Round 23 McDonald's WAFL ResultsSunday, August 28, 2016 - 10:58 AM - by Chris Pike

WHILE South Fremantle, West Perth and Peel Thunder did as expected by winning ahead of their WAFL finals appearances, all eyes were on ATOM Stadium on Saturday with fifth spot up for grabs and it was East Perth in control all afternoon over East Fremantle to prevail.

With Subiaco, South Fremantle, West Perth and Peel Thunder locked in for the top four positions coming into the last round of the 2016 McDonald's WAFL Premiership Season, it was left to the Sharks and Royals to battle over the remaining spot.

East Fremantle had the home ground advantage but that proved to be all as East Perth controlled the game from the outset to end up winning 13.9 (87) to 6.3 (39) to finish in fifth position.

Saturday's other Round 23 matches saw Peel Thunder beat Claremont 10.10 (70) to 6.9 (45) at the Claremont Showground, South Fremantle defeat Perth 14.14 (98) to 7.4 (46) at Lathlain Park and West Perth overrun Swan Districts to win 13.18 (96) to 11.10 (76) at HBF Arena.

That means that as the finals begin next week the minor premier Subiaco has the break while South Fremantle plays West Perth in the qualifying final on Saturday and then on Sunday, Peel Thunder hosts East Perth at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

The only game on Saturday in Round 23 with finals implications took place at ATOM Stadium as the Sharks and Royals did battle over top spot.

East Perth kicked the opening three goals of the game and were never headed from there going on to lead East Fremantle by 19 points at quarter-time, 25 at half-time, 29 at three quarter-time and then 48 by the final siren as the Royals qualified for a fifth straight finals appearance.

Inspirational captain Craig Wulff kicked two goals for East Perth as did Malcolm Karpany and Sam Powell-Pepper.

Paul Johnson piled up 56 hit outs in the ruck for the Royals while Luke Partington continued his impressive form with 30 possessions. Kurt Mutimer also had 25 disposals, Jackson Nelson 24, Jack Redden 23, Karpany 23, Eric Mackenzie 20, Mitch Fraser 20, Tom Cole 19 and Mitch Brown 19.

Cameron Eardley kicked two goals for East Fremantle to go with 21 possessions and eight tackles while Liam Anthony gathered 34 disposals, Jayden Schofield 24, Ryan Lester-Smith 24, Dylan Winton 22 and Jesse Adamini 18.

Perhaps the most likely team from outside the finals to beat a team already qualified was Claremont who was taking on Peel at the Claremont Showground, but the Thunder started strongly and remained in control all afternoon against the Tigers.

Peel managed to kick five goals to one in the opening quarter to lead by 25 points at quarter-time and the Thunder went on to win by 25 in the finish ahead of next Sunday's elimination final against East Perth in Mandurah.

Peel captain Gerald Ugle along with Brayden Lawler, Tanner Smith and Jack Hannath all kicked two goals each for the Thunder. However, Smith suffered yet another injury, this time a hamstring that looks set to end his season.

Rory O'Brien was again terrific for Peel racking up 34 possessions while Tendai Mzungu gathered 34 disposals, Josh Deluca 28, Ethan Hughes 24, Anthony Morabito 21 and ruckman Zac Clarke 19 to go with 25 hit outs and six marks.

Justin Speed kicked two goals for Claremont but Jack Bradshaw and Darcy Cameron were both goalless after combining for 13 in last week's 99-point win over East Fremantle.

Jye Bolton gathered another 33 possessions for the Tigers, Tom Ledger 31, Jared Hardisty 30, Jake Murphy 23, Ryan Lim 21 and Haydn Busher 18.

South Fremantle made a stunning start to its clash with Perth at Lathlain Park despite already being guaranteed of second position and a home qualifying final.

The Bulldogs kicked eight goals to nil in the first quarter with the Demons not scoring until a behind to Liam McKenna at the 21-minute mark of the second term. The Bulldogs then kicked the only two second quarter goals to leave Perth goalless until the three-minute mark of the third term.

Perth actually did well from there and kicked seven goals to four after half-time but the damage was done and South Fremantle cruised to the 52-point victory ahead of its first finals campaign since 2011. It ends an improved season for Perth winning seven games.

Ben Saunders kicked four goals for South Fremantle to give him 52 for the season and to claim a third Bernie Naylor Medal since joining the Bulldogs in 2012.

Mason Shaw also kicked three goals to give him 46 for the season to see him end third in the Bernie Naylor Medal race. Ashton Hams and Tyson Pickett chipped in with two goals each for the Bulldogs.

Dylan Main racked up another 31 possessions while Steven Verrier finished with 30, Brendan Verrier 30, Hams 26, Marlion Pickett 20, Shaun Bewick 20, Jacob Dragovich 19 and Blayne Wilson ended up with 27 to go with nine marks in his 100th WAFL appearance.

Spencer White kicked two goals for Perth with Clint Jones gathering 31 possessions, Aidan Tropiano 26, Liam McKenna 23, Julian Jacobs 22, Brett Wolfenden 21 and Michael Sinclair 18.

Then at HBF Arena, Swan Districts got the jump on the finals bound West Perth with the wooden spooners kicking the first five goals of the game with four of those coming to usual defender Justin Simpson.

Simpson then added a fifth midway through the second term replicating his five-goal haul in the 2010 preliminary final. Swans did lead the Falcons by as much as 29 points and then still by seven early in the last quarter following two goals to Taryce Stewart.

However, West Perth kicked the next four to secure the 20-point win to go into next Saturday's qualifying final in winning form as Swan Districts' season ends on two wins.

West Perth's midfield worked hard led by Rohan Kerr who collected 31 possessions while Aaron Black gathered 30 disposals, captain Jay van Berlo 29, Corey Chalmers 28 and ruckman Chris Keunen 16 to go with 24 hit outs.

Steven Browne and Blake Wilhelm had 21 disposals apiece down back while Michael Lourey kicked three goals and Andrew Strijk two.

As well as Simpson's five goals for Swan Districts, Stewart kicked two and Adam Faulkner amassed another 35 possessions while Jesse Turner had 31 touches, Jacob Coniglio 22, Matt Riggio 20 and debutant Jacob Ness 18. 

ROUND 23 McDONALD'S WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
East Fremantle 6.3 (39) lost to East Perth 13.9 (87)
Claremont 6.9 (45) lost to Peel Thunder 10.10 (70)
Perth 7.4 (46) lost to South Fremantle 14.14 (98)
West Perth 13.18 (96) defeated Swan Districts 11.10 (76)

RESERVES
East Fremantle 6.3 (39) lost to East Perth 8.14 (62)
Claremont 9.11 (65) lost to Peel Thunder 12.5 (77)
Perth 14.10 (94) defeated South Fremantle 10.10 (70)
West Perth 11.10 (76) lost to Swan Districts 13.9 (87)

COLTS
East Fremantle 5.12 (42) lost to East Perth 8.3 (51)
Claremont 11.11 (77) defeated Peel Thunder 7.13 (55)
Perth 5.14 (44) defeated South Fremantle 1.8 (14)
West Perth 2.6 (18) lost to Swan Districts 13.7 (85)