Every week, AFLW senior coach Michelle Cowan will run through the performances of a handful of Freo listed players in the WAWFL.
Hayley Miller – Coastal Titans
Led by captain Hayley Miller, the Coastal Titans defeated Claremont 6.12.(48) to 6.6(42) on Sunday 2 July.
Cowan: In my opinion, Hayley was best on ground. She was just electric. She broke through packs, doing the Hayley Miller runs that we all love, taking the game on and working really hard on her contested ball and contested marking.
It was by far one of the best games I’ve seen her play and she really embraced the leadership role she has there. I love the way that she’s getting around the group and showing great leadership on and off the field.
It was good to go and watch the Coastal Titans vs Claremont game. It was a really close game with only one goal in it at the end. Claremont are building something really special and taking their club to a whole new level this season, which is really good. They’ve got some talented players playing at Claremont that really challenged the Titans.
Kara Donnellan – Swan Districts
Kara Donnellan (Photo: Phil Barnes)
The Fremantle captain has bounced back well from a hip injury, according to Cowan. Donnellan, who finished second in Fremantle’s inaugural best and fairest and was named All Australian, sustained the injury in Freo’s win over Carlton on March 10 at Domain Stadium, missing the final AFLW game of the season and the first half of the WAWFL season.
Cowan: It’s really good to see ‘Juddy’ back on the park. She was extremely vigilant with her rehab from her hip injury and I think through that sh's become hungry to get back out on the park.
I know, from a Swan Districts’ point of view, that it’s great for the Swans to have her leadership out there, especially after she’s gained one year of experience in AFLW.
In her first game back you could tell that she was happy to be back out there and also she competed as she always does. She runs really hard, competes really hard for the footy and works with her teammates to get them playing an elite brand of football.
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been watching her playing through the midfield and going forward. She’s been working really hard on her contested ball.
Ashley Sharp – Swan Districts
Ashley Sharp (Photo: Phil Barnes)
One of the youngest players on Freo’s list, 20-year-old Ashley Sharp was nominated for the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star award in round three of the inaugural season.
Cowan: Ashley currently sits fifth in the WAWFL’s goal kicking so she’s making the most of her opportunities when she does go forward form the midfield. She’s working hard and improving on getting back to the ball and her contested ball, her ground balls and her tackling.
It's been good to see Ashley playing through the midfield, playing on the wing and going forward and kicking a few goals - it will be good for her confidence going into our pre-season.
Alex Williams – East Fremantle
Alex Williams (Photo: Phil Barnes)
Williams played the inaugural AFLW season for GWS Giants, arriving at Fremantle during the AFLW free agency period. A defender, Williams is the captain at East Fremantle.
Cowan: The Sharks had the bye last week but it’s been good to see Alex playing that strong defensive role for East Freo. From a defensive point of view, she’s been a real marshal down back and I’m also liking her run off half-back.
She’s starting to take the game on a little bit more and add in that attacking phase of her game – her ball use has been something that I’ve been really impressed with over the last few weeks.
I think anyone that has an AFLW season under their belt can only grow when entrenched in an AFL environment with elite peers, coaching and facilities around you. We’ve seen Alex thrive off being in that environment at GWS and I can’t wait to work with her in getting her game to a whole new level in 2018.
Brianna Green – East Fremantle
Brianna Green (Photo: Phil Barnes)
One of Freo’s most promising players, Brianna Green’s inaugural AFLW season was cut heartbreakingly short, suffering a broken collarbone in round two against Brisbane.
Cowan: It’s great to see Brianna back after that collarbone injury and playing for East Fremantle, who are fighting for a finals berth in the WAWFL. She’s been so consistent and her presence in the midfield was really missed when she was out of the team. She brings back some great experience to the Sharks and she hunts for the footy consistently for four quarters, which is always great to see.
