Latest News

TABtouch Team of Round 19Wednesday, August 15, 2018 - 6:56 AM - by Chris Pike

THINGS really heated up across Round 19 of the WAFL as East Perth and Claremont replaced Perth and Peel Thunder in the top five in an afternoon of action that included a seven-goal haul, three players racking up 40 or more possessions and another 12 racking up 30 or more.

It was the third last round of the 2018 WAFL season and coming into it with eight teams still in contention to reach finals, that meant that every game took on greater significance.

All four of the matches took place on Saturday afternoon as well with all eyes on Lathlain Park awaiting to see who out of Perth and Claremont would end the round having enhanced their finals hopes.

In the end it was the Tigers who won 19.11 (125) to 11.13 (79) on the back of kicking their biggest score of the season having broken the 100-point barrier for the first time in 2018.

East Perth also returned to the top five, and shot up to fourth spot, with a thumping 23.13 (151) to 5.7 (37) of East Fremantle at Leederville Oval with Jake Waterman kicking seven goals and Luke Partington, Brayden Ainsworth, Patrick McGinnity and Nathan Blee among those to star.

South Fremantle moved back up to second spot with a 12.7 (79) to 7.7 (49) victory against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on the back of eight goals to two in the second half with Shane Hockey, Nick Suban and Ryan Cook superb in the midfield, Noah Strom, Blayne Wilson, Chad Pearson, Steven Edwards and Jason Maskos leading the way in defence and Cory Dell'Olio kicking four goals.

Subiaco continued its undefeated 2018 season with a comfortable 14.20 (104) to 8.9 (57) victory against West Perth at Joondalup Arena with Lachlan Delahunty, Kyal Horsley, Zac Clarke, Jordan Lockyer, Josh Deluca and Chris Phelan leading the way.

After Round 19 of the 2018 season, Subiaco (16-0) remains clear on the ladder ahead of South Fremantle (11-5) and West Perth (10-7).

Those top three positions look all but set with Subiaco to have the bye in the first week of the finals before hosting a second semi-final against the winner of the qualifying final between the Bulldogs and Falcons.

East Perth (7-9) is now in fourth position with Claremont (7-9) making up the top five ahead of Perth (7-9), Peel Thunder (7-9), Swan Districts (6-11) and East Fremantle (2-14).

Swans and the Sharks can't reach finals but the Demons and Thunder still can. Perth finishes the season away to South Fremantle and Subiaco while Peel is away to Claremont this week before hosting East Perth in the final round.

M & J CHICKENS PLAYER OF THE ROUND - LUKE PARTINGTON

TABtouch TEAM OF THE ROUND (times named)
BACK: Steven Edwards (3), Anton Hamp (6), Corey Gault (3)
HALF-BACK: Michael Sinclair (9), Jordan Lockyer (4), Brandon Erceg (1)
CENTRE: Josh Deluca (7), Kyal Horsley (11), Hamish Brayshaw (2)
HALF-FORWARD: Alex Manuel (2), Lachlan Delahunty (12), Luke Partington (4)
FORWARD: Andrew Strijk (11), Jake Waterman (1), Cory Dell'Olio (2)
RUCK: Zac Clarke (5), Jared Hardisty (3), Shane Hockey (6)
INTERCHANGE: Brant Colledge (7), Shane Nelson (12), Patrick McGinnity (4), Nick Suban (5)

BACK POCKET – STEVEN EDWARDS (South Fremantle)
When he's up and firing he's one of the best small defenders in the competition, and was named to the Team of the Year in 2017, but injury and form issues have held him back a little in 2018. But he's in some impressive form again and on Saturday not only kept Swan Districts' Kirk Ugle quiet, but had 18 possessions and six marks himself.

FULL-BACK – ANTON HAMP (Claremont)
You don't always attract a lot of attention as a key defender but there's few more important jobs on any team and he has claims to be the best in his role in the WAFL right now. Is having a standout 2018 season and was named to the Team of the Round for a sixth time by keeping Perth's Spencer White to one goal and four kicks and having 12 disposals and seven marks himself. 

BACK POCKET – COREY GAULT (Swan Districts)
He won Swan Districts' fairest and best award in 2017 as a ruckman and was named the ruckman in the WAFL Team of the Year, but for most of this year has been anchored at centre half-forward while backing up Nathan Blakely in the ruck. But Swans have thrown things around in recent weeks and he's moved down back and looks right at home. He was superb in a five-goal loss on Saturday holding South Fremantle's Mason Shaw to one goal and six kicks while having 23 possessions and 13 marks himself.

 

HALF-BACK FLANK – MICHAEL SINCLAIR (Perth)
The form intercept defender and playmaker out of the back-line in the competition was outstanding once again despite a tough loss for Perth to Claremont on Saturday that puts its finals hopes well and truly in jeopardy. He had another 36 possessions, five marks, five tackles and four inside 50s to reach the Team of the Round for a ninth time in 2018.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – JORDAN LOCKYER (Subiaco)
One of West Perth's best hopes of upsetting Subiaco on Saturday at Joondalup Arena was if Bernie Naylor Medal leader Tyler Keitel caught fire but he ensured that didn’t happen. Not only that, but he kept him scoreless and to just seven kicks and four marks for the day while having 12 disposals and four marks himself in the Lions' 16th straight win of 2018.

HALF-BACK FLANK – BRANDON ERCEG (Swan Districts)
It has been a long journey for him from when he last played colts at Swan Districts in 2011 before returning to the club to play at senior level in 2015. He played 10 league games in 2016 and two last year but it wasn’t until three weeks ago that he added to that in 2018. But he likely delivered the best performance of his career on Saturday against South Fremantle holding Zac Strom to four touches and one behind and having 23 disposals and 11 marks himself.

 

WING – JOSH DELUCA (Subiaco)
It was a dominant showing again from Subiaco through the middle of the ground in Saturday's win over West Perth and he was once again at the forefront of it. Continues his tremendous season on return to Subiaco and finished the afternoon against the Falcons with 38 possessions, eight marks, four inside 50s and three tackles.

CENTRE – KYAL HORSLEY (Subiaco)
The Subiaco captain continues the best season of his career despite having put together some outstanding and successful seasons previously. He is just playing at a different level than just about everyone else in the WAFL right now and there's every chance he's on the way to what would be an incredibly deserved Sandover Medal. Had another 40 disposals, six inside-50 entries and three marks in Saturday's comfortable win against West Perth.

 

WING – HAMISH BRAYSHAW (East Perth)
It was quite the dramatic week for the Brayshaw family but he put that behind him once he ran out onto Leederville Oval on Saturday and had a day out in East Perth's 114-point smashing of East Fremantle. Had the best day of his young senior career with 41 possessions, 10 marks, five inside-50 entries and three tackles.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – ALEX MANUEL (Claremont)
Claremont's finals hopes were potentially on the line Saturday against Perth at Lathlain Park and the Tigers needed to find a way to put more score on the board having yet to reach 100 points in 2018. They certainly did that in the crucial win and he was a key part in that finishing the afternoon with two goals from 23 possessions, eight inside-50 entries, six marks and three tackles.

 

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – LACHLAN DELAHUNTY (Subiaco)
What a season the big man is having. Whether he's playing inside the forward 50, leading up the ground from centre half-forward and pinch-hitting in the ruck to give Zac Clarke a rest, he is just in remarkable and unstoppable form and has been all throughout 2018. Finished with another set of incredible numbers in the win over West Perth with 35 touches, 10 marks, seven hit outs, six inside-50 entries and a goal.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – LUKE PARTINGTON (East Perth)
With a spot potentially opening up at West Coast heading towards the finals, there was no better time for him to put together a standout performance and that's exactly what he did in Saturday's thumping of East Fremantle at Leederville Oval. Ended the game with 36 disposals, 10 marks, eight inside 50s and two goals to earn M & J Chickens Player of the Round honours.

FORWARD POCKET – ANDREW STRIJK (West Perth)
He is now within sight of adding the Bernie Naylor Medal for 2018 to his burgeoning list of career achievements as the 223-game veteran continues to thrive in his role playing deep in attack this season. Had another strong showing on Saturday despite West Perth's loss to Subiaco with 24 possessions, 14 marks, six inside-50 entries and two goals.

FULL-FORWARD – JAKE WATERMAN (East Perth)
East Perth had to win against East Fremantle on Saturday to stay in the WAFL finals race and one of their biggest question marks has been over finding enough goals this season. He answered that call booting seven goals from 20 possessions and nine marks in a 114-point win for the Royals that saw them to shoot up to fourth position on the ladder.

FORWARD POCKET – CORY DELL'OLIO (South Fremantle)
It might have been a very different looking South Fremantle forward-line on Saturday from the one the Bulldogs thought they would have from the start of the season without Ben Saunders, Blaine Johnson and Matthew Parker, but he continued his good form and again made the most of his chances. He kicked another four goals from seven kicks, five tackles and four marks.

RUCK – ZAC CLARKE (Subiaco)
The former Fremantle big man of 101 AFL games has really warmed into this WAFL season at Subiaco nicely and not only is he proving extremely effective with his ruck knocks and getting forward, but the added bonus of him allowing Lachlan Delahunty to roam in other areas is a big part of the Lions' success. He kicked two goals to go with 16 possessions, eight marks and 40 hit outs in the win over West Perth.

RUCK ROVER – JARED HARDISTY (Claremont)
While Jye Bolton spent a bit more time forward and Kane Mitchell was out injured, he had to step up into a more crucial role in the midfield against Perth and it was a big ask given the Demons' strong on-ball brigade. But he was tremendous finish the game with 29 possessions, seven marks, six tackles, five inside-50 entries and two goals to continue his terrific form.

ROVER – SHANE HOCKEY (South Fremantle)
Coming off a career-best performance the week before against West Perth, he produced another standout display in Saturday's win for South Fremantle against Swan Districts. He ended the afternoon with 38 possessions, eight marks, five tackles and three inside-50 entries as he now finishes the season in as hot form as he started it.

INTERCHANGE – BRANT COLLEDGE (Perth)
Continues to be in the best form of his career with his body allowing him to play to his potential. Despite Perth losing to Claremont on Saturday, he had a significant impact with 36 possessions, eight marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries.

INTERCHANGE – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
The West Perth star on-baller might have been battling against the odds taking on Subiaco on Saturday, but it didn't stop him delivering another huge effort for the Falcons to continue what has been has been a remarkable 2018. The triple fairest and best winner produced another 44 possessions, 10 inside-50 entries and five tackles.

 

INTERCHANGE – PATRICK MCGINNITY (East Perth)
The Royals' co-captain had a day out on Saturday in his team's 114-point hammering of the Sharks. He put together a tremendous all-round performance made up of 33 possessions, 13 marks, 11 inside-50 entries and a goal as he earned selection in the Team of the Round for a fourth time in 2018.

INTERCHANGE – NICK SUBAN (South Fremantle)
The former Fremantle AFL utility of 156 games is in tremendous form for South Fremantle now spending most of the time as a big-bodied, experienced midfielder particularly in the absence of captain Dylan Main. He had another 28 possessions and six marks in a strong win against Swan Districts on Saturday at Bassendean.

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 19 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Perth's Corey Yeo, Clint Jones, Cody Leggett and Matthew Taylor.

Claremont's Tom Lee, Jack Beeck, Tom Curren and Bailey Rogers.

West Perth's Mitch Peirce and Aaron Black.

Subiaco's Kyle Halligan, Tom Edwards-Baldwin, Chris Phelan, Ben Newton and Hayden Kennedy.

East Perth's Brayden Ainsworth, Nathan Blee, Mitch Dobson, Jackson Nelson, Will Maginness and Oscar Allen.

Swan Districts' Jesse Turner, Alex Howard, Nathan Blakely, Steven Payne and Tristen Raynor.

South Fremantle's Noah Strom, Ryan Cook, Haiden Schloithe, Kyle Russell, Jason Maskos, Blayne Wilson and Chad Pearson.