Donnellan impressed by Swans' first WAFLW win

SWAN Districts scored its first WAFL Women's victory on Sunday against Claremont with coach Kara Donnellan pleased with a lot of the performance from captain Ashley Sharp to young players like Taylor Pescud.

Following an opening round loss to Subiaco to open the inaugural WAFLW season, Swan Districts bounced back impressively again at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday to beat Claremont by 36 points.

There was plenty to like about the performance from the Black Ducks with coach Kara Donnellan pleased with the way the team responded from the loss to Subiaco to open their account for 2019 ahead of a clash with East Fremantle on the road this Sunday.

"It was great game here in Round 2 of WAFLW here at home, at Steel Blue Oval. The league girls redeemed themselves from last week when we had a tough loss against Subiaco," Donnellan said.

"Overall it was a fantastic day for our footy club and our first win for the season which was fantastic. We now look forward to taking on East Freo and we'll see what we can do then."

Swan Districts started strongly against Claremont with the only two goals of the last quarter while holding Claremont scoreless. But the Tigers hit back with four goals to two in the second term to have the game up for grabs in the second half.

After the half-time break, though, saw Swans dominated the contest with five goals to nil to win by 36 points with Donnellan impressed with much of what she saw.

"We had a really good training session on Wednesday, followed by another one on Friday and the girls brought that momentum into the first quarter," she said.

"I thought our pressure was outstanding and it set the tone early. Our back-line led from the front and our young midfield were really good all day and our forwards presented.

"In the second quarter, Claremont dictated us and we came into half-time to reassess what we were doing right and doing wrong. I thought our third quarter and fourth, to finish off the game in style was great and we kicked a number of unanswered goals."

Whether it was Ashley Sharp in her first game as captain or the performances of Stephanie Cain and Amy Ralph or the emerging Taylor Pescud and Emma O'Driscoll, there were plenty of players that stood out in the victory for Donnellan.

"Our leaders were fantastic. I thought Ashley Sharp in her first game as captain for the club was fantastic, she kicked an important goal in that third quarter," Donnellan said.

"Steph Cain is another leader who kicked the first goal of the game in the first quarter, and really stood up. Amy Ralph in the ruck, she started back but we really needed another versatile player to run through the midfield and she was fantastic all day. 

"Then of our young kids, Taylor Pescud was back, was forward and then ran through the midfield as well which was a real highlight for me to see these young kids come through and blossom. Emma O'Driscoll down back was solid as well and she created a lot of run and carry off that half-back for us.

"Lauren Osborne is another one who probably started the game well and set the tone from the back-line. The switched and ran and carried to give our midfielders and half forwards something to run onto."