First Semi-Final WAFLW Preview

Swan Districts produced an outstanding end to the 2023 WAFLW season to book in another finals appearance ahead of taking on East Fremantle in Sunday's first semi-final.

Swans were staring down the barrel after a slow start to the WAFLW season in 2023 losing the opening four games, but a seven-game winning streak built some momentum.

That set Swan Districts up to end up winning eight of the last 10 matches of the season to book in yet another WAFLW finals appearance as they prepare for Sunday's first semi-final.

That will take place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with Swan Districts taking on East Fremantle with the game beginning at 12pm.

A win for Swan Districts and they will stay alive to move into a preliminary final next weekend which will see them fight for a grand final berth against the loser of Sunday's second semi-final between Claremont and South Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium.

A loss, however, on Sunday for Swan Districts and it will mean the season is over.

Swan Districts WAFLW coach Adam Dancey has no question that his team's best football is capable of going all the way over the next three weeks despite the hurdles they've faced throughout the season including the loss of captain Jess Cox to a ruptured ACL.

"We want to win a flag. I believe on our best day, our footy is absolutely good enough. If you’re sitting back at this time of the year wondering if you’re good enough, you probably shouldn’t be there," Dancey said.

"We’ve got some things up our sleeves we’ve been looking at the past few weeks that will challenge different teams but we’ve got to get it right on-field.

"I put that back on the girls. They’ve always been really strong on what we’re doing on and off field. We always believed we had what it takes. But there was always going to be some hurdles when you debut that many girls in Round 1."

Swan Districts and East Fremantle played one another twice throughout the WAFLW home and away season with Swans winning by 29 points at Steel Blue Oval back in Round 8.

In that game, Courtney Zappara had a stunning performance for Swans with nine shots for four goals from 14 possessions and five marks. Ruby Mahony also had 25 touches for the black-and-whites, Kayley King 21 and Abbygail Bushby 17.

Chloe Reilly kicked three of East Fremantle's four goals for the day while Sharon Wong picked up 19 possessions, Ashleigh Gomes 19, Chloe Williams 13 and Jasmine Johansen 12.

The more recent encounter took place in Round 15 at the WACA Ground under lights on a Saturday evening with Swan Districts also beating East Fremantle by 14 points with that victory ultimately sealing their finals position.

In that victory, Taylah Edwards was brilliant for Swans kicking four goals with Zappara adding two while Mahony had another 19 disposals to go with 10 tackles. Hope Ugle-Hayward also had 15 disposals and nine tackles, and Tyla Fitzgerald 14 touches and eight tackles.

Reilly and Grace Freeman kicked two goals apiece for East Fremantle with Beth Beckett collecting 18 possessions (10 tackles), Caylen Crook 13, Gomes 12 and Wong 12 (11 tackles).

Going back further, the two teams hadn’t met since back in Round 10 last year. East Fremantle was too strong for Swan Districts winning by 40 points at Steel Blue Oval. Their other clash in 2022 was in Round 2 at East Fremantle Oval.

The Sharks won that contest too but it was a much tighter affair with the margin just seven points even though Swans finished with 12 scoring shots to nine for the game.