G’day people! It was a historic day in West Australian women’s football on Sunday.
More than 5000 people jammed into Sullivan Logistics Stadium to watch West Coast beat Fremantle for the first time in an AFLW Western Derby.
We’ll unpack that shortly, but just briefly I want to mention another drought breaking win that’s come across my desk.
Last week the Toronto Dingoes broke a 21-year premiership drought in the AFL Ontario competition. It was largely thanks to one mid-season recruit - Swan Districts stalwart Nathan Blakely.
‘Doc’ moved to Canada for work halfway through the year, joined the Dingoes and kicked 39 goals in five games, including 18.3 in one outing. He was best-on in the decider, which is also his first senior premiership, and helped break a run of three grand final losses for the club. How good.
In today’s newsletter: The Eagles drought is over, a ruck star ready to explode, a unicorn wins a medal and the highlights from the AFL draft combine.
Let’s get stuck in.
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AFLW WESTERN DERBY
Eagles 5.9 (39) def Dockers 4.3 (27)
West Coast have their first-ever win in an AFLW Derby, breaking the Dockers’ run of eight straight victories since the Eagles entered the comp in 2020.
Terrific game in front of a great crowd. The official number was 5711. To put that in context, Freo average around 2200 at Cockburn and West Coast average about 1400 at Mineral Resources Park this season.
West Coast came from behind with a huge final quarter after their defence was elite all game to keep them in it.
Ella Roberts won the medal with 22 disposals, six tackles and a goal but shockingly for long-term readers of this newsletter (we are very pro-Ella), I thought Charlotte Riggs probably should have got the nod for her work in the ruck. Riggs had 17 touches, a team-high six clearances and was particularly good late, breaking with power from stoppages and getting the ball going West Coast’s way. All that against the best ruck in the comp, Mim Strom.
Touched on this a couple of weeks ago, but Holly Egan was outstanding in defence for Freo again. Had to be patient, but they’ve found themselves one.
2026 DOIG MEDAL
Luke Jackson took home Fremantle’s best and fairest on Saturday night. A fitting result after an enormous year in the ruck. He’s the third ruck to win the Doig after Aaron Sandilands (2019 & 2015) and Sean Darcy (2021).
Doig Medal Top 10
1. Luke Jackson – 269 votes
2. Andrew Brayshaw – 229
3. Caleb Serong – 228
4. Josh Treacy – 225
5. Shai Bolton – 218
6. Jye Amiss – 191
7. Pat Voss – 181
8. Sam Switkowski – 173
9. Murphy Reid – 172
10. Alex Pearce – 164
It wasn’t on the same night, but young Dockers defender Hugh Davies easily took out the Peel Thunder B&F. At 22 years old, he’s proving too good for the WAFL, look for him to make a leap in 2027.
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE
It’s been a massive combine for the WA boys. Seven of them - Heath Mellody, Leo Steed, George Gale, Koby LeCras, Benji van Rooyen, Cam Maynard and Harvey Spawton-Guy - are taking part. All seven recorded PBs in both the 2km time trial and 20m sprint.
Steed (sixth) and Gale (ninth) had top-10 finishes in the 2km time trial.
Maynard recorded the second-fastest 20m time with a seriously quick 2.898sec.
Steed also record a top-10 finish in the agility test.
We also had Cara Dziegielewski, Mia Carlshausen and Lexi Strachan undergoing AFLW testing last week, with Dziegielewski continuing to impress and firm for a top-five pick.
Dziegielewski won the running vertical jump, finished 10th in the 1.6km time trial, ninth in the 20m sprint, and fourth in the standing vertical jump.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.
I’m a Victorian, and I enjoy this each week — having a great year Nick 👍