WAFLW 2024: Who impressed in round one, including Olivia Wolmarans, Brooke Hongell and Evie Cowcher

If Round 1 is anything to go by, this is looming as the best WAFLW season yet.

A surprisingly comprehensive win for an emerging West Perth, one of the toughest Fremantle derbies we’ve seen in this competition, a teen star coming of age and even a bit of lighting at Revo Fitness Stadium thrown in for good measure.

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There were plenty of huge performances at both a team and individual level, but here are a few which caught the eye:

Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco)

She’s only 16 years old but Olivia Wolmarans is already ripping apart games at senior level. The under-16 All-Australian ruck-forward opened the season with six goals against East Perth in a dominant showing and one of the best individual returns for a forward in some time. Wolmarans added 17 disposals around the ground in an incredible all-around performance for Subiaco.

WATCH HER HIGHLIGHTS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Jayme Harken & Emily Bonser (Claremont)

Harken, the reigning Dhara Kerr medallist as WAFLW best and fairest, picked up where she left off last season with 25 touches, six tackles and a goal for Claremont in their win over Swan Districts. She and Bonser (20 disposals, two goals) formed a lethal one-two punch for the Tigers, who are hungry as ever after copping their only loss of 2023 in the grand final.

Brooke Hongell (West Perth)

West Perth’s win over Peel Thunder in the opening round suggested that rapid improvement is on the cards this year for the Falcons. But while the youth were impressive, it was veteran Brooke Hongell who led the way with four goals from 19 disposals, leading the way up forward.

Evie Cowcher (Peel Thunder)

The Falcons were too good for Peel in the end, but it could have been much uglier if not for Evie Cowcher. Last year’s rising star winner and under-16 and under-18 All-Australian was a pillar in defence once again. A 28-disposal, eight-mark effort in round one shows that she couldn’t stop attracting the footy if she tried.

Zippy Fish (East Fremantle)

Was in absolutely everything in an epic opening-round Fremantle Derby, taking hangs, setting up shots at goal and just generally looming as a threat. There’s a reason she’s in the conversation for the No.1 AFLW draft pick later this year.