Optus WAFL Round 2 WrapSunday, April 14, 2019 - 9:21 AM - by Chris Pike

PERTH continued its impressive start to the 2019 WAFL season holding out South Fremantle in Round 2 action on Saturday while Subiaco and Claremont scored two more thumping victories, the West Coast Eagles won for the first ever time and East Perth opened their account.

All five Round 2 WAFL matches took place on Saturday afternoon starting at Fremantle Community Bank Oval where Perth opened a 23-point lead before surviving a South Fremantle fight back to win 11.10 (76) to 10.13 (73).

The first ever WAFL home and away season clash at Optus Stadium also took place on Saturday and that saw the West Coast Eagles make history winning their first ever game with an 11.11 (77) to 6.14 (50) triumph over Peel Thunder.

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Claremont backed up a big Round 1 win over East Fremantle with another commanding performance on Saturday, beating West Perth 14.4 (88) to 4.8 (32) at Joondalup Arena.

East Perth also won its first game back as a standalone club in another tight after with the Royals beating Swan Districts 7.14 (56) to 7.6 (48) at Leederville Oval.

It was last year's premiers against wooden spooners at New Choice Homes Park and it saw Subiaco in control from the outset to win 13.12 (90) to 7.3 (45) to make it 21 consecutive wins since losing the 2017 Grand Final.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 10.13 (73) lost to PERTH 11.10 (76)

South Fremantle and Perth came into their clash on Saturday with Round 1 victories and at different points they both had control at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but it was the Demons who held on for the three-point win.

With South Fremantle having played in the past three preliminary finals and Perth being anchored near the bottom of the ladder, the Bulldogs have dominated the Demons in recent times coming in Saturday clash.

South Fremantle had won its past four home matches against Perth and nine of the last 10 overall, and the Bulldogs started impressively on Saturday with the opening four goals inside 19 minutes to Zac Strom, Mason Shaw, Haiden Schloithe and Shaun Bewick.

It was a stunning opening but Perth did respond with a couple of goals before quarter-time and by half-time the Demons were right back in the contest down by just the six points having kicked the last two goals of opening half.

Perth then hit the front for the first time in the game to start the second half with a goal to Matthew Taylor. The Demons would continue to dominate proceedings in the third term with four more goals to turn into the last term with a 23-point advantage.

South Fremantle wasn’t done with yet, though, and it took just over a minute for Zac Strom to kick his second of the game. Schloithe then kicked two in the space of just over three minutes and all of a sudden it was a five-point ball game.

Bewick then kicked his second shortly after and South Fremantle had come all the way back to hit the front again. But Perth did respond to reclaim the lead through Corey Byrne. 

Shaw's third major saw South Fremantle bring things back level before Perth excitement machine put the Demons back on top and that proved enough for the win with the Bulldogs dominated the last five minutes with the ball stuck in their forward half, but they could only manage four behinds from that. 

That meant Perth held on to win 11.10 (76) to 10.13 (73) for a first win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval for five years.

Michael Bennell kicked another three goals for Perth from just three kicks while laying six tackles. Corey Byrne also kicked three goals and Matthew Rogers two.

Brant Colledge continued his terrific form for the Demons with 33 possessions, eight marks, eight inside 50s and seven tackles with Corey Yeo racking up 29 disposals (11 tackles), Cody Leggett 23 (14 tackles), Michael Sinclair 22, Matthew Taylor 20 and Clint Jones 19 (10 tackles).

Haiden Schloithe and captain-for-the-day Mason Shaw kicked three goals apiece for South Fremantle with Shaun Bewick and Zac Strom booting two apiece. Strom also had 18 touches, five marks and four tackles.

Jacob Dragovich amassed 41 possessions for the Bulldogs while Jake Florenca finished with 27 disposals, Kade Stewart 25 (11 tackles), Blayne Wilson 24, Brendan Verrier 23, Nick Suban 21, Chad Pearson 20 and Zac Dent 19.

 

PEEL THUNDER 6.14 (50) lost to WEST COAST EAGLES 11.11 (77)

History was already made with it being the first ever home and away season game at Optus Stadium and the West Coast Eagles added to the occasion with their first ever WAFL victory beating Peel Thunder by 27 points.

The game was held on Saturday afternoon at Optus Stadium in the build-up to the AFL Western Derby between West Coast and Fremantle later that evening, and it turned out to be a great occasion as the crowd began to trickle in.

The Eagles were hunting their first ever win after a Round 1 loss to Perth while the Thunder were looking to remain undefeated having beaten West Perth, with West Coast captain Fraser McInnes opening proceedings with a goal four minutes in.

Jackson Merrett responded for Peel and then Ryan Bennell put the Thunder in front before West Coast finished the opening quarter with the last two goals through Jarrod Cameron and Jake Waterman to be eight points up at the first change.

That lead grew to 21 points when Waterman kicked two more goals to start the second term with the Eagles still leading by 15 points at the main break.

When Waterman added his fourth and Jarrod Brander kicked truly also, West Coast was up by 25 points at three quarter-time and that grew to 31 points when Waterman booted his fifth to start the last term.

West Coast would go on to win 11.11 (77) to 6.14 (50) win both teams now holding 1-1 records after two rounds.

For the second straight week to open the WAFL season, Jake Waterman kicked five goals for the Eagles from 19 possessions and nine marks.

Jackson Nelson was impressive off half-back for West Coast with 27 possessions with Matthew Allen finishing with 25 disposals, Brendon Ah Chee 24, Hamish Brayshaw 22, Josh Smith 20, Andrew Fisher 19, Mitch Curnow 19 and captain Fraser McInnes 18.

Dual Peel premiership captain Gerald Ugle kicked two goals with Ryan Bennell also kicked two majors for the Thunder.

Tom North gathered a team-high 28 possessions for Peel with Mitch Crowden finishing with 26 touches, Luke Valente 19, former Shark Ben Harding 19, Bailey Banfield 18, Ben Hancock 17, Brett Bewley 17 and Sam Sturt 17.

 

WEST PERTH 4.8 (32) lost to CLAREMONT 14.4 (88)

West Perth wasn’t able to maintain its momentum from the way it finished Round 1 with Claremont putting in its second strong dominant showing coming away from Joondalup Arena with a 56-point win.

Claremont started the season with a 78-point thumping of East Fremantle at Claremont Oval but West Perth had reason to be feeling good about themselves despite losing to Peel given they kicked seven goals in the last quarter to almost snatch the victory.

West Perth did manage to kick the first goal of the game thanks to former Tiger Keegan Knott, but they would only manage three more goals the rest of the afternoon.

Bailey Bennett and Tom Lee did manage Claremont's first two goals of the first quarter with the Tigers then kicking four majors to two in the second term to go into half-time leading by 18 points.

Claremont then really turned it on to start the third quarter with five goals in just over 13 minutes. It started with Alec Waterman kicking truly in his first WAFL league appearance since Round 10, 2015.

Jack Bradshaw, Oliver Eastland and Tom Lee (two) also added goals in that span for the Tigers as they went on to lead by 46 points at three quarter-time.

Claremont went on to kick the only two goals of the last quarter to win 14.4 (88) to 4.8 (32) with the Tigers improving to 2-0 and the Falcons slipping to 0-2.

Tom Lee kicked five goals for Claremont with Alec Waterman and Oliver Eastland kicking two apiece.

New co-captain Kane Mitchell was terrific for Claremont with 37 possessions, eight marks and eight tackles with dual Sandover Medallist Jye Bolton having another 36 disposals, seven inside 50s, five marks, five tackles and a goal.

Lachlan Martinis also picked up 24 possessions for the Tigers, Declan Mountford 20, Ryan Lim 19, Jack Bradshaw 17, Ryan Murphy 17, Callan England 17 and Bailey Bennett 17 while Anton Hamp helped to hold Bernie Naylor Medallist scoreless.

Keegan Knott was West Perth's only multiple goal scorer, kicking two of their four goals for the game.

Shane Nelson picked up another 33 possessions for West Perth with Corey Chalmers also having it 28 times, Trent Manzone 24, Aaron Black 22, Connor West 22 and Rudy Riddoch 19 to go with 10 inside-50 entries.
 

EAST PERTH 7.14 (56) defeated SWAN DISTRICTS 7.6 (48)

East Perth and Swan Districts were both desperate for their first win of 2019 when they met at Leederville Oval, and while they only combined for 14 goals it was the Royals who got what they were after.

East Perth suffered a Round 1 loss at the hands of Subiaco in the battle of the Leederville Oval co-tenants while Swan Districts only lost to South Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval when new recruit Josh Simpson couldn’t nail his attempted game-winner after the siren.

East Perth didn’t take long to get the first goal thanks to usual defender Tom Gorter before Swan Districts responded when George Hampson booted his first major in black-and-white.

Shaquille McKenzie then put East Perth back on top but it was Swans who finished the first quarter the better ending it with two goals to Brayden Noble in the space of three minutes.

There might have been five goals between the teams in the first quarter, but they would only manage nine more the rest of the afternoon.

Swan Districts did maintain their edge holding a one-point advantage at half-time after two goals apiece in the second term. Swans then kicked two goals to one in the third quarter to remain on top by seven points at three quarter-time.

But East Perth kicked the only two goals of the last quarter thanks to Will Maginness and Sharrod Wellingham to secure the 7.14 (56) to 7.6 (48) victory.

East Perth didn’t have a multiple goal scorer in the game with Maginness, Wellingham, Nathan Eaton, Tom Gorter, Matthew Johnson, Shaquille McKenzie and Jayden Magro their goal kickers.

Nathan Blee racked up 29 possessions for East Perth with Rohan Kerr finishing with 27 disposals, Jackson Ramsay 25, Will Maginness 24, Angus Scott 24, Shayne Hille 22, Patrick McGinnity 22.

Ajang Ajang fought hard in the ruck for 15 possessions, 25 hit outs and five tackles.

George Hampson kicked two goals for Swan Districts to go with 18 possessions with Brayden Noble kicking those two first quarter goals but having just five kicks for the game. 

Tony Notte finished with 20 possessions and six marks down back for Swan Districts with Corey Gault having 19 disposals, Steven Payne 17, Josh Cipro 17 and ruckman Nathan Blakely 16 to go with 26 hit outs, four tackles and a goal.
 

EAST FREMANTLE 7.3 (45) lost to SUBIACO 13.12 (90)

East Fremantle was always up against it hosting Subiaco on Saturday and the Lions did keep them scoreless in the first quarter on the way to a comfortable 45-point victory.

With Subiaco coming off an undefeated premiership season and then thrashing East Perth in Round 1 of 2019, and East Fremantle winning just two games for the wooden spoon in 2018 and losing  heavily to Claremont to start 2019, the signs were ominous.

That was even more so the case in the opening quarter with Subiaco holding East Fremantle scoreless. The Sharks were lucky the Lions were inaccurate scoring just three goals from their 10 shots, with goals from Ryan Borchet, Rhys Waters and Josh Deluca.

East Fremantle did kick the first goal of the second quarter through Luke Strnadica before Subiaco responded through Waters and Rowen Powell. The Sharks did get the last goal of the half thanks to Jeremy Sharp, but the Lions still led by 24 points at the major break.

Subiaco again kicked away to start the third quarter with the opening six scoring shots for three goals to Borchet, Waters and Ben Sokol to lead by 45 points before Cameron Loersch got one back for East Fremantle.

The Lions still led by 33 points at three quarter-time and then kicking another four goals to two in the last term to come away with the 13.12 (90) to 7.3 (45) victory.

It was a 21st consecutive win for Subiaco and a 12th straight loss for East Fremantle.

Ryan Borchet kicked four goals for Subiaco with Rhys Waters adding three majors and Kyal Horsley two to go with 29 possessions, nine tackles, eight marks and six inside-50 entries.

Leigh Kitchin amassed 27 possessions for the Lions, Josh Deluca 26, Lachlan Delahunty 26 (15 hit outs, eight marks), Max Walters 24, Rowen Powell 21, Greg Clark 19, Craig Hoskins 19 and Hayden Kennedy 18.

Ambrose Ryan kicked two goals for East Fremantle.

Morgan Davies gathered 22 possessions for the Sharks, Jarrad Jansen 21 and Jayden Schofield 20.