Round 19 Match ReportsMonday, August 13, 2018 - 8:36 AM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO kept winning, South Fremantle went a long way to securing second spot and East Perth and Claremont both won to return to top five positions in the WAFL in Round 19 action on Saturday.

With only three rounds to go until the end of the home and away season with eight teams still capable of playing finals coming into Round 19, it's fair to say the stakes were high across the four matches on Saturday afternoon.

While Subiaco is guaranteed of finishing in top spot and East Fremantle can't avoid the wooden spoon for 2018, the rest of the positions inside the top five remain up for grabs.

That has South Fremantle and West Perth fighting over second spot while Perth, Peel Thunder, East Perth, Claremont and Swan Districts were all battling over those last two finals positions entering Round 19.

The results saw East Perth thrash East Fremantle 23.13 (151) to 5.7 (37), South Fremantle beat Swan Districts 12.7 (79) to 7.7 (49), Claremont defeat Perth 19.11 (125) to 11.13 (79) and Subiaco win comfortably 14.20 (104) to 8.9 (57) over West Perth.

That all means that South Fremantle took a big step towards confirming second spot and a home qualifying final against West Perth. 

Claremont and East Perth also went closer to playing finals and reclaimed top five positions as Swans fell out of contention and the job became all that tougher for Perth with the Demons now playing South Fremantle and Subiaco the last two rounds.

West Perth tried to become the first team to topple Subiaco in 2018 but it wasn’t to be with the Lions dominating from the outset including kicking six goals to one in the first half on the way to a comfortable 47-point win at Joondalup Arena.

It was a dominant display from the Lions who finished the game with 76 more disposals than the Falcons, 18 extra marks, 21 more hit outs, 15 more inside-50 entries and then 34 scoring shots to 17.

Kyle Halligan and Tom Edwards-Baldwin kicked three goals each for Subiaco with Ben Sokol and Zac Clarke adding two apiece.

Kyal Horsley racked up 40 possessions for the Lions, Josh Deluca 38, Lachlan Delahunty 35, Chris Phelan 30, Ben Newton 28, Hayden Kennedy 26, Leigh Kitchin 25, Adam Cockie 21, Justin Joyce 20 and Rowen Powell 20.

Andrew Strijk and Keegan Knott kicked two goals apiece for West Perth while Tyler Keitel was held scoreless for the second consecutive week.

Shane Nelson amassed another 44 possessions for the Falcons, Mitch Peirce 29, Aaron Black 28, Strijk 24 (14 marks), Trent Manzone 24, Kris Shannon 22 and Blake Wilhelm 20.

Perth and Claremont then did battle over a position inside the top five at Lathlain Park in what shaped as a fascinating and crucial encounter.

Claremont managed to lead by a goal at quarter-time and then dominated the second quarter with eight goals to two to open a match-winning 41-point advantage at the long break.

The Tigers went on with the job in the second half to win by 46 points and take Perth's finals spot with games against Peel Thunder and Swan Districts to go. The Demons need to win at least one of their games against South Fremantle and Subiaco to be any finals prospect still.

Tom Lee kicked three goals for Claremont while Ian Richardson, Jack Beeck, Jye Bolton, Jared Hardisty, Alex Manuel and Kaiden Gilbert all booted two.

Jared Hardisty finished with 29 possessions for the Tigers, Tom Curren 26, Manuel 23, Beeck 21, Lachlan Martinis 21, Ryan Lim 20, Bolton 20, Keifer Yu 19 and Bailey Rogers 19.

Michael Bennell kicked three goals for Perth, Brant Colledge two and Blake Johnson two.

Corey Yeo amassed 38 possessions for the Demons, Michael Sinclair 36, Colledge 36, Clint Jones 30, Cody Leggett 27, Matthew Taylor 23 and Mitch Browne 23.

East Perth then had to bounce back against East Fremantle at Leederville Oval, and did so in the most emphatic performance possible winning by 114 points to return to the top five.

The Royals came out on fire with seven goals to two in the first quarter before adding another seven to one in the second term to be up by 70 points at the long break.

They kicked another nine goals to two in the second half to win by 114 points and move closer to playing finals again in 2018.

Jake Waterman kicked a career-best seven goals with Oscar Allen adding four, Will Maginness two, Luke Partington two and Jack Petruccelle two.

Hamish Brayshaw also had a career day for the Royals with 41 possessions while Brayden Ainsworth had it 39 times, Luke Partington 36, Patrick McGinnity 33, Nathan Blee 30, Mitch Dobson 25, Malcolm Karpany 21, Jackson Nelson 21 and Sharrod Wellingham 20.

Cameron Loersch kicked three goals from six kicks and four marks for East Fremantle.

Jayden Schofield gathered 32 possessions for the Sharks, Dion Anthony 29, Milan Murdock 27, Jordan Snadden 25, George Hampson 23, James Harrold 22 and Cameron Eardley 20.

Swan Districts was playing to keep its season alive hosting South Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval with the black-and-whites coming out and kicking the first three goals of the game.

They still led by nine points at half-time but the Bulldogs dominated from there with eight goals to two in the second half to win by 30 points and return to second spot on the ladder and end the finals hopes of Swans.

Cory Dell'Olio kicked four goals for South Fremantle in a forward-line missing Ben Saunders, Blaine Johnson and Matthew Parker. Haiden Schloithe also kicked two goals to go with 22 touches and 11 marks.

Shane Hockey compiled another 38 possessions for the Bulldogs, Nick Suban 28, Ryan Cook 28 (15 marks), Kyle Russell 22 and Jason Maskos 20.

David Ellard kicked two goals for Swan Districts while Jesse Turner gathered 27 disposals, Corey Gault 23, Brandon Erceg 23, Alex Howard 22, Albert Dean 21, Nathan Blakely 20, Steven Payne 20 and Tristen Raynor 19.

ROUND 19 WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
Perth 11.13 (79) lost to Claremont 19.11 (125)
Swan Districts 7.7 (49) lost to South Fremantle 12.7 (79)
West Perth 8.9 (57) lost to Subiaco 14.20 (104)
East Perth 23.13 (151) defeated East Fremantle 5.7 (37)

RESERVES
Perth 17.19 (121) defeated Claremont 9.13 (67)
Swan Districts 7.8 (50) defeated South Fremantle 5.13 (43)
West Perth 8.4 (52) lost to Subiaco 19.12 (126)
East Perth 20.7 (127) defeated East Fremantle 11.10 (76)

COLTS
Perth 7.7 (49) lost to Claremont 8.8 (56)
Swan Districts 3.11 (29) lost to South Fremantle 8.7 (55)
West Perth 3.5 (23) lost to Subiaco 12.12 (84)
East Perth 6.5 (41) lost to East Fremantle 15.5 (95)

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