Round 9 Colts WrapThursday, June 13, 2019 - 12:17 AM - by Chris Pike

THERE were two matches in the WAFL Colts on the weekend with victories for reigning premiers Subiaco and East Perth in the Round 9 matches where both were decided by under a goal.

There might have only been the two matches in Round 9 with Claremont, Peel Thunder, South Fremantle and Swan Districts all having a bye while so did West Perth with their league team taking on the West Coast Eagles on Sunday.

The first game of Round 9 in the colts took place on Saturday evening in wet, cold and windy conditions at Leederville Oval. The two teams played out a tight affair, though, with Subiaco ending up beating Perth 5.9 (39) to 5.4 (34).

The other match was also played at Leederville Oval on Sunday morning and that ended up with just a four-point margin with East Perth defeating East Fremantle 9.7 (61) to 8.9 (57).

ROUND 8 COLTS WRAP

Following nine rounds in the colts competition, Swan Districts remains clear on top of the ladder having won all seven of their matches to date. Peel Thunder remains second with a 6-1 record.

West Perth still sits in third spot at 5-3 with East Perth (4-4) and Claremont (3-3) rounding out the top five.

Perth (3-5) occupies sixth position ahead of South Fremantle (2-5), East Fremantle (2-7) and Subiaco (2-6).

ROUND 9 SIMPLY ENERGY COLTS

SUBIACO 5.9 (39) defeated PERTH 5.4 (34)

The conditions during the league game at Leederville Oval were hardly enticing for the colts contest on Saturday evening but that didn’t stop Subiaco and Perth putting on a good show.

Subiaco won the premiership in the colts in 2018 but had won just one seven games to open the 2019 season while Perth came into Saturday night's clash with three wins from seven matches.

With the ground having taken on plenty of water, the temperature cold and windy, and then rain falling at times, it was far from ideal conditions but to the credit of the Lions and Demons colts players, they put on a good show despite all that.

Subiaco kicked with the strong breeze in the opening quarter and as a result kicked the only two goals to head into quarter-time leading by 14 points.

With the wind at their backs, Perth then turned things around with two goals of their to just one behind from Subiaco while the Lions went into half-time with just the one-point advantage. 

Then with the breeze advantage again, Subiaco kicked away with 2.5 to one behind in the third quarter and held what would be a match-winning 17-point lead at three quarter-time, but only just.

Perth kicked three goals in the last quarter while Subiaco kicked one, and that was enough for the Lions to cling to the 5.9 (39) to 5.4 (34) victory.

Noah Ash kicked two goals for Subiaco from 16 possessions and four tackles.

Abraham Clinch racked up 30 possessions for the Lions, Jacob Peletier 28, Ben Golding 25 (11 tackles), Tristan Hobley 25 (nine tackles), Sandon Page 24, Jed Kemp 20 and Chayse Grabe-Paparone 16.

Jamie Wilson kicked two goals for Perth from six kicks and three marks.

Simon Hayward fought hard for the Demons with 18 possessions and 13 tackles while Bailey Smith compiled 18 disposals, Jacob Radomiljac 17, Jayden Narrier 17, Tarkyn Brogan-Henry 16 and Brodie Gray 15 (12 tackles).

EAST PERTH 9.7 (61) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 8.9 (57)

Sunday morning played host to the second colts contest of Round 9 and it was back at Leederville Oval with better conditions, slightly, welcoming East Perth and East Fremantle.

East Perth came into the game with a 3-4 record and needing a win to consolidate their place in the top five while East Fremantle were looking to improve on its 2-6 record to also stay in touch for a top five position.

While it was a close game the whole way through, East Perth did remain narrowly ahead starting with kicking two goals to one in the opening quarter.

East Perth then kicked another three goals to two in the second quarter and that saw the Royals head into half-time leading East Fremantle by 10 points.

Both teams then kicked three goals apiece in the third quarter which saw the Royals maintain a nine-point advantage by three quarter-time.

East Fremantle did finish strongly and kicked two goals to one in the last term but East Perth still held on for the 9.7 (61) to 8.9 (57) victory.

Luke Furlong made the most of his chances in attack for East Perth kicking three goals from four kicks. 

Kyle Robinson also kicked two goals for East Perth.

Harley Sparks racked up 22 possessions for the Royals, Adam Boules 20 (10 tackles), Cooper Sparks 19 (12 tackles), Kyle Robinson 18, Sam Van Diemen 16 and Liam Dellamarta 15.

East Fremantle's goals came courtesy of Samuel Emery, Dylan Ralph, Dylan Curley, Luke Dobson, Chris Walker, Tom Wallis, Tom Johnston and Reuben McGuire.

Ralph compiled 23 possessions for the Sharks, Finn Gorringe 21, Lachlan Taylor 20, Keanu Haddow 17, Michael Wright 16 and Edward Curley 16.