wafl.com.au Team and Player of Round 23Wednesday, August 30, 2017 - 10:55 AM - by Chris Pike

LIAM Ryan confirmed his place as the excitement machine of the WAFL and there were a host of other standout individual performances but ultimately what Round 23 will be remembered for is the thrilling finish that saw West Perth beat Claremont and East Perth to fifth position.

Swan Districts, East Perth, West Perth and Claremont remained locked in a battle over the two remaining finals position entering the last round with Subiaco, South Fremantle and Peel Thunder already secure in the top three spots.

The first piece of the puzzle was with Swan Districts having the chance to lock in fourth spot with a win over East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval. It wasn’t to be with the Sharks avoiding the wooden spoon with the 20.10 (130) to 10.9 (69) victory.

That meant that not only could East Perth guarantee a finals spot but would also move into fourth with a win over Subiaco at Leederville Oval. That wasn’t to be either with the Lions making it 19 consecutive wins with the 16.14 (110) to 10.8 (68) win.

Everything was then to be determined at Claremont Oval between Claremont and West Perth. Claremont was on top most of the day and a win for the Tigers would have then meant percentage between them and the Royals would determine fifth spot.

But ultimately the Falcons delivered a terrific last quarter to win 12.6 (78) to 10.14 (74) and to ruin the dreams of the Royals and Tigers at the same time by snatching fifth position.

The other game of the round saw South Fremantle beat Peel Thunder 18.12 (120) to 12.14 (86) at Bendigo Bank Stadium in a tune up for this Saturday's qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

wafl.com.au PLAYER OF THE ROUND – LIAM RYAN (Subiaco)

The excitement machine capped off his stunning season with a dynamic display in Saturday's 42-point victory against East Perth.

He kicked another six goals for the day to go with 16 possessions and that secured him the Bernie Naylor Medal for 2017 with 68 goals for the season.

Not only did he kick the goals, but he showed his remarkable leaping ability once more with yet another Mark of the Year contender.

But as much as anything, it's his ability to kick goals and take his opportunities whether at ground level or from set shots that is making him so hard to stop and a definite candidate to have an AFL future.

wafl.com.au TEAM OF THE ROUND (times named)
BACK: Griffin Logue (1), Nick Rodda (4), Wayde Twomey (4)
HALF-BACK: Sam Taylor (1), Haydn Busher (7), Jayden Schofield (7)
CENTRE: Aaron Black (6), Scott Hancock (2), Jack Perham (2)
HALF-FORWARD: Haiden Schloithe (9), Lachlan Delahunty (7), Ambrose Ryan (1)
FORWARD: Liam Ryan (10), Michael Lourey (2), Mason Shaw (3)
RUCK: Corey Gault (9), Tim Kelly (10), Cameron Eardley (3)
INTERCHANGE: Jake Murphy (3), Andrew Strijk (4), Matt Riggio (4), Steve Verrier (2)

BACK POCKET – GRIFFIN LOGUE (Peel Thunder)
Has done enough at AFL level with Fremantle this season to suggest he has a long future at that level but found himself back with Peel on Saturday and was again given the job on triple Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders. He did that well holding him to two goals despite South Fremantle kicking 18 for the day and also had 20 possessions and eight marks.

FULL-BACK – NICK RODDA (West Perth)
He has shown some good signs up forward in recent weeks providing that second marking option for West Perth alongside Tyler Keitel. But he was back to full-back on Saturday and given the job on Claremont veteran Beau Maister, and was outstanding putting the clamps on him. Maister did kick two goals including one from a relayed free-kick in the last quarter but he was well beaten with Rodda finishing with 13 possessions and five marks.

BACK POCKET – WAYDE TWOMEY (Subiaco)
The 171-game triple premiership winner is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to do a tremendous job setting up play from defence for Subiaco. Had another 24 disposals and six marks in Saturday's big win over East Perth.

HALF-BACK FLANK – SAM TAYLOR (Swan Districts)
Difficult day for Swan Districts on Saturday but the 17-year-old was making his fifth appearance at league level and more than held his own even if he was part of a defensive unit that was under siege. After having 33 disposals combined in his opening four games, he ended up with 27 possessions and eight marks showing just what a bright future he has.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – HAYDN BUSHER (Claremont)
Continued his dominant finish to the season as a key defender for Claremont and it's hard to argue that he isn't the form player in that role across the competition. Continues to both beat his opponents and find plenty of the ball, take intercept marks and then set up play going the other way. Got the better of West Perth's Tyler Keitel on Saturday while having 23 disposals, nine marks and five inside-50 entries himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – JAYDEN SCHOFIELD (East Fremantle)
Has had an outstanding season as a creative running half-back and after missing last week's game with Peel Thunder, returned to finish off 2017 strongly in the impressive win against Swan Districts. Had another tremendous and creative performance with 25 touches, four marks and three inside 50s.

WING – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
He won't be forgetting his 150th game with West Perth that sees him become a life member in a hurry. It was yet another accolade to a career already including a premiership, Sandover Medal, fairest and best award and three state appearances. He played strongly as well in the crucial win against Claremont with 27 possessions, six marks and five tackles.

CENTRE – SCOTT HANCOCK (Subiaco)
With captain Kyal Horsley still out, two more key midfielders Justin Joyce and Chris Phelan also missing and then Leigh Kitchin well held by East Perth's Julian Ameduri, he was the man to pick up the slack. Has returned strongly from a knee reconstruction last year on the back of playing in the 2015 premiership after joining Subiaco from East Fremantle. He had 30 possessions, seven marks, five inside 50s and four tackles.

WING – JACK PERHAM (East Fremantle)
The usual key forward has been in good form late in the season for East Fremantle since returning from injury and then he thrived with the freedom of playing on the wing in Saturday's big win against Swan Districts. Was playing his 99th game with the Sharks and it was one of his best with 28 possessions, 11 marks and a goal. 

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – HAIDEN SCHLOITHE (South Fremantle)
His brilliant season continued Saturday as he returned from a rest in Round 21 and then South Fremantle having the bye last weekend. Split his time between playing as an on-baller and then up forward and had a significant impact against Peel wherever he played. Ended up with another 26 possessions, seven marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal and has to be a leading Sandover Medal contender.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – LACHLAN DELAHUNTY (Subiaco)
The versatile big man is having a significant impact now spending more time forward in the continued absence of Clancy Wheeler. He is being allowed to do that with Adam Creeper doing well in the ruck and he was tremendous again on Saturday in the win against East Perth kicking four goals from 14 possessions. 

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – AMBROSE RYAN (East Fremantle)
Is one of a whole host of young players given opportunities during the tough 2017 season for East Fremantle and the 18-year-old has shown some tremendous signs and none better than his effort in Saturday's win against Swan Districts. Kicked three impressive goals for the day to go with 14 possessions, six inside-50 entries and five marks.

FORWARD POCKET – MASON SHAW (South Fremantle)
The tall forward had a strong performance in South Fremantle's solid win against Peel on Saturday. Ended up kicking four goals 13 possessions and seven strong marks to give him 41 goals for the season as one of four Bulldogs players to kick at least that many goals for the 2017 season. 

FULL-FORWARD – MICHAEL LOUREY (West Perth)
His third season in the WAFL with West Perth hasn’t quite stacked up to the impact he had in the first two where he kicked 88 goals in 46 games. Then since returning from a broken hand he had spent time in defence the previous couple of weeks but was forward again Saturday against Claremont kicking two handy first half goals and then the match-winning final two goals of the contest to boot the Falcons into the finals.

RUCK – COREY GAULT (Swan Districts)
His team might have lost its last four games entering the finals but it's through no fault of his and he has been in some remarkable form in the ruck to finish the season. It's his first year back with Swan Districts from Collingwood and he has settled into being an outstanding ruckman in the WAFL. Had another 21 touches, four marks, 34 hit outs and a goal despite a hefty loss to East Fremantle on Saturday.

RUCK ROVER – TIM KELLY (South Fremantle)
Has had nothing short of a brilliant season and there's every chance he ends it with a Sandover Medal, fairest and best award and an AFL future. The only problem for him will be that his main threat for those first two is his own teammate. But he finished off the home and away season with another best on ground performance made up of 26 possessions, 11 tackles, six marks, five inside 50s and a goal.

ROVER – CAMERON EARDLEY (East Fremantle)
He has battled against the odds so many times this season with the Sharks only winning twice before Saturday but he finally got reward for effort with the 61-point win against Swan Districts where he starred in the midfield. Finished off with 31 disposals, six marks, six tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – JAKE MURPHY (Claremont)
The Claremont captain has had a horror run of injury ever since becoming skipper at the Tigers after he was just about the best player in the league in 2013. But when he can get out on the field and stay there he remains an outstanding midfielder and he showed that again Saturday against West Perth with 32 possessions, nine marks, five inside 50s and four tackles.

INTERCHANGE – ANDREW STRIJK (West Perth)
The 208-game veteran remains an elite kick and one of the most damaging players in the competition whether playing off half-back or playing up forward. He was back forward on Saturday with West Perth's season on the line kicking a good goal just before quarter-time and then two quickly to start the last term to put the Falcons in front. Ended the day with 21 disposals, four marks and four inside 50s too. 

INTERCHANGE – MATT RIGGIO (Swan Districts)
Returned from suspension and while the result wasn’t what Swan Districts was after, the 156-game premiership player did all he could in the midfield and will have enjoyed the run ahead of this Sunday's elimination final with West Perth. Ended the disappointing afternoon for his team with 32 possessions and five inside-50 entries.

INTERCHANGE – STEVE VERRIER (South Fremantle)
After his first half of the season was interrupted by a badly broken hand, he has built his way into some strong form since and is entering the finals on the back of a string of standout performance. Spending time off half-back but also going through the middle at times, he had another big impact in Saturday's win against Peel with 25 touches, 10 tackles, nine marks and two goals.

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 23 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Claremont's Ryan Lim, Jared Hardisty, Matt Guelfi, Mitch Andrews, Bailey Banfield and Harrison McCracken.

West Perth's Shane Nelson.

Swan Districts' Adam Faulkner and Tony Notte.

East Fremantle's Sean Henson, Jonathon Marsh and Matthew Watson.

Peel Thunder's Rory O'Brien and Leroy Jetta.

South Fremantle's Cory Dell'Olio, Shane Hockey, Steven Edwards, Ryan Cook, Blayne Wilson and Chad Pearson.

East Perth's Nathan Blee, Sharrod Wellingham, Chris Masten and Julian Ameduri.

Subiaco's Adam Cockie, Corey Adamson, Aaron Heal and Declan Jackson.