WAFL Round 20 Wrap

THE top four teams all won on Saturday in Round 20 of the WAFL season to remain in the positions they were heading into the finals while Peel Thunder then booked in their spot with a dominant win over Swan Districts on Saturday.

It shaped as a fascinating last round of the 2022 WAFL season across the weekend with all positions in the top five still possible of changing with any of the top four teams able to finish anywhere from first through fourth depending on how the results panned out.

However, as it turned out, West Perth, East Fremantle, Claremont and South Fremantle all won their games against the bottom four sides meaning they all finished in the same order they were in coming into the round.

That left it all up to Sunday to determine who the last team to qualify for the finals would be and it was the Thunder proving too strong for Swans in Mandurah to set up their crack at the finals once again.

The Round 20 action began on Saturday afternoon with East Fremantle shaking off a slow start to defeat East Perth 7.11 (53) to 3.14 (32) at Leederville Oval to secure second position.

Jarrad Jansen kicked two goals for East Fremantle with Josh Schoenfeld racking up 32 touches and Kyle Baskerville 31. Tom Graham kicked two goals for East Perth with Angus Scott collecting 28 disposals.

West Perth then locked away its first minor premiership since 1993 by beating Subiaco 13.11 (89) to 5.12 (42) thanks to a dominant second half at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium.

Tyler Keitel kicked five goals for West Perth with Aidan Lynch amassing 30 possessions, Aaron Black 28 and Luke Meadows 28. Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Sokol kicked three goals for Subiaco while Stefan Giro picked up 30 touches.

Claremont then guaranteed a finals double chance and third position by beating the West Coast Eagles 10.8 (68) to 6.9 (45) at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Alex Manuel kicked three goals for the Tigers while Ryan Lim collected 31 touches, Lachlan Martinis 30 and Jye Bolton 30. Patrick Naish racked up 33 possessions for the Eagles and Jackson Nelson 32.

South Fremantle then remained in fourth position as they prepare for a seventh consecutive finals campaign by beating Perth 14.8 (92) to 4.4 (28) at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

Nick Suban and Mason Shaw kicked three goals each for South Fremantle with Haiden Schloithe collecting 31 disposals, Steely Green 31 and Tom Blechynden 30. Corey Byrne finished with 31 possessions for the Demons.

The round then wrapped up on Sunday afternoon at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium with Peel Thunder and Swan Districts battling over fifth position and the last spot in the finals.

Peel proved too strong going on to win 18.20 (128) to 5.6 (36) to mark their first finals appearance since winning back-to-back premierships in 2016 and 2017, and to end the season of Swans in the process.

Sam Sturt kicked four goals for Peel and Lloyd Meek three while Mitch Crowden amassed 38 possessions, Neil Erasmus 32, Connor Blakely 31 and Ethan Hughes 30. Ryan Kemp kicked two goals for Swans with Jesse Turner collecting 31 touches and Aidan Clarke 28.

The results mean that West Perth (13-1-4) finishes on top of the WAFL ladder with East Fremantle (13-5) second, Claremont (13-5) third, South Fremantle (12-1-5) fourth and Peel Thunder (11-7) fifth.

Outside of a finals position are Swan Districts (10-8), Subiaco (7-11), East Perth (6-12), Perth (3-15) and West Coast (1-17).

The finals get underway this coming weekend starting on Saturday afternoon with East Fremantle hosting Claremont at New Choice Homes Park in the qualifying final. The winner will advance to take on West Perth in a second semi-final while the loser will host a first semi-final.

Then on Sunday it will be South Fremantle hosting Peel Thunder in an elimination final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. The winner will advance to a first semi-final and the season will be over for the loser.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 20

EAST PERTH 3.14 (32) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 7.11 (53)

WEST PERTH 13.11 (89) defeated SUBIACO 5.12 (42)

CLAREMONT 10.8 (68) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 6.9 (45)

PERTH 4.4 (28) lost to SOUTH FREMANTLE 14.8 (92)

PEEL THUNDER 18.20 (128) defeated SWAN DISTRICTS 5.6 (36)