WAFLW Insider round three: Cross-code Eagle Verity Simmons makes her Subiaco debut, Daisy Pearce drops by Tigerland

Round three of the WAFLW is in the books. Here are the major talking points - including a cross-code Eagle making her debut, why Daisy Pearce dropped by and West Perth’s unstoppable midfield.

Eliza Reilly

@ByElizaReilly

3 min read

March 19, 2024 - 8:36PM

Daisy Pearce is keeping a close eye on the WAFLW. Picture: Supplied

AFL State Leagues

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL State Leagues. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Round three of the WAFLW is in the books.

Here are the major talking points, including a cross-code Eagle making her debut, why Daisy Pearce dropped by Tigerland and West Perth’s unstoppable midfield.

Simmons’ Subiaco debut

West Coast Fever premiership star Verity Simmons shocked the netball world when she decided to retire and pursue an AFLW career late last year.

But if Simmons’ WAFLW debut is anything to go by, she’s set to make a valuable contribution at the Eagles this year.

Playing her first-ever game of football, Simmons lined up at half-back for the Lions and finished with 10 disposals. While the 32-year-old is still learning the finer points of football and developing her skills, Simmons’ attack on the ball, athleticism and ability to take the game on were evident.

Former netballer Verity Simmons made her WAFLW debut for Subiaco. Picture: Supplied.

Ultimately though former Fever teammate Stacey Francis-Bayman and her West Perth Falcons won bragging rights on the day, prevailing over Simmons’ Subiaco by 21 points.

Elsewhere, first round draft pick Kayley Kavanagh made her debut for East Perth, finishing with 12 disposals, four marks and five tackles. Jess Rentsch played her second game for the Royals, racking up 14 disposals and 11 tackles.

Daisy eyes off her troops

New West Coast coach Daisy Pearce was keeping a keen eye on her present and potentially even future players when Claremont clashed with East Fremantle on Sunday.

The Tigers prevailed in the 2023 WAFLW grand final rematch, getting revenge for last year’s loss with a comfortable 7.3 (45) to 1.5 (11) win.

There to watch Eagles defender Mackenzie Webb (14 disposals, four marks) and midfielder Emily Elkington (11 disposals, four tackles) in action for Claremont, Pearce was also spotted having a kick with Bella Lewis and Sascha Goranova at half-time. Pearce also dropped by the Tigers’ huddle at three-quarter time.

Eagles midfielder Emily Elkington (left) celebrates a goal for Claremont. Picture: Total Sports Photography

Eagles AFLW coach Daisy Pearce was keeping a keen eye on potential number one draft prospect Zippy Fish. Picture: Total Sports Photography

But while she was mainly there to support her current players, Pearce would’ve also been impressed by the performance of potential number one draft pick Zippy Fish.

Fish was at her brilliant best against Claremont, finishing with 24 disposals and seven tackles in a performance that warranted East Fremantle’s player of the day award. Widely considered WA’s best prospect ahead of the AFLW draft, the Eagles will fight hard to convince Fish to nominate her home state later this year.

Baby steps

A week after being belted by West Perth, the Royals are slowly making strides in their second WAFLW season.

The Royals went down 7.4 (46) to 3.9 (27) to Swan Districts on Sunday but the margin (19 points) is East Perth’s third-best loss so far.

East Perth’s best margin came in round 13 last year, losing by just 16 points to West Perth. The Royals also suffered an 18-point loss to Peel Thunder in the final round of last season.

But all Royals coach Jenna Allomes expects this season is for her side to be competitive. And East Perth were certainly that, finding themselves within three points of the Swans at three-quarter time before the home side kicked away late.

If not for some inaccurate kicking, it could’ve been a WAFLW breakthrough win for East Perth. Regardless, it was a fine way to bring Swan Districts back to earth after they beat Peel Thunder by 63 points last week.

West Perth’s stacked engine room

The Falcons are going to be pretty hard to stop in the middle this year after some stellar individual performances against Subiaco.

Reigning best and fairest Taylor Ferguson, Docker Megan Kauffman and former Eagle Imahra Cameron combined for 84 touches between them in a scintillating display at Pentanet Stadium.

Ferguson, a member of the Falcons’ leadership group, led the way with a game-high 30 disposals. Kauffman earned best-on-ground honours for the second week in a row with 18 of her 29 touches contested. She also had nine tackles. While Cameron sent the ball inside 50 seven times.