Round 2 McDonald's WAFL ResultsSaturday, March 26, 2016 - 10:49 PM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth and Peel Thunder both scored their first victories of 2016, and South Fremantle remained unbeaten in tough and wet conditions for Saturday's Round 2 WAFL matches.

Following Subiaco's 13.15 (93) to 9.8 (62) victory on Good Friday at Medibank Stadium over East Perth, the wet weather rolled in on Saturday to make for a difficult day of football early in the new season.

That saw Swan Districts record its lowest ever score in the club's 82-year history with South Fremantle handing them a 9.14 (68) to 2.6 (18) defeat at Steel Blue Oval.

West Perth came from behind and had to withstand 45 possessions from Clint Jones to beat Perth 12.12 (84) to 6.7 (43) at HBF Arena while Peel Thunder won a nail-biter 11.7 (73) to 9.16 (70) over East Fremantle at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

South Fremantle not only is unbeaten after two league matches in 2016 but its reserves and colts teams have also gone through without a loss against West Perth and Swan Districts to start the new season in style.

Following on from their colts and reserves winning at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday, the Bulldogs were in control from the outset against Swans and kicked eight of the last nine goals following the 14-minute mark of the first quarter to win by 50 points.

Shane Hockey arrived at South Fremantle for 2016 with a reputation as a hard at it, contested ball winning midfielder and that meant the wet weather on Saturday was tailor made for him. And he made the most of it with 28 possessions and 10 tackles in a best afield performance.

He received plenty of help in the midfield, though, with Ashton Hams finishing with 24 disposals, six tackles and two goals, Brendan Verrier 22 disposals and seven tackles and Steven Verrier 19 disposals and nine tackles.

It wasn’t a day cut out for key forwards but Ben Saunders still managed to kick two goals while Zac Strom provided a good target with 17 disposals while helping out in the ruck with 18 hit outs.

The Bulldogs' back-line was again outstanding with Marlion Pickett the standout with 23 possessions and six inside-50 entries. Blayne Wilson continued his good form with 17 touches and seven marks.

It wasn’t a day to remember for Swan Districts who recorded its lowest ever WAFL score with Rudy Riddoch and Ricky Cary kicking their only two goals.

Aaron Elari did pick up 31 possessions, Freddie Clutterbuck 26, Adam Faulkner 23, Ben Whitsed 23 and Graham Jetta 20. Troy Yukich tried valiantly in the ruck on debut with 50 hit outs.

Peel Thunder got its first win on the board for 2016 with a thrilling win over East Fremantle following a tight Round 1 loss to Subiaco.

It was an inaccurate Sharks team for the entire day in the difficult conditions in Mandurah but the visitors looked set to overcome that and get their second win to start the season.

The Sharks led by nine points in time-on of the final quarter after veteran Brett Peake kicked his fifth goal, but the Thunder weren’t done with yet and two late goals to young Fremantle key position player Alex Pearce saw Peel get over the line by three points.

That was despite East Fremantle having seven more scoring shots, 11 extra inside-50 entries and 42 more possessions.

As well as Pearce kicking two goals for Peel, captain Gerald Ugle added two majors while developing Dockers key position player Tanner Smith kicked four and is making the most of his body finally letting him stay on the park consistently.

Matt de Boer racked up 34 possessions for Peel, Ed Langdon 32, Rory O'Brien 26, Ethan Hughes 23, Darcy Tucker 22, Connor Blakely 21 and Sam Collins 19. Jack Hannath dominated the ruck with 56 hit outs to go with 11 possessions and seven marks.

Peake kicked five goals in his second game back from retirement for East Fremantle with Josh Simpson chipping in with two.

Cameron Eardley compiled 29 disposals for the Sharks, Liam Anthony 23, Sean Henson 23, Brock O'Brien 22, Tim Bristow 21, Jamie McNamara 21, Jack Perham 21 and Jayden Schofield 20.

Perth had the bye in the opening round meaning its opening to 2016 had to wait an extra week, but with the rain tumbling down at HBF Arena the new-look Demons made an encouraging start.

Key forward recruit Spencer White kicked the first goal of the game and with Clint Jones on fire in his first game with the club racking up 22 possessions in the opening quarter and 10 minutes with the wet conditions suiting him perfectly, the Demons were right on top.

When 17-year-old debutant Zac Fisher goaled at the seven-minute mark of the second term, Perth led by nine points but the rain began to let up a little and for the rest of the day West Perth worked its way on top.

The Falcons went on to kick 11 of the last 15 goals of the game to win by 41 points to score a ninth straight win over the Demons, and their first of 2016.

It was a case of the walking wounded for West Perth by the end of the game with Kody Manning having not returned after half-time while Max Duffy, Chris Keunen and Rohan Kerr continue to contribute despite battling complaints as well.

That made their response after Perth closed to within a goal early in the last term all the more impressive as they kicked the last five goals to win by 41 points.

Perth also lost reigning Sandover Medallist Aidan Tropiano before half-time.

Aaron Black stepped up playing a role as an inside midfielder for the day and was outstanding with 33 possessions, six tackles and two goals.

Trent Manzone worked hard also with 24 disposals while Andrew Strijk had 22 touches, Kerr 19, Jay van Berlo 17, Steven Browne 16 and Aidan Lynch 16. Van Berlo and Lynch both laid 12 tackles apiece.

Keunen came back on after hurting his leg in the third quarter to kick his second goal while in defence, Tyler Keitel was terrific limiting the influence of Spencer White for Perth and having 14 touches himself to go with 11 hit outs while helping in the ruck.

Jones was the star of the day for Perth finishing with 45 possessions and eight tackles in his first game for the Demons.

Meanwhile, debutant Fisher was equally exciting with 23 touches and two goals.

Liam McKenna also had 25 disposals for the Demons, Julian Jacobs 25 and Dene White 22. Angus Graham worked hard in the ruck for 41 hit outs.

Jared Bell did well in defence keeping Duffy quiet while Brent Latch and Aaron Zucconi combined to quell the influence of Nick Rodda and Michael Lourey.

ROUND 2 McDONALD'S WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
Subiaco 13.15 (93) defeated East Perth 9.8 (62)
Swan Districts 2.6 (18) lost to South Fremantle 9.14 (68)
Peel Thunder 11.7 (73) defeated East Fremantle 9.16 (70)
West Perth 12.12 (84) defeated Perth 6.7 (43)

RESERVES
Subiaco 7.10 (52) lost to East Perth 15.14 (104)
Swan Districts 6.3 (39) lost to South Fremantle 6.15 (51)
Peel Thunder 5.6 (36) lost to East Fremantle 16.12 (108)
West Perth 7.9 (51) defeated Perth 6.7 (43)

REDiMED COLTS
Subiaco 6.4 (40) lost to East Perth 16.19 (115)
Swan Districts 7.5 (47) lost to South Fremantle 8.11 (59)
Peel Thunder 6.10 (46) lost to East Fremantle 15.11 (101)
West Perth 1.9 (15) lost to Perth 5.13 (43)