WAFL Round 18 Wrap

STATEMENTS aplenty were made in Round 18 of the WAFL with wins for Claremont, East Fremantle, West Perth, South Fremantle and Perth, but not much was decided in the race for finals.

It was a full round of WAFL fixtures once again on Saturday for the third last round of the 2022 season and with six teams still fighting for the five finals positions, there was plenty that went on the line.

By the end of the action on Saturday night, West Perth, Claremont, East Fremantle and South Fremantle had all won big to consolidate their top four positions, but losses for Peel Thunder and Swan Districts meant they are still locked in a battle over that fifth and final spot with two rounds remaining.

Perth also returned to the winner's list to guarantee that they won't be stuck with the wooden spoon in 2022.

The Round 18 Saturday afternoon action got underway with Claremont keeping its winning form going with a fifth consecutive victory to beat Peel Thunder 13.11 (89) to 11.8 (74).

Ben Edwards, Timm House and Tyron Smallwood all kicked two goals for Claremont while Bailey Rogers and Lachlan Martinis racked up 29 possessions each.

Neil Erasmus kicked three goals for Peel while Liam Henry finished with 26 possessions and 14 marks.

East Fremantle then consolidated third position with a dominant second half performance to end up beating Swan Districts 20.15 (135) to 8.9 (57) at the WACA Ground.

It was a terrific performance from the Sharks with Jonathon Marsh and Reuben McGuire kicking four goals apiece while Kyle Baskerville racked up 36 possessions. 

It was a rough afternoon for Swans despite two goals each from Jesse Palmer, Brayden Noble and Chris Jones.

It might have been a strange Perth Derby venue at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park on Saturday, but it didn’t stop West Perth maintaining its hold on top spot by defeating East Perth 17.12 (114) to 6.8 (44).

Keegan Knott and Mitch Dobson kicked four goals each for West Perth and Tyler Keitel three to go with 31 possessions.

Sandon Page kicked two goals for East Perth with Angus Scott racking up another 32 possessions.

South Fremantle then bounced back from last week's loss with a commanding performance to beat Subiaco 19.18 (132) to 6.8 (44) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Mason Shaw had his best outing of the season for South Fremantle kicking five goals with Haiden Schloithe amassing another 33 touches.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals for Subiaco and Liam Hickmott gathered another 31 touches to go with 13 tackles.

Perth then all but consigned the West Coast Eagles to another wooden spoon finish in 2022 with the 13.11 (89) to 6.6 (42) victory on Saturday night at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

Simon Hayward and Harry Quartermaine kicked three goals apiece for Perth with Regan Clarke amassing 32 possessions. 

Jed Kemp kicked three goals for West Coast and Patrick Naish collected 37 possessions.

That all means that West Perth maintains its hold on top positions with two rounds of the 2022 WAFL season remaining with 12 losses, three losses and a draw.

They are half a game ahead of the 12-4 Claremont now with East Fremantle a game further back in third position with an 11-5 record.

South Fremantle sits fourth with 10 wins, five losses and a draw while Peel Thunder stays fifth at 9-7 percentage ahead of the also 9-7 Swan Districts who are in sixth place.

The ladder is then made up by East Perth (6-10), Subiaco (6-10), Perth (3-13) and West Coast (1-15).

The penultimate round of the 2022 season will see four matches take place this Saturday afternoon with Claremont hosting East Fremantle, Subiaco taking on Perth, Peel Thunder at home to West Coast, and Swan Districts hosting West Perth.

The round wraps up on Sunday afternoon between South Fremantle and East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
 

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

CLAREMONT 13.11 (89) defeated PEEL THUNDER 11.8 (74)

EAST FREMANTLE 20.15 (135) defeated SWAN DISTRICTS 8.9 (57)

EAST PERTH 6.8 (44) lost to WEST PERTH 17.12 (114)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 19.18 (132) defeated SUBIACO 6.8 (44)

PERTH 13.11 (89) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 6.6 (42)