader. It's not surprising that people with the full package end up delivering high level achievements, and it's been great bringing her in this year."

What it means for captain 

While there are new faces and teenagers who have been key to South Fremantle's rise in 2023, for a stalwart like captain Lauren Vecchio, to now be part of his history with a first WAFLW finals appearance is reward for the years of dedicated service she has given the Bulldogs.

There were some enjoyable seasons in the previous WAWFL competition but the first two seasons in the WAFLW in 2020 and 2021 were a challenge. 

But McNaughton noticed that Vecchio was buoyed by the improvement of the team in 2022 and was excited for what was possible in 2023, and is now delighted for her to be such a key part of getting into this finals campaign.

"At the start of the year we were talking about how the team was shaping up because there was quite a bit of excitement in the group at the end of last year and the girls who had been around a while could see that we might actually be on the move up the ladder," McNaughton said.

"We did say that we didn’t miss out on making finals by much last year so there was no reason why we couldn’t play finals in 2023. I remember Lauren distinctly getting a big smile on her face saying how good would that be.

"Then as the season has gone on and after we recruited well, and have continued to develop players who have elevated themselves and brought young players up, so we've had improvement in all those areas. 

"Lauren has just enjoyed leading that and knowing that she's running out onto the park each week leading a team that's stronger and more capable almost week after week is great for her."

Not only has Vecchio continued to be a terrific captain for this South Fremantle team in 2023, but her form has been tremendous too even if she hasn’t had to play that regular on-ball role that she has had to for much of her career.

The fact that Vecchio has shown her adaptability and embraced being used in different roles this year is another reason why McNaughton's respect for her only continues to grow.

"Her form this year too has been strong. We've used her in a few different roles. She started as a midfielder but then we put her behind the ball to help our defence out a bit, and she did that really," he said. 

"We then moved her to a wing and she did that really well so her own game has seen her have a great season too. On the back of not having to carry so much of the load anymore both as a captain and a player that she's had to previously has been really good for her. 

"She has more support than she had before and let's be honest, when you're winning it makes it a lot easier to turn up to training and be positive."

The challenge of Claremont in second semi

The challenge now ahead of South Fremantle in their first final in the WAFLW is this Sunday against up against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium in the second semi-final.

That's a Claremont team yet to lose a game in 2023 with the closest being a draw had with East Fremantle in a rematch of last year's grand final when the Tigers claimed the premiership.

South Fremantle is yet to beat Claremont over four WAFLW seasons and McNaughton is fully aware of the task ahead, but can call upon some recent history for some confidence while having full faith in what his players are capable of.

"We definitely go into the clash feeling that if we play a particular type of game that we need to play, then we can do well," McNaughton said. 

"We've had two goes at them already so we've seen what doesn’t work and we learn a little bit more about Claremont each time we see them. We know that we need to have a revised plan even though some of what we've done was right on and we'll continue with that. 

"But we also realise there are areas we know if we don’t change, we can probably expect a similar result. But we know what happened with East Fremantle last year so we know these things can happen and the year before a similar thing happened to Swans so anything is possible once you get to finals. 

"There's clear evidence there that an underdog, which clearly we are, is not out of the realm on the day to get it right if you have the right plan and commitment. We just need everyone to play their role and be winning to sacrifice to do the right thing for the team, that's what it's about at this time of year."