WAFL Round 7 Wrap

ROUND 7 of the WAFL 2022 season wrapped up with 10,000 watching West Perth and South Fremantle continue their derby dominance while on Saturday there were victories for Peel Thunder, Claremont and Swan Districts.

The WA Day long weekend regularly is the biggest home and away round of any WAFL season and the 2022 edition was no different with Peel Thunder winning a tight one over Subiaco on Saturday, Claremont bouncing back against Perth, and Swan Districts finishing strongly to beat West Coast.

That led into the two traditional WA Day derby match ups and a combined 10,010 showed up to watch West Perth win a fifth straight against East Perth and South Fremantle claim a 13th in succession against East Fremantle.

The WA Day round of WAFL action began on Saturday afternoon at Leederville Oval with Peel Thunder making it consecutive wins to return to the top five beating Subiaco 11.8 (74) to 10.8 (68).

Also on Saturday, Claremont bounced back from their second loss of the season to beat Perth 16.6 (102) to 11.2 (68) at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium.

Lastly on Saturday afternoon, Swan Districts overcame a slow start to keep the West Coast Eagles winless so far in 2022, winning 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

That all led into the two annual WA Day derby match ups and it began at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium with 3987 people turning out to watch West Perth return to top spot with a 9.8 (62) to 7.6 (48) victory against East Perth.

There were then 6023 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for the Fremantle Ports WA Day Foundation Derby with South Fremantle overcoming a 27-point deficit to beat East Fremantle 11.15 (81) to 12.7 (79).

It was a 13th win in-a-row in Fremantle derbies for South Fremantle but the Sharks had their chances with that 27-point lead in the third quarter and a late chance from Cam Eardley in the dying stages sailed wide denying them the drought breaking win.

Following seven rounds now of the 2022 WAFL season, it's West Perth sitting on top of the ladder a game clear with a 6-1 record.

East Fremantle (5-2) remains in second spot percentage ahead of Claremont (5-2) with South Fremantle (4-3) and Peel Thunder (4-3) rounding out the top five.

Swan Districts (4-3) are just outside a finals position in front of East Perth (3-4), Subiaco (2-5), Perth 2-5) and the West Coast Eagles (0-7).

Round 8 of the 2022 WAFL season begins on Saturday with Claremont at home to West Coast, Swan Districts playing Peel Thunder, Perth at home to Subiaco and East Fremantle playing West Perth with top spot up for grabs at the WACA Ground.

The round will conclude on Sunday afternoon at Leederville Oval with East Perth playing South Fremantle.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 7

SUBIACO 10.8 (68) lost to PEEL THUNDER 11.8 (74)

All eyes were on the return of Nat Fyfe for Peel Thunder at Leederville Oval on Saturday but his team ended up playing out a thriller with Subiaco.

The Fremantle Dockers made a successful return in his first ever WAFL appearance for Peel on Saturday and he enjoyed a win as well in what was a tight contest between the two teams who battled in the Grand Finals of 2016 and 2017.

In the end, a late goal from Josh Treacy sealed the deal for Peel who won 11.8 (74) to 10.8 (68) to improve to a 4-3 record on the season and move back into the top five while Subiaco is now struggling after seven rounds at 2-5.

Four behinds were kicked between the two teams before the opening goal of the contest which went the way of Subiaco thanks to Jordan Faraone and soon after Ryan Borchet added another to give the Lions the perfect start.

Faraone then added a second and the Lions had started on fire as they attempt to get their season on track. 

Eventually Peel got its first goal through former South Fremantle player Guy Barnes, but Subiaco then closed the opening term with a third goal to Faraone in the best quarter of his career to give Subiaco the 17-point edge.

Subiaco kept the momentum going to start the second quarter with a goal to Ben Sokol before Garnes continues his impressive debut for the Thunder with a second goal.

The Lions quickly responded courtesy of Kody Eaton before it went goal for goal the rest of the first half with a late goal to Subiaco from Stefan Giro keeping the Lions in control with the 23-point half-time lead.

Subiaco might have control much of the first half but Peel came out inspired to open the third quarter and kicked two quick goals through Ryan Bennell and Bodie Kitchingman.

Then late in the third quarter a couple of quick goals to Josh Treacy saw Peel grab the lead before Subiaco got one back through Borchet to still be on top by five points at three quarter-time.

The game was right up for grabs going into the last term and it was Peel who struck the first blow with a goal to Jackson Knight. Brodie Carroll was able to stretch the Thunder advantage to seven points but Subiaco wasn’t done with yet.

Another major to Borchet saw scores level heading into time-on but it was a third of the day to Treacy that secured the 11.8 (74) to 10.8 (68) win away from home for the Thunder.

All eyes were on the return of Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe for Peel and the dual Brownlow Medallist warmed nicely into his first game at any level for 2022. He finished the afternoon with 24 touches, five marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Josh Treacy kicked three crucial goals for the Thunder from 19 disposals and 14 marks with Ben Middleton and Guy Barnes kicking two goals apiece.

Haydn Matthews continued his impressive return to WAFL football in 2022 delivering one of the better games of his 37-match career with 24 touches, eight marks and five tackles.

Blair Bell also finished with 22 possessions, James Ewing 20, Bodie Kitchingman 18, Tyler Nesbitt 18 and Brodie Carroll 17 to go with seven tackles and a goal.

Ryan Borchet stepped up for Subiaco to kick four goals from 13 disposals and six marks with Jordan Faraone finishing with three goals.

Stefan Giro battled hard through the middle for Subiaco to end up with 24 possessions while Lachlan Delahunty fought valiantly in the ruck with 24 touches, 15 hit outs, 13 tackles and two marks.

Liam Hickmott added 21 disposals for the Lions, Aaron Heal 20, Leigh Kitchin 19 and Angus Dewar 18.

 

CLAREMONT 16.6 (102) defeated PERTH 11.2 (68)

It took until the last quarter for Claremont to shake off Perth but the Tigers ended up doing so to win by 34 points at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.

Claremont was back on home turf attempting to rebound from last week's loss to Peel but Perth weren’t in a giving mood even if they had to be efficient in front of goal.

The Demons ended up kicking 11 goals from 13 scoring shots and just the 39 inside 50s for game to keep themselves in the contest, but in the end the Tigers proved too strong to with 16.6 (102) to 11.2 (68).

Claremont was fired up to bounce back from last week's loss to Peel Thunder and the Tigers started on fire as a response with the first five scoring shots of the game at home to the Demons.

Claremont converted two of those into goals courtesy of Max Spyvee and Tyron Smallwood. Perth did manage to get a couple of goals back through Kristian Cary and Jordan Busher before quarter-time, but a goal for the Tigers to Bailey Rogers kept the home team on top by nine points.

The Demons had worked their way into the contest, though, and were making the most of their rare forays forward. A couple of quick goals to Cary to open the second quarter saw Perth grab the lead before Busher's second major stretched that advantage out to nine points.

Claremont hit back hard to close the first half with goals to Alex Manuel, Jack Buller and Alex Manuel, and that saw the Tigers lead by 11 points at half-time.

That lead grew to 17 points with a goal to Spyvee to start the third quarter but the Demons once more fired back courtesy of goals by Regan Clarke and Haydn Busher against his former team.

A second goal to Rogers steadied things for Claremont but Perth then stayed in touch thanks to Sam Perkusich. The Tigers finished the third stanza impressively with goals to Spyvee and Kieran Gowdie to be on top by 17 points.

Manuel stretched that lead again to 23 points when he kicked truly and then Claremont secured the win when Timm House booted three goals in quick succession on the way to the eventual 16.6 (102) to 11.2 (68) victory.

Timm House kicked those three goals late from his eight kicks and four marks for the day to seal the win for the Tigers while Max Spyvee also kicked three majors with Bailey Rogers, Callan England and Alex Manuel all adding two apiece.

Jye Bolton had another day out for Claremont finishing with 38 possessions, 12 marks and eight entries inside the forward 50 while fellow Sandover Medallist Rogers added 27 touches to his two goals.

Ben Edwards also racked up 27 disposals, Ryan Lim 23, Lachlan Martinis 23, Spyvee 20, Declan Mountford 18 and England 18 with Oliver Eastland marking his first game of the season with 15 possessions, six tackles and 40 hit outs in the ruck.

Kristian Cary kicked three goals for Perth from his seven kicks for the day with Sam Perkusich also kicking two goals as did Jordan Busher.

Brayden Ainsworth finished the afternoon with 20 possessions for Perth with Perkusich amassing 19 touches, Austin Davis 19, Michael Sinclair 18 and Kasey Nicholas 18.

 

SWAN DISTRICTS 11.11 (77) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 8.9 (57)

Swan Districts overcame a 15-point half-time deficit to beat the West Coast Eagles by 20 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

The Eagles arrived at the Bassendean venue attempting to win their first game of the 2022 WAFL season and they gave themselves a real chance of achieving that at the expensive of Swans with a five-goal second quarter.

Swan Districts was able to take over the longer the game went, though, and ended up kicking seven goals to two after half-time to end up winning 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57).

Swan Districts started well enough with the first two scoring shots of the game going to Chris Jones and he converted one of those into a goal.

It took until the 21-minute mark for the game's next goal and that went the way of West Coast thanks to Hugh Dixon, but Swans still led by seven points at quarter-time when Jesse Palmer kicked truly shortly before the siren.

Swans were still up by seven points early in the second term after the two teams traded goals through Josh Burke and Palmer. They then traded goals again with Burke adding a second for the Eagles and Tom Edwards kicking truly for Swan Districts.

However, Jack Eastough brought West Coast back within a point and when Josh Browne and Jack Williams also goaled heading towards half-time the Eagles were leading by 15 points and their first win of 2022 was a distinct possibility.

Swan Districts had to respond coming out of half-time and the home team was able to kick two quick goals to start the third quarter through Greg Ottaviano and Palmer.

West Coast responded through Harry Creasey, but a second of the day for Swans from Edwards had them back within a point before Jones' second of the afternoon had the black-and-whites in front by five points.

Co-captain Brandon Erceg then got forward for a rare goal to extend that Swan Districts lead which soon grew to 19 points with another to Palmer. However, West Coast stayed within touch just before three quarter-time with a goal to Jayden Johnstone.

It took until almost 25 minutes into the fourth quarter for the lone goal to be kicked after the two teams combined for six behinds. The goal went the way of Mitch Bain and Swan Districts ran out 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57) winners.

Jesse Palmer played his best game of the season for Swan Districts kicking four goals from 11 kicks and nine goals. Tom Edwards and Chris Jones also kicked two goals apiece.

Co-captain Jesse Turner continued his superb form for Swans this season racking up another 33 possessions and nine marks while the emerging Aidan Clarke added 26 disposals and seven tackles.

Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher also finished with 23 possessions, Josh Cipro 22, Tobe Watson 21, Jarvis Pina 20 and Mitch Bain 19 to go with six marks, six tackles and a goal.

Josh Burke kicked two goals for the Eagles from three kicks to be their only multiple goal scorer on the afternoon.

West Coast AFL premiership player Dom Sheed collected 27 possessions for the Eagles as he eyes a call up with Josh Browne gathering 23 touches, Ambrose Ryan 23, Harry Creasey 20, Jayden Johnstone 19 and Joey Deegan 19.

Luke Strnadica battled hard in the ruck as well for the Eagles to finish with 16 disposals and 31 hit outs.

 

WEST PERTH 9.8 (62) defeated EAST PERTH 7.6 (48)

West Perth made it five straight derby wins against East Perth with a hard earned 14-point WA Day win at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium on Monday.

It was a tight affair all afternoon between the two old rivals in front of 3987 fans but West Perth managed to do enough to prevail 9.8 (62) to 7.6 (48).

Not only does the win move the Falcons back to top spot on the WAFL ladder having won six games in a row now this season, but it's also the first time West Perth has beaten East Perth on five straight occasions since doing so across 1994 and 1995.

West Perth was hunting a fifth successive derby win and started well on their home turf with the first three scoring shots, even though they were all behinds. Eventually the Falcons did get the opening goal of the game courtesy of Keegan Knott at the 16-minute mark.

East Perth responded thanks to hard man Nick Robertson before Knott added a second. Eddie Simpson answered back for the Royals, though, and it was just a one-point advantage for the Falcons by quarter-time.

It was tough going in the second quarter with just the one goal each kicked with West Perth's coming courtesy of small forward Sasha Kernutt and East Perth's from tall forward Tom Medhat in his first derby against the Falcons after crossing to the Royals in the off-season.

That saw scores all tied up by half-time before Rudy Riddoch marked his first game of the season for West Perth with the opening goal of the second half. The Falcons then pulled away further when Conal Lynch kicked truly.

East Perth weren’t going away, though, and were just two points in arrears by three quarter-time thanks to goals from Medhat, Mitchell Schofield and Christian Ameduri.

The game was right up for grabs heading in the fourth quarter before Tyler Keitel was able to stretch West Perth's lead to seven points with his goal three minutes into the last term.

Anton Hamp was playing in his first derby after joining West Perth from Claremont this season and his first goal sealed the deal for the Falcons as they went on to score the 9.8 (62) to 7.6 (48) victory.

Keegan Knott took the most of his chances again as a small forward for West Perth to kick three goals from eight kicks with Rudy Riddoch playing his first game of the season and booting two for the Falcons.

West Perth co-captain Aaron Black showed he remains right at the peak of his powers 226 games into his remarkable career with 33 possessions, 11 marks and five inside 50s.

Trent Manzone also racked up 29 touches and 10 marks in his 146th game with Shane Nelson collecting another 28 disposals, Luke Meadows 26, Blake Wilhelm 25, Zac Guadagnin 21, Conal Lynch 21, Aidan Lynch 20, Mitch Peirce 20, Mark Hamilton 18 and Noah Pegoraro 18.

Tom Medhat played his first game for East Perth against his former team and kicked two goals from seven kicks and five marks with Mitchell Schofield also kicking two goals on debut for the Royals.

Hamish Brayshaw maintained his superb form in the midfield for the Royals with another 37 touches, 10 marks, 10 inside-50 entries and four tackles.

Stan Wright also gathered 29 possessions for East Perth, Angus Scott 27, Harley Sparks 21, Jack Cooley 20, Corey Watts 19 and Scott Jones 12 in the ruck to go with 37 hit outs.

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 11.15 (81) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 12.7 (79)

South Fremantle made it 13 consecutive derby victories holding on in the Fremantle Ports WA Day Derby at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Monday beating East Fremantle by two points.

The Bulldogs might have come into the game on their home ground having won the previous 12 derbies, but it was the Sharks on top of the ladder coming into the 2022 edition.

It turned out to be a seesaw affair in front of 6023 people at Fremantle Community Bank Oval as well with the Bulldogs opening up a 16-point lead early in the second quarter.

However, East Fremantle turned things around with the next eight goals and then turning that into a 27-point lead early in the second half. 

It was South Fremantle's turn to swing the momentum back around with the game's next six goals including three of them coming from Caleb Datson. The Bulldogs then held on for the win in a thrilling finish when Cam Eardley sent a set shot wide for the Sharks in the dying seconds. 

South Fremantle went on to win 11.15 (81) to 12.7 (79) and to make it a 13th derby win in succession against their old foes.

It was an ominous start to the derby with South Fremantle having won the last 12 encounters when Glenn Byron kicked an impressive goal on the run at the four-minute mark to give the Bulldogs the fast start.

Jimmy Miller then marked strongly and kicked truly for South Fremantle, but East Fremantle soon steadied and got on the board courtesy of spearhead Jonathon Marsh.

South Fremantle, though, got a third goal on the quarter-time siren through small forward Brandon Donaldson and that saw the Bulldogs hold a 15-point edge at the first break.

It was all East Fremantle in the second term, however, and the prospect of the Sharks ending their derby drought was a distinct possibility with the momentum they were able to build.

Young forward Reuben McGuire got things rolling before Alex Montauban kicked strongly from 50 to make it a two-point margin. McGuire's second then put the Sharks in front and they weren’t done with yet.

A trademark running goal from 124-game veteran Ryan Lester-Smith then put East Fremantle further in front for the first time in the game. 

Milan Murdock and Blaine Boekhorst helped the lead to 21 points which is where it stayed at half-time with a goal on the siren from Michael Tassone.

The seven goal to one second term had livened up the derby encounters as they rarely have been during South Fremantle's 12-game streak and the Sharks took their lead out to a game high 27 points with Cody Leggett kicking truly to start the second half.

South Fremantle needed to lift and they were up to the challenge lifting their intensity around the contest significantly, helped by the move of usual small forward Manfred Kelly into the middle.

It was a player still eligible to play colts playing in his first derby, Steely Green, who started the Bulldogs' fight back with a goal and two minutes later Cam McCarthy also kicked truly. 

Caleb Datson then had the best five-minute purple patch of his 25-game career kicking three goals in that span with his third putting the Bulldogs back in front after having been 27 points down less than 20 minutes earlier.

McCarthy's second goal of the third quarter then extended South Fremantle's lead but Marsh got one back for the Sharks to keep them within five points at three quarter-time.

Goals were hard to come by in a tense last term but South Fremantle's lead was back out to 12 points at the nine-minute mark after a strong mark and goal to Miller.

Boekhorst kicked his second at the 18-minute mark to keep East Fremantle in touch and then Corey Holmes managed another six minutes later to make it a two-point ball game.

In the end, it was Cam Eardley who had a golden chance to give East Fremantle the lead with a set shot 30m out and on a 45 degree angle.

However, he miscued horrible to send it out on the full and South Fremantle would hold on to win 11.15 (81) to 12.7 (79) to make it 13 consecutive derby victories.

Caleb Datson had a stunning burst of three goals in five minutes in the third quarter for South Fremantle to make up the most of his six kicks and four marks for the day.

Brandon Donaldson, Jimmy Miller and Cam McCarthy all kicked two goals each as well for the Bulldogs.

Tom Blechynden amassed 27 possessions to go with seven tackles and seven inside-50 entries for South Fremantle with Brendon Ah Chee adding 27 touches, Jake Florenca 25 and Haiden Schloithe 24 to go with seven tackles.

Toby McQuilkin continued his strong form in defence for the Bulldogs with 20 possessions and three tackles while Hamish Free had 12 touches and 42 hit outs in the ruck and Noah Strom had a terrific battle with Jonathon Marsh at full-back and had eight disposals and eight tackles.

Jonathon Marsh and Reuben McGuire kicked two goals apiece for East Fremantle as did Blaine Boekhorst to go with 33 disposals, nine inside-50 entries, five marks and four tackles.

Milan Murdock finished with 32 touches and 10 tackles for the Sharks with Cam Eardley collecting 26 disposals, Jackson McDonald 17, Ryan Lester-Smith 16 and Jarrad Jansen 16 to go with 12 tackles.

Jeremy Goddard finished with 10 disposals, five tackles and 31 hit outs while captain Matthew Jupp was tremendous down back once more with support from Lachlan Bailey.