WAFL Round 5 Wrap

WEST Perth returned to top spot with a big Round 5 WAFL victory on Saturday while East Fremantle kept winning, South Fremantle and Claremont bounced back, and Subiaco snatched a thriller over Swan Districts in Kalgoorlie.

Following last week's WAFL State game against South Australia at Optus Stadium, the season resumed with all five Round 5 matches taking place on Saturday afternoon.

Things got underway in Kalgoorlie and it turned out to be a thriller with Subiaco coming from behind late to beat Swan Districts 12.10 (82) to 10.8 (68).

Ryan Borchet and Ben Sokol kicked four goals each for Subiaco while Leigh Kitchin continued his Simpson Medal winning form with 33 possessions. Chris Jones kicked another three goals for Swan Districts with Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher gathering 35 disposals and co-captain Jesse Turner 33.

Claremont then bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat East Perth 14.13 (97) to 7.8 (50) at Revo Fitness Stadium. 

Alex Manuel kicked four goals for the Tigers and Jack Buller three with Jye Bolton gathering 30 possessions. Sebit Kuek kicked three goals for East Perth while Hamish Brayshaw and Angus Scott both collected 31 touches.

South Fremantle also stopped a two-match losing streak beating Peel Thunder despite the absence of coach Todd Curley with the 13.11 (89) to 9.9 (63) victory at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Mason Shaw kicked three goals for South Fremantle while Jake Florenca continued his stunning form with 41 possessions. Sam Sturt kicked three goals for Peel with Darcy Tucker amassing 28 disposals in the midfield.

West Perth made it four consecutive wins as well with a thumping 17.17 (119) to 6.2 (38) win against the West Coast Eagles at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium.

Bernie Naylor Medallist Tyler Keitel kicked five goals for West Perth and Keegan Knott three while Shane Nelson gathered 34 touches and Trent Manzone 30 to go with 14 marks. Josh Burke kicked two goals for West Coast with Josh Browne racking up 36 possessions.

East Fremantle also made it four straight wins by beating Perth 13.20 (98) to 10.12 (72) at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

On the back of their big win over West Coast on Saturday, West Perth replaced East Fremantle on top of the WAFL ladder after five rounds. Both teams sit on 4-1 records as do Claremont but the Falcons have the superior percentage from the Sharks and Tigers.

South Fremantle improved to a 3-2 record with its win to remain in fourth position while Peel Thunder actually moved up to fifth spot at 2-3 despite losing to the Bulldogs thanks to their better percentage.

East Perth, Swan Districts, Subiaco and Perth are all just outside of fifth position with 2-3 records only percentage behind the Thunder and then there's the winless West Coast Eagles in last position.

Round 6 of the WAFL competition all takes place on Saturday afternoon with Peel Thunder hosting Claremont, East Perth at home to the West Coast Eagles, East Fremantle playing Subiaco at the WACA Ground, West Perth at home to Perth, and Swan Districts taking on South Fremantle.
 

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 5

SUBIACO 12.10 (82) defeated SWAN DISTRICTS 10.8 (68)

CLAREMONT 14.13 (97) defeated EAST PERTH 7.8 (50)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 13.11 (89) defeated PEEL THUNDER 9.9 (63)

WEST PERTH 17.17 (119) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 6.2 (38)

PERTH 10.12 (72) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 13.20 (98)