Around The Grounds | Round 2

It was a weekend in Freo last weekend with the guys at East Freo on Saturday and the girls at Freo Oval on Sunday.

We kicked the weekend off with another bright start as the Colts were far too strong for East Fremantle. Zach Rankin and Isiah Winder got the side off to a bright start kicking the opening 2 goals of the game both converting set shots from Free Kicks directly in front of goal. Zac Trigwell added later in the quarter, to put the Thunder 3 goals to the good at the end of the first.

The Sharks edged their way back into the contest in the second term and when Kane Fallows booted their second for  the afternoon the Thunder lead was trimmed to 4. A great forward entry from Jayden Pitts, hitting Malachy Watson right on the chest who made no mistake to maintain a 10-point advantage going in to half-time.

In the third term the Thunder took complete control, Winder kicking his 2nd for the game inside the first 30 seconds. From there it was all downhill for East Freo, with the Thunder slamming on 4 goals in the first 7-mins of the quarter to jump out to unassailable 28-point buffer. Jono Ietto was phenomenal in the third, picking up 8 contested possessions, 2 tackles, kicked a goal and perhaps most importantly had 5 score involvements, all told he racked up 82 of his 158 ranking points in that third term, a fair effort!

With the game relatively decided in the last, the Thunder managed to maintain and even extend the lead out further with Jack Walsh kicking his first for the game and Kobe Farmer adding his 3rd. The Colts winning 11.6 (72) to 5.6.(36) doubling the Sharks score to win by 36-points. Zach Rankin (24 Disposals, 6 Tackles, 5 R50's, 6 Score Involvements and 2 Goals), Isiah Winder (25 disposals, 11 Contested, 6 Tackles, 3 I50's, 6 Score Involvements and 2 Goals) and Jono Ietto (17 disposals, 88% DE, 11 Contested, 10 Tackles, 7 Score Involvements and a Goal) the pick of the players. Luke Polson (13 disposals at 100% DE, 6 marks, 2 Spoils and 6 R50's) and Connor Heuer (18 Disposals, 4 Tackles, 2 I50's, 3 R50's and 4 Score Involvements) were also great contributors.

The Colts this weekend take on top of the table West Perth at Midday on Saturday, with potentially Isiah Winder and Zach Rankin to make their League debut, it's going to be up to some of the other boys to make that step up if they are going to get their second win of the season.

After impressing and perhaps even surprising some in the opening round against last years Grand Finalists, Round Two had our WAFLW girls on the road for their first away game of the season against the newly promoted South Fremantle. 

The girls dominated from the outset but were wasteful in front of goals in the first term kicking 2.6. In the second quarter the girls took a few more of their opportunites and straightened up, responding with 4 goals 1. Whilst dominant through the midfield and up forward, the most pleasing aspect was the ability to shut down all South’s scoring opportunities keeping them scoreless for the day to run out 64-point victors. 

Unfortunately we lost Jaide Britton (knee) and Jade Briggs (abdominal) due to injuries during the game. Ebony Bilcich, Kate Ditchburn (Club Debut) and Chloe Wrigley were prime movers through the midfield. Whilst Whitney Benson, Sarah Verrier and Tanisha Anderson repelled every attack. Demi Okley on her return game from an ACL injury two years ago bagged 3 goals, with Kira Phillips and Jade Briggs kicking 2 goals a piece.

This week the Thunder face the daunting challenge of going up against last years reigning premiers East Fremantle and probably to make matters slightly worse they are coming off a loss last week to Subiaco. The girls will have to be on their toes this week but have shown no sign through the first 2 games that they are to be taken lightly themselves this year.

Bouncedown is from 5:10pm at David Grays Arena on Saturday (Post Mens League Game)

Finally the Rogers Cup Girls continued on their quest for a third successive Premiership when they took down East Perth at Fremantle Oval on Sunday morning.

East Perth had more scoring shots in the first quarter but couldn't make them count as they trailed 2 goals to 3 behinds at quarter time. The Thunder showed why they are such a strong outfit for the next 3-quarters though, piling on 9.10 to 1 behind for the rest of the game to win 11.10 (76) to 0.4 (4). Kayleesha Ugle, Jordain Thompson both kicked 3, Nel Baxter added 2, while Ella Roberts, Sharlize Shelley and Rose Hambrecht all kicked singles.

It's another trip North for the Rogers Girls this week as they take on West Perth at Provident Finacial Oval (Arena Joondalup) at 10:30am on Sunday Morning.