Optus WAFL Round 4 WrapSunday, April 28, 2019 - 6:01 AM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL has two remaining undefeated teams after four rounds of the 2019 season with Perth and Subiaco continuing their winning ways over the ANZAC Round while South Fremantle, the West Coast Eagles and Swan Districts also were victorious.

Perth made it four straight to open the season with its win on ANZAC Day while Subiaco remained undefeated since the 2017 Grand Final with its big win on Saturday.

Swan Districts broke its duck in the battle of winless teams against West Perth while South Fremantle continued its recent derby dominance and the Eagles won the thriller of the round, handing the Tigers their first defeat.

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The round got underway on ANZAC Day at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park with Perth defeating East Perth 14.6 (90) to 7.11 (53).

The rest of the round took place on Saturday afternoon starting at Claremont Oval with West Coast winning a heartstopper 12.5 (77) to 11.9 (75) over Claremont.

The battle of winless teams took place at Joondalup Arena and it was Swan Districts getting off the mark for 2019 beating West Perth 16.12 (108) to 10.4 (64).

South Fremantle made it eight straight derby wins over East Fremantle with the Bulldogs improve to a 3-1 record on the season with a 19.12 (126) to 5.5 (35) win at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Subiaco also continued its winning ways beating Peel Thunder 18.13 (121) to 9.5 (59) at Leederville Oval.

 

PERTH 14.6 (90) defeated EAST PERTH 7.11 (53)

Traditional rivals Perth and East Perth did battle on ANZAC Day at Mineral Resources Park with the Demons continuing their unbeaten start to the season coming away with the 37-point victory.

Perth came into the game having started the season with wins against West Coast, South Fremantle and Swan Districts, and continued that momentum with an impressive showing against the Royals.

It took just 30 seconds for Kristian Cary to kick the first goal of the game for Perth with Sam Garstone and Corey Byrne helping the Demons to kick the opening three goals of the contest.

Perth went on to lead by 16 points at quarter-time before the Demons kicked three quick goals to start the second term courtesy of Cary, Byrne and Cody Ninyette to put their lead out to 34 points.

East Perth briefly staged a fight back with quick goals to Shayne Hille and Joel Houghton, but Perth kicked a goal in response to Brant College and went into half-time leading by 28 points.

The Demons went on to kick the only two goals of the third quarter and then it was three goals apiece in the final quarter with Perth cruising to the 14.6 (90) to 7.11 (53) victory over East Perth.

There was plenty to like once again from a Perth perspective with Corey Byrne brilliant with three goals from 29 possessions and seven marks. Brant College continued his career-best form over the past 12 months too with 35 touches and two goals.

Cody Ninyette, Kristian Cary and Michael Bennell also kicked two goals each for the Demons.

Perth skipper Corey Yeo also collected another 29 possessions with Clint Jones finishing with 24 touches, Cody Leggett 19 and Matthew Rogers 19.

The Demons back-line was impressive too led by 100-gamer Michael Sinclair. Matthew Taylor racked up 24 possessions and Mitch Lague 23 to go with six marks.

Shayne Hill kicked three goals in a strong display for East Perth to go with 20 possessions and six marks.

Jackson Ramsay continued his brilliant start to the season on return from a knee reconstruction with another 33 possessions for East Perth while Patrick McGinnity had it 31 times, Nathan Blee 28, Angus Scott 26, Tom Gorter 25, Stan Wright 23 and Rohan Kerr 23.
 

CLAREMONT 11.9 (75) lost to WEST COAST EAGLES 12.5 (77)

The thriller of the WAFL ANZAC Round took place at Claremont Oval with the West Coast Eagles managing to hand Claremont its first loss of 2019 with a two-point victory.

Claremont came into the game having started the new season impressively with wins against East Fremantle, West Perth and East Perth leading into Saturday's clash with a West Coast who had won just one of their opening three games in the competition.

But it was the Eagles who started the game on fire at Claremont Oval kicking the game's opening four goals and then finishing the first quarter with seven goals to two to lead by 30 points at quarter-time.

Claremont was able to turn the tide in the second quarter with five goals of their own while holding the Eagles to just two behinds and that was enough for the Tigers to lead by two points at half-time.

It was another two goals to one in the third quarter in Claremont's favour to see them lead by eight points at three quarter-time.

The Tigers then led by 14 points with a goal to Callan England to start the last quarter before the Eagles responded in no time with goals to Fraser McInnes and Jake Waterman.

Claremont steadied with a goal to Tom Lee to restore an eight point lead, but the Eagles then kicked the next two goals firstly from Matthew Allen to close the deficit to two points and then from Bailey Williams to put them up by four points.

Claremont had a couple of late chances but couldn’t convert and West Coast managed to win 12.5 (77) to 11.9 (75).

Jake Waterman returned after missing last week through hamstring tightness for the Eagles and kicked another three goals to go with his consecutive hauls of five over the opening two rounds.

Bailey Williams also kicked three goals for West Coast including the game-inner with captain Fraser McInnes adding two.

Hamish Brayshaw finished with 28 possessions for the Eagles, Jackson Nelson 25, Matthew Allen 24 (eight tackles, seven inside 50s), Brady Grey 23, Kurt Mutimer 19 and ruckman Keegan Brooksby 15 to go with 27 hit outs and five marks.

Tom Lee kicked three goals for Claremont as did Callan England while Ryan Lim was tremendous with 25 possessions, 10 marks and two goals.

Reigning Sandover Medallist Jye Bolton amassed 36 possessions for Claremont with Kane Mitchell also picking up 30 disposals while Ryan Murphy finished with 29 touches, Declan Mountford 28, Haydn Busher 21, Lachlan Martinis 21 and Bailey Rogers 20. 

WEST PERTH 10.4 (64) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 16.12 (108)

West Perth and Swan Districts have made their clashes over ANZAC Round an annual event now and it's resulted in some cracking contests, but on Saturday it was Swans who proved too strong winning by 44 points at Joondalup Arena.

Both teams came into the Round 4 clash having yet to taste the winning feeling in 2019 so that was going to change for one of them on Saturday for the sixth straight time to commemorate ANZAC Day.

Swans had only lost their opening three games by a combined 25 points and they went on to start the game well on Saturday at Joondalup Arena with the opening four goals thanks to Josh Cipro, Jesse Turner, Alex Howard and Corey Gault.

West Perth eventually got a goal on the board thanks to small forward Keegan Knott and then another to gun veteran Andrew Strijk, but Gault booted a second for the Black Ducks as the visitors led by 21 points at quarter-time.

Gault's hot start continued into the second quarter when added a third goal to put Swans  up by 26 points before Knott booted his second for West Perth.

And the Falcons did have a better second quarter to close Swans' lead to just 16 points at half-time.

Swan Districts pulled away once more, though, to start the second half with goals to Leigh Kohlmann and then Gault with his fourth major.

West Perth did manage a couple of their own goals before three quarter-time but Swan Districts was still on top leading by 32 points.

The Black Ducks booted another five goals to three in the last quarter to open their account for the season as they ran out 16.12 (108) to 10.4 (64) winners.

Corey Gault spent more time in attack than the ruck for Swan Districts and it paid dividends with the 2017 Swan Medallist kicking five goals from 18 possessions and six marks.

George Hampson was also brilliant for Swans with 31 disposals and three goals while Leigh Kohlmann kicked another two goals and so did Jesse Turner along with gathering 26 disposals.

Matt Riggio also picked up 25 disposals for the Black Ducks, Nathan Blakely 24 (26 hit outs), Steven Payne 19 and Josh Cipro 18.

Andrew Strijk returned for West Perth after missing the game against South Fremantle to kick four goals while Michael Lourey booted three and Keegan Knott added two.

Corey Chalmers finished with 23 possessions for West Perth, Shane Nelson 22, Blake Wilhelm 22, Mitch Peirce 22, Aaron Black 21, Trent Manzone 20 and Rudy Riddoch 20.

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 19.12 (126) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 5.5 (35)

The now annual ANZAC Derby took place on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle continuing its recent dominance over East Fremantle with a 91-point thumping victory.

Derbies in commemoration of ANZAC Day have become an annual event since 2009 and in the 11th instalment of the clash, it was dominated by South Fremantle who have now won their past eight clashes against East Fremantle.

South Fremantle has now started the season winning three of four matches while East Fremantle remains winless under new coach Bill Monaghan with their losing run stretching back to last year now standing at 14.

It took almost 11 minutes for the first goal of the game which came from long-range from South Fremantle utility Steve Verrier.

Brandon Donaldson, Dion Munkara and Jacob Dragovich all added goals in the first quarter as well before Zac Strom ensured the Bulldogs kicked the opening five goals in the game to start the second term.

East Fremantle eventually got its first goal thanks to Andrew Stokes, but the Bulldogs responded with a couple of goals to Mason Shaw and another to Chad Pearson following a 50m penalty. 

By the time Haiden Schloithe added another on the stroke of half-time, the Bulldogs were in control with a 51-point advantage.

Schloithe kicked his second to open the second half before Dylan Main also kicked truly to give South Fremantle the 63-point edge before Blaine Boekhorst managed East Fremantle's third goal of the contest.

A late third quarter goal for South Fremantle to Shaun Bewick saw the home team lead by 65 points at three quarter-time.

The Bulldogs didn’t let up adding another five goals to one in the final term to claim the 19.12 (126) to 5.5 (35) victory.

Mason Shaw kicked four goals to lead the way for the Bulldogs in attack while Steve Verrier chimed in with three majors and Haiden Schloithe, Shaun Bewick and Dion Munkara all kicked two apiece.

Jacob Dragovich racked up 32 possessions for the Bulldogs to continue his career-best start to the season while Brendan Verrier had 28 touches, Steve Verrier 21, Brandon Donaldson 20 and Chad Pearson 20.

Brock Higgins dominated the ruck for the fourth straight week to open the season with another 18 disposals, five tackles and 45 hit outs.

It was tough going for East Fremantle but Jarrad Jansen continued his good form with 21 possession while Milan Murdock collected 20 disposals, Morgan Davies 19, Tom Bennett 16 and Blaine Boekhorst 16.

 

SUBIACO 18.13 (121) defeated PEEL THUNDER 9.5 (59)

Subiaco's last loss in the WAFL was to Peel Thunder but it didn’t repeat on Saturday with the Lions continuing their winning ways with a 62-point win at Leederville Oval.

Peel Thunder did beat Subiaco in the Grand Finals of 2016 and 2017, with the 2017 version remaining the last game that the Lions have lost.

Subiaco had won 23 straight games coming into Saturday's clash with Peel on their home ground with starting with the first goal from young key forward Ryan Borchet.

Peel responded thanks to Brayden Lawler but the Lions then took over with the next goals of the opening quarter to head into the quarter-time break leading by 37 points.

The Thunder did mount a good start to the second term with quick goals to Hugh Dixon and Ryan Bennell to get back within 25 points, but Subiaco continued to have all the answered and kicked four more goals for the half to lead by 44 points at half-time.

There was just two goals apiece in the third quarter before Subiaco pulled further away with five goals to three in the last quarter to record the 18.13 (121) to 9.5 (59) victory.

Subiaco once again had a bevy of strong contributors with Rhys Waters kicking another three goals while Tom Edwards-Baldwin also kicked three. Ben Sokol and Greg Clark booted two majors as well.

Ex-captain Kyal Horsley continued his brilliant opening to 2019 with another 29 possessions with Lachlan Delahunty finishing with 28 disposals, seven marks, eight hit outs and a goal.

Hayden Kennedy also gathered 28 disposals, Josh Deluca 27, Max Walters 24, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 22, Craig Hoskins 22, Leigh Kitchin 21, Jordan Lockyer 21 and Angus Litherland 20.

Exciting small forward Ryan Bennell kicked three goals and laid five tackles for Peel.

Jason Carter gathered 23 possessions for the Thunder, Stefan Giro 23, Jackson Merrett 22, Tom North 21, Connor Blakely 20 and Luke Valente 19.