WAFLW Round One Preview: East Perth v Swan Districts

We kick off our Home and Away season with a clash against Swan Districts this Saturday, March 30, at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the first match of the season!

KEY DETAILS
WHO: East Perth v Swan Districts
WHAT: Round One
WHERE: Sullivan Logistics Stadium
WHEN: Saturday 29 March
TIME: WAFLW 2.15pm | Rogers Cup 4.20pm
BROADCAST: Streamer
GAME DAY HUB – ALL THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION HERE!

PLAYERS TO WATCH 
Last year’s top three WAFLW Fairest & Bests Lucy Greenwood, Sabella Banks, and Layla Firns have all returned to the Royals for 2025.

Greenwood averaged 13 disposals last season and was the Club’s leading goalkicker. A strong off-season will see her start this season full of fitness and energy.
A stalwart in defence, Banks impresses on the field with her gutsy play and willingness to put her body on the line. Firns had a strong 2024, averaging 15.6 disposals a game, and finishing third in the Fairest and Best count despite missing several games due to injury.

Returning players Chloe Sauzier, Courtney Lindgren, and Jess Verbrugge all featured strongly in pre-season scratch matches and will carry this forward to the regular season.

There’s several debutants set to take to the field in the black and blue for the first time, so keep an eye out for new players looking to make an impact. A strong off-field recruitment push saw players join the Royals from other WAFLW teams, as well as PFL sides. Expect to see a line-up that looks slighty different to last year’s side.

THE OPPOSITION
Swan Districts finished fourth last year with an 8-6 record.
Swan Districts Fairest and Best Carys D’Addario will be back in action. D’Addario finished in the top ten in the competition for tackles in 2024 and averaged 19.2 disposals last season too. Limiting her impact will be crucial.
Swans have had a strong pre-season, beating last year’s premiers Claremont and first year side Perth. It should be a tough test for our Royals, who we know will be up to the challenge and ready to start the year positively.

LAST TIME WE MET
Round 13, 2024
East Perth 2.1. 13 v Swan Districts 17.12. 114
Goalkickers: Havana Milner, Alessia Schmiedgen
Best: H Milner, K Perry, D O’Neill, M Pugliese-Thompson, L Greenwood

OTHER GAMES THIS ROUND
Peel Thunder v Perth, Lane Group Stadium
South Fremantle v East Fremantle, Fremantle Community Bank Oval
West Perth v Subiaco, Joondalup Arena
BYE: Claremont

TICKETS 
Tickets here.
Free entry to WAFLW Home Games with your Royals Membership! Sign up today: https://membership.eastperthfc.com.au/