Parris Laurie’s game smarts will be the making of her as a ruck

The 25-year old burst onto the scene last year at Fremantle as a readymade tall and is continuing her brilliance at West Coast.

Laurie showed immense adaptability as the Demons rolled Eden Zanker through the ruck with Sarah Perkins and Tegan Cunningham in support. Laurie has the muscle to wrestle opponents around the ground and is equally adept at leaping over her opponents, displaying both strategies as she rucked with very little time to catch her breath at Casey Fields.

The midfield to which Laurie is delivering is still formative: the evergreen Dana Hooker and Emma Swanson were again in their side’s best with Hayley Bullas, Kellie Gibson and Mikayla Bowen given time in the centre.

While the seams are visible in the new side from Western Australia, West Coast should be able to build their team around the midfield over the next few years.