South West AFLW Watch: Margaret River’s Ella Roberts gets AFLW Rising Star nod after outstanding performance

Margaret River’s Ella Roberts has continued her meteoric rise through the AFLW ranks, earning herself her first Rising Star nomination following another outstanding performance for the West Coast Eagles.

The 17-year-old earned the nod for round six of the 2022 AFLW season alongside GWS’s Emily Pease for her strong performance in the Eagles’ losing effort to Hawthorn last Friday.

Despite the Eagles suffering a second heart-breaking loss, going down 6.8 (44) to 6.5 (41), Roberts starred as one of West Coast’s best.

She gathered 15 disposals, four marks, a hitout and two tackles for the match, and contributed to a three-goal blitz with her first AFLW goal in an exciting opening quarter.

Roberts becomes the second Eagle in as many weeks to be nominated, following ruck Sarah Lakay’s nod last week.

Meanwhile, Bunbury’s Ella Smith made her AFLW debut for the Eagles, managing two disposals, four tackles and a minor score, while Beth Schilling managed a disposal, nine hitouts and a tackle in her return from an ankle injury.

Elsewhere, Manjimup’s Dana East put on a strong showing for the Fremantle Dockers in their 10.6 (66) to 5.6 (36) losing effort to Melbourne Demons at Fremantle Oval on Sunday.

Along with being named one of Fremantle’s best for the match, the 20-year-old finished with 13 disposals, two marks and three tackles.