Round 17 Match ReportsSunday, July 29, 2018 - 9:33 AM - by Chris Pike

THERE were two remarkable thrillers in Round 17 of the WAFL on Saturday with East Perth co-captain Kyle Anderson winning the game for the Royals over the Demons after the siren while Subiaco survived quite the fight from Claremont to remain undefeated in 2018.

It was one hell of a finish at Leederville Oval between East Perth and Perth as the two teams fight it out for a finals position heading towards the end of the 2018 home and away season.

The Royals were on top most of the afternoon before the Demons finished all over the top of them and then looked to have the win sealed with a mark and goal to Spencer White.

But the game had one last act to play out and that saw East Perth's inspirational leader Kyle Anderson get forward and take a strong mark and go back and coolly kick the winning goal after the siren to give the Royals the stunning 12.11 (83) to 11.14 (80) victory.

The other thrilling contest of Saturday's WAFL action took place at Claremont Oval with Claremont providing Subiaco with its first true test of 2018. But ultimately the Lions just found a way to escape and remain undefeated winning 16.3 (99) to 14.12 (96).

The other two Round 17 matches saw West Perth consolidate second position on the ladder with a 16.11 (107) to 11.10 (76) victory over Peel Thunder at Joondalup Arena while Swan Districts snapped a six-game losing run at the expense of East Fremantle, winning 18.5 (113) to 12.7 (79) at East Fremantle Oval.

East Perth and Perth opened the round at Leederville Oval and while the Royals came in having lost seven of their last eight games with the Demons having won four of their past five, there was plenty at stake as they fight over a finals berth.

East Perth kicked three goals to two in the opening term to lead by five points at quarter-time and added another four to three in the second to be leading by 10 points at the long break.

East Perth then took further control in the third stanza kicking the only three goals to be leading by 26 points at the last change.

But it was the Demons finishing full of running and they kicked six goals to one in the first 30 minutes of the last term to have snatched the lead after Spencer White marked strongly and converted.

It was a frantic finish with East Perth got the ball into attack and a rushed kick off the side of the boot went virtually straight up in the air, but Kyle Anderson was the ideal man to be standing underneath it.

He stood tall to take the mark and while he has made his mark in his 108-game WAFL career as a brilliant defender, he has had the odd stint forward where he showed he can kick goals including 11 in a four-game stretch back in 2015.

So he had ice in his veins as he kicked the goal after the siren to deliver East Perth the three-point win to improve to a 6-8 record in fifth spot. Perth remains fourth at 7-8.

Will Maginness kicked three goals for East Perth and Liam Ryan two.

Patrick McGinnity finished with 28 possessions for the Royals, Mitch Dobson 28, Matthew Allen 26, Nathan Blee 22 and Hamish Brayshaw 22.

Fraser McInnes dominated the ruck with 18 touches and 50 hit outs.

Corey Byrne was tremendous for Perth with 26 possessions and three goals with Laine Wilkins, Spencer White and Michael Bennell kicking two goals too.

Michael Sinclair ended the afternoon with 31 possessions, Brant Colledge 31, Clint Jones 27, Corey Yeo 22 and Laine Wilkins 20.

Subiaco had won all 13 of its matches in 2018 heading into Saturday's clash with Claremont at Claremont Oval without ever truly being tested, but that sure changed at the hands of the Tigers.

Claremont came out determined to put in a strong performance as they try to hold on to a position in the top five and despite being a goal down at quarter-time, the Tigers played some superb football over the rest of the afternoon.

Claremont kicked four goals to one in the second quarter to head into half-time leading by 17 points. But Subiaco's efficiency was paying off with the Lions managing to kick six goals to three in the third quarter to head into the last term just two points behind.

As Subiaco has done every time challenged in 2018, they found another gear and kicked away in the last term and while Claremont did again come back late, the Lions held on by three points to improve to 14-0 while the Tigers slipped to 6-9 in sixth position.

Tom Edwards-Baldwin put his hand up to be part of finals action at Subiaco kicking three goals with Rowen Powell, Ben Sokol and Zac Clarke all kicking two each. Clarke also had 53 hit outs in the ruck.

Leigh Kitchin finished with 31 possessions for the Lions, Chris Phelan 31, Kyal Horsley 27 and Lachlan Delahunty 25.

Ian Richardson and Kaiden Gilbert kicked three goals apiece for Claremont.

Jye Bolted collected another 30 disposals for the Tigers, Jared Hardisty 27, Kane Mitchell 23, Keifer Yu 19 and Oliver Eastland 18 to go with five marks, 29 hit outs and a goal in the ruck.

Peel Thunder made a good start at Joondalup Arena against West Perth with the reigning premiers needing the win to try and break back into the top five.

The Thunder led by five points at quarter-time, 10 points at the main break and then still by four at the last change, but the Falcons found something after a challenging week off-field in the last term.

West Perth delivered seven goals to one with the game on the line to claim the 31-point win and move a game clear in second spot of South Fremantle who they now play next Saturday. Peel slips to eighth position at 6-9 but is just percentage still outside the top five.

Andrew Strijk kicked another four goals for West Perth with Keegan Knott booting three, Jay van Berlo two and Tyler Keitel two.

Shane Nelson racked up another 37 possessions for the Falcons, Aaron Black 35, Luke Meadows 28, Trent Manzone 26, Blake Wilhelm 26 and Nathan Alexandre 20.

Matt Taberner made his return for Peel from injury and kicked three goals while Harley Bennell also kicked two to go with 27 possessions and eight marks.

Danyle Pearce amassed 34 disposals for the Thunder, Mitch Crowden 30, Brady Grey 25, Ben Howlett 20, Tom North 20, Blair Bell 19 and Ethan Hughes 18.

Two teams on six-game losing streaks locked horns at East Fremantle Oval also on Saturday and it was East Fremantle who started promisingly against Swan Districts kicking four goals to three in the opening term.

But Swans were able to turn it around in the second quarter with six goals to two and the black-and-whites went on with it from there, kicking nine goals to six in the second half to win by 34 points.

The win was Swan Districts' first since beating Perth back in Round 9 and keeps them in the finals hunt at 6-9, just percentage out of the top five. It's a seventh consecutive loss for the now 2-13 Sharks.

Kirk Ugle made a welcome return for Swan Districts and kicked four goals with Tony Notte chipping in with three and Warrick Wilson two, but it was second-gamer Patrick Italiano who was the real star with 25 possessions and three goals.

Jesse Turner picked up another 29 touches for Swans, Steven Payne 27, Rhys Palmer 25, Albert Dean 23, Tobe Watson 21 and Corey Gault 21.

Nathan Blakely dominated in the ruck with 25 touches, 23 hit outs and a goal.

Cameron Loersch stood tall in attack for East Fremantle kicking six goals while George Hampson was superb again with 33 disposals, 11 marks, eight tackles and two goals.

Jayden Schofield finished with 32 possessions for the Sharks, Dion Anthony 28, Cameron Eardley 25, Matthew Jupp 21, Jonathon Marsh 20 and Josh Cuneo 19.

ROUND 17 WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
East Perth 12.11 (83) defeated Perth 11.14 (80)
Claremont 14.12 (96) lost to Subiaco 16.3 (99)
West Perth 16.11 (107) defeated Peel Thunder 11.10 (76)
East Fremantle 12.7 (79) lost to Swan Districts 18.5 (113)

RESERVES
East Perth 20.12 (132) defeated Perth 6.5 (41)
Claremont 12.10 (82) defeated Subiaco 11.12 (78)
West Perth 16.14 (110) defeated Peel Thunder 10.12 (72)
East Fremantle 13.16 (94) defeated Swan Districts 6.14 (50)

COLTS
East Perth 8.5 (53) lost to Perth 8.7 (55)
Claremont 7.8 (50) lost to Subiaco 9.9 (63)
West Perth 5.7 (37) lost to Peel Thunder 11.8 (74)
East Fremantle 6.9 (45) lost to Swan Districts 8.9 (57)

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