Round 7 WAFL Wrap UpTuesday, May 6, 2014 - 11:38 AM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 7 of the WAFL saw Swan Districts close in on top spot of the ladder with a win over Subiaco while East Perth consolidated itself in the top-four, and Perth and South Fremantle put themselves right back in the mix.

All four Round 7 WAFL matches took place on Saturday with East Perth beating East Fremantle 11.9 (75) to 9.11 (65) at East Fremantle Oval, Perth downing Peel Thunder 10.17 (77) to 6.12 (48) and Bendigo Bank Stadium, South Fremantle thrashing Claremont 17.13 (115) to 8.3 (51) at Fremantle Oval and Swan Districts beating Subiaco 19.13 (127) to 13.6 (84) at Medibank Stadium.

The results leave Subiaco still on top of the ladder on a 5-1 record but only percentage now ahead of the also 5-1 Swan Districts.

East Perth (5-2) is just behind while Perth (3-3) is back inside the top-four. Just outside are East Fremantle (3-3), South Fremantle (3-4), West Perth (2-4), Claremont (2-4) and Peel Thunder (0-6). 

Click here for the summary of Round 7 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS

Swan Districts continues to defy the odds to start the 2014 season having now won five straight matches following Saturday's 43-point win over the previously unbeaten Subiaco.

Swans were written off just about universally coming into 2014 following the departures of the likes of Tom Roach, Kyle Hams, Brett Robinson, Wayde Twomey, Shaun Hildebrandt, Dayle Garlett, Rory Lobb and Charlie Cameron.

However, the players remaining and coming through at Swans decided to just knuckle down and work with what they've got, and the result has been a fully committed and passionate playing group.

There is still enough experience with Tallan Ames, Justin Simpson, Graham Jetta, Ryan Davis, Tim Geappen, Tony Notte, Travis Casserly and Matt Riggio who all are in tremendous form.

Then there are mid-range players who have taken the next step including Matthew Rogers, Kirk Ugle, Aaron Elari, Alex Howard and Adam Faulkner have all gone to another level and youngsters Blaine Boekhorst, Matthew Jukes, Nathan Blakely, Connor Blakely, Brent Latch and Ricky Cary have come up big.

The result is that Swan Districts now sits in second spot on the ladder just percentage behind Subiaco ahead of a clash at home against East Fremantle who is on a two-game losing streak.

THE BIG LOSERS
Claremont won the last four minor premierships and in that time played in three grand finals, won two premierships and hosted another preliminary final, but any hopes of playing finals again in 2014 appears a long way off.

Claremont had a mass loss of star premiership players coming into 2014 mostly due to retirement but with others also taking a break from football to travel or have a year off from the game.

Victories in 2014 over West Perth and Peel Thunder did offer a glimpse that it's not all doom and gloom, but all four losses have suggested the Tigers will be much closer to the bottom than the top of the WAFL ladder come the end of the season.

While Claremont has missed captain Jake Murphy and vice-captain Trinity Handley through injury, their absence hardly explains the losses to Perth, Subiaco, East Fremantle and South Fremantle by an average of a massive 71 points.

Claremont will look to bounce back from a 64-point loss to South Fremantle when it takes on the West Coast-aligned East Perth this Saturday.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
East Perth dominated its clash with East Fremantle for the first three quarters to lead by a massive 50 points at three quarter-time.

For the second straight week, East Fremantle did come alive in the final quarter but once again it was too little left far too late as the Royals held on to win by 10 points despite not kicking a goal in the last quarter.

Co-captain Brendan Lee was outstanding for the Royals in his first match of the season after a nasty finger injury. He finished the game with 32 possessions and seven entries inside the forward 50.

Steven Payne also impressed for East Perth with 30 possessions while Patrick McGinnity racked up 26 disposals, Sharrod Wellingham 25, Craig Wulff 23, Freddie Clutterbuck 23 and Dom Sheed 21.

The forward-line was again without reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Josh Smith but Josh Hill and Fraser McInnes both kicked three goals while Callum Sinclair kicked two to go with 17 possessions, eight marks and 23 hit outs.

Brett Peake kicked four goals from just seven kicks for East Fremantle while Ryan Lester-Smith also booted two majors.

Bradd Dalziell was outstanding for the Sharks finishing with 36 possessions, 10 marks and five inside-50 entries while Jamie McNamara gathered 29 disposals, Rory O'Brien 28, Steven Dodd 24, Tom Howlett 22 (14 marks), Jayden Schofield 21 and Cameron Eardley 20.

Jacob Martinez was best afield for South Fremantle and played the best of his 34 WAFL matches finishing with 31 possessions, 13 marks, five clearances, seven inside-50 entries, four rebounds from the defensive 50 and two goals.

Captain Ryan Cook was again outstanding with 28 possessions to go with 10 inside 50s, five clearances and six marks.

South Fremantle's back-line again stood up led by Adam Guglielmana who finished with 27 possessions while Dylan Ross had 24 to go with 13 marks while also keeping Claremont's ruckmen when forward quiet with help from Zac Strom.

Nick Borovac was again rock solid defensively holding Jack Richardson goalless while Ashton Hams had 22 possessions despite a close tag from Matthew Goyder.

Brendan Verrier also finished with 26 possessions, Steven Verrier 25, Shaun Bewick 21, Toby Bairstow 20 and ruckman Brock Higgins 17 to go with 20 hit outs, four clearances and four marks up against Mark Seaby, Mitch Andrews and Darcy Cameron.

South Fremantle's forward-line also proved potent with Ben Saunders kicking four goals and two each to Josh Pullman, Mitch Carter and Craig White to go with his 19 possessions, nine marks and five inside-50 entries.

Luke Blackwell was a tireless worker for Claremont finishing with 31 possessions and 11 clearances while Mathew Aitchison gathered 25 disposals, Ryan Neates 23, Andrew Foster 22, Matt Orzel 22, Sam Fong 21, Aaron Holt 20, Jack Bradshaw 19, Maximillian Bentley 17, Tom Ledger 17 and Tom Taylor 17.

Bradshaw kicked three goals and Neates two while Corey Yeo did well limited the influence of Schloithe and also Goyder ensured that Hams didn’t dominate across half-back for South Fremantle as he had the past two weeks.

Peel Thunder kicked just one goal for the entire first half at home to Perth on Saturday, but by three quarter-time the Thunder was only five points behind.

However, Perth then kicked four goals to one in the final term to run out relatively comfortable 29-point winners.

Experienced pair Matt Moody and Paul Bevan kicked two goals apiece for Perth with Bevan's effort including 19 possessions, six marks, five tackles and five entries inside the forward 50.

Dene White continued his career-best form this season in the midfield for Perth with 30 possessions and nine inside-50 entries while Cale Morton also impressed with 29 disposals, nine marks, six inside 50s and a goal.

Cameron Manuel also worked hard for the Demons finishing with 25 possessions while Mitch Morton racked up 20 disposals, Joel Leeson 19 and Matthew Hunt 16 to go with seven inside-50 entries.

Former captain Brendon Jones once again showed the way for Peel finishing with 29 possessions while Josh Mathers racked up 28 disposals, Cruize Garlett 27, Jacob Ballard 26, Kepler Bradley 24, Dylan Winton 23, Garrick Ibbotson 23 and Colin Sylvia 19.

Ruckman Jonathon Griffin worked hard for 14 touches, seven marks and 41 hit outs with Matt Brown and Kristin Thornton kicking two goals each for Peel.

The undoubted game of the round took place at Leederville's Medibank Stadium and it was a tight and exciting affair for three quarters with Swan Districts only leading Subiaco by three points at three quarter-time.

However, Swans dominated the fourth quarter kicking the first seven goals and eventually eight goals to two for the term to end up 43-point winners against the previously unbeaten Lions.

Matthew Jukes was the star up forward for Swan Districts kicking a career-best six goals from 17 possessions and five marks.

Matthew Rogers was best afield, though, as he continues his career-best form this season across half-forward for Swans and drifting through the middle with another 26 possessions, nine marks, four inside-50 entries and three goals.

Ryan Davis celebrated his 100th game for Swan Districts with two goals to go with 20 possessions while Tim Geappen and Ricky Cary both booted two majors up forward as well.

Matt Riggio also picked up 22 possessions for Swans with Justin Simpson collecting 22 disposals, Graham Jetta 21, Aaron Elari 21, Blaine Boekhorst 20, Kirk Ugle 19 and Connor Blakely 18.

Shane Yarran kicked three goals for Subiaco with Matt Boland and Rhys Waters booting two apiece.

Jason Bristow racked up 26 possessions for the Lions, Shaun Hildebrandt 25, Chris Phelan 24, Kyal Horsley 22 and ruckman Frank Stockley 17 to go with 36 hit outs, six inside-50 entries and a goal.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
East Fremantle's reserves scored a narrow four-point win over East Perth with former captain Mark McGough making his first appearance of the season after wrist surgery and gathering 16 possessions.

Jack Perham responded to being dropped well by kicking five goals from 15 possessions and 12 marks for the Sharks with Brandon Ellis also kicking five goals, Tom Bowey three and Louis Cronan two.

Tim Bristow gathered 21 possessions, James Bristow 21 (24 hit outs), Tyler Chalwell 19, Jake Schleicher 19 and Boston Williamson 19.

Steven Wityk and Marcus Ruggiero both kicked three goals each for East Perth with Dean Cadwallader looking good with 26 possessions, 12 marks and two goals.

Julian Locantro also picked up 27 touches for the Royals, Jackson Slater 23, Mitchell Howlett 21, Julian Ameduri 21, Tom Shanahan 21 and Malcolm Karpany 20.

Things didn’t go to plan for South Fremantle's reserves, though, with Claremont running out 17.15 (117) to 4.13 (37) winners.

Kris Miller worked tirelessly for the Bulldogs with another 41 possessions, six inside 50s and a goal with Traye Bennell booting two goals from 21 disposals.

Lewis Harvey also racked up 33 disposals, Billy Collier 27, Ben Sokol 23, Joe Pantano 22, Matt Gundry 21, Jayden D'Vauz 21, Jakeb Tartaglia 18, Matthew Nicholson 18 and ruckman Myles Bolger 18 to go with 29 hit outs and six marks.

Matthew Davies all but booked himself a return to Claremont's league team with 38 possessions, nine marks, eight inside 50s, four tackles and two goals.

Joel Ebert also kicked three goals for the Tigers and Shane McAdam two, Jordan Aitken two, Keegan Knott two and Liam Smith two.

Henry Roberts also had it 35 times, Ben Daniher 32, Coleman Cristinelli 30, Jordan Law 21 and Michael Trevenen 20 and Trinity Handley returned from a hamstring injury with 10 possessions and six marks.

Perth's reserves beat Peel Thunder by 32 points with Brock Bakker booting three goals for the Demons with Joel Houghton, Kieran Hug and Tyler Chrimes all adding two apiece.

Hug also racked up 31 possessions, Joel Kalajzic 26, Daniel Arangio 26, Rowan Brookes 25, Michael Florio 24, Tim Hunt 23, Ryan Gray 21, Reese Richardson 20 and Alexander Moreno 19.

Kelvin Lawrence and Jesse Hockings kicked two goals each for Peel with Brennan Gillam racking up 28 possessions, Eddie Dann 25, Aiden Field 22, Jeff Carter 21 and Sam Barndon 20.

Subiaco's reserves beat Swan Districts by 43 points with Dylan Clarke booting three goals for the Lions, Tim Garvey two, Darcy Boyle two and Will Fetherstonhaugh two.

Simon Moore picked up 34 possessions, Matt Bogensperger 27, Tim Garvey 25, Craig Hoskins 23, Ryan Wade 22, Fetherstonhaugh 22 and Daniel Leishman 20.

Aaron Jetta kicked three goals for Swan Districts with Rodney Jetta and Rudy Riddoch booting two apiece.

Jesse Manton picked up 26 possessions, Jacob Burnham 22 and Laurence Grescos 20