WAFLW 2025: Great Southern trio help Claremont hold on for one-point grand final victory over Swan Districts

A Great Southern trio helped Claremont to the WAFLW premiership after clinching a nailbiting, one-point grand final win over Swan Districts on Sunday. In her third WAFLW grand final, Taylah Orzel earned her second flag in a row, while there were first medals for Megan Green and Emma Henderson. The Tigers won 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) with Orzel contributing a behind, along with 10 disposals and five tackles. Green played well up forward while Henderson had nine disposals operating in defence. For Orzel, who played for Royals in Albany, the victory was the icing on the cake after a long season. “We trained for all the likely scenarios and the last quarter was stressful for everybody because we were really under the pump,” she said. “But it was 100 per cent the most satisfying because there is no better feeling than working for 38 weeks in preparation and coming out with the win.” Green, a fellow former Lion, said the last few minutes had been hard to watch from the forward line, especially as the Tigers had won their semifinal with a one-point margin. “It was my first full season in the WAFLW, my first grand final and my first grand final win,” she said. “It was really cool to make the final and win one. “I’m glad we were able to hold on, but we had trained specifically to do that, and it worked out well.” Henderson, a Denmark-Walpole product, said it was her “best season ever” after working her way into the Tigers’ league side aged only 18. “While the game was going, I was concentrating 100 per cent, but during the stoppages I would just check the scoreboard,” she said. “It was just the most amazing game and the most amazing feeling to win.” Now back in Denmark, she said she was going to walk the Bibbulmun Track for a few days to relax. After celebrating hard following the epic win, all three agreed it felt odd that the season was over. “I keep feeling I have to go to training this afternoon,” Green said. “It does feel weird not to have to go to the club four times a week,” added Orzel.