TABtouch Team of Round 12Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - 1:05 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE were plenty of standout individual performances across the five Round 12 WAFL matches on Saturday including Michael Sinclair, Kyal Horsley, Josh Smith, Blair Bell and Declan Mountford instrumental in wins for Perth, Subiaco, West Coast Eagles, Peel Thunder and Claremont.

All five matches in Round 12 took place on Saturday afternoon and as we move deeper into the second half of the season, every game is taking on greater significance as the battle for final positions heats up.

Claremont's win saw the Tigers jump to second spot ahead of South Fremantle while Perth took another significant leap towards a first finals appearance since 1997 and then Peel Thunder's thumping of Swan Districts saw them replace West Perth in the top five.

The early starting game on Saturday took place at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and the West Coast Eagles continued their best form of the season beating South Fremantle 11.12 (78) to 8.9 (57).

Subiaco ensured it stayed clear on top of the ladder heading for a fifth consecutive minor premiership with a solid 13.13 (91) to 10.9 (69) victory against West Perth at HBF Arena.

Peel Thunder rose to fifth position on the ladder at the expense of West Perth with a dominant 19.11 (125) to 7.4 (46) win over Swan Districts at Mandurah's David Grays Arena.

Perth took another significant step towards a first finals appearance in 22 years with Michael Sinclair dominant down back in Saturday's comfortable 11.11 (77) to 5.12 (42) win against East Perth at Leederville Oval.

Then at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park, Claremont moved into second position on the ladder following a 10.6 (66) to 7.14 (56) win against East Fremantle.

Following the end of Round 12, Subiaco is clear on top of the WAFL ladder having won five straight to hold a 10-1 record. Claremont (8-3) is now second ahead of South Fremantle (8-3).

Perth (7-4) is fourth in front of Peel Thunder (5-6) to round out the top five ahead of West Perth (5-6), West Coast Eagles (4-7), East Fremantle (3-8), East Perth (3-8) and Swan Districts (2-9).

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – JOSH SMITH

Having previously played 31 matches in two seasons at Collingwood, he has more than proven he can play at AFL level and now he is fitting in nicely at the West Coast Eagles and produced a best on ground display in Saturday's WAFL win against South Fremantle.

The now 25-year-old spent the past three seasons in the AFL with Collingwood where he played 32 matches and had a particularly impressive 2016 season where it appeared a lock he would go on to become a regular member of the Magpies team in the years to come.

That never quite happened and after 13 matches in 2017, he played just one in 2018 before being delisted. However, West Coast saw something in the big-bodied skilful midfielder to suggest they wanted him on board and picked up the Queensland local in the rookie draft.

Having had good form for most of the season with the Eagles in the WAFL, he went to another level on Saturday against South Fremantle producing a best on ground performance at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

That performance was made up of 27 possessions, seven tackles, five marks, five inside-50 entries and two goals as he split his time between playing on the ball and in attack for the afternoon.

Smith has played two AFL matches with West Coast this season too, against the GWS Giants in Round 2 and the Sydney Swans in Round 12, where he has performed well enough to deserve more opportunities.

Now with form like this in the WAFL and with the Eagles winning games too in the competition, he is going to be hard to ignore for the AFL coaching panel to ignore him at the selection table.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Kyal Horsley (Subiaco)
Round 2 –  Anton Hamp (Claremont)
Round 3 – Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle)
Round 4 – Brant Colledge (Perth)
Round 5 – Tony Notte (Swan Districts)
Round 6 – Rohan Kerr (East Perth)
Round 7 – Mitch Peirce (West Perth)
Round 8 – Clint Jones (Perth)
Round 9 – Lachlan Delahunty (Subiaco)
Round 10 – Nick Suban (South Fremantle)
Round 11 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
Round 12 – Josh Smith (West Coast Eagles)

TABtouch TEAM OF THE ROUND
BACK: Michael Sinclair (P), Matthew Jupp (EF), Josh Rotham (WC)
HALF-BACK: Bailey Rogers (C), Jordan Lockyer (S), Ben Hancock (PT) 
CENTRE: Rohan Kerr (EP), Kyal Horsley (S), Aaron Black (WP)
HALF-FORWARD: George Hampson (SD), Lachlan Delahunty (S), Josh Smith (WC)
FORWARD: Blair Bell (PT), Ryan Borchet (S), Andrew Strijk (WP)
RUCK: Brock Higgins (SF), Haiden Schloithe (SF), Mitch Crowden (PT)
INTERCHANGE: Nick Kommer (EF), Lloyd Meek (PT), Declan Mountford (C), Corey Yeo (P) 

BACK POCKET – MICHAEL SINCLAIR (Perth)
He is already a dual fairest and best winner at Perth, but with the Demons now on track to play finals, he is finally getting the recognition as the outstanding player that he is. Having already played in the WAFL State Team, made the Team of the Round for a seventh time on the back of a dominant display against East Perth with 30 possessions and 13 marks.

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle vice-captain is now a veteran of 109 games and is a true leader in a back-line that did well to give the team a chance to win on Saturday by holding Claremont to just three goals. Restricting leading goal kicker Tom Lee to one goal and six kicks was a good reason for that while he had 13 disposals, six marks and three tackles himself as well.

BACK POCKET – JOSH ROTHAM (West Coast Eagles)
Continued his outstanding form at WAFL level in the back-line for the Eagles and couldn’t do much more to earn himself a spot back in the AFL team, now it's just a matter of a spot opening back up for him. Named to the Team of the Round for a second straight week thanks to 23 possessions and six marks in the back-line.

HALF-BACK FLANK – BAILEY ROGERS (Claremont)
Claremont's defence continues to be perhaps the biggest factor in why they sit in second position on the ladder and he is a key reason for that with the run and drive he is able to provide. Now is a senior player with 58 games to his credit and in Saturday's win over East Fremantle, he produced 23 possessions and four marks.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – JORDAN LOCKYER (Subiaco)
It's quite the impressive back-line he is at the heart of with Angus Litherland, Hayden Kennedy, Harry Marsh, Drew Rohde  and Michael Braut all strong performers, but he is the leader of the pack and is in the middle of a career-best run of form in 2019. Again strong defensively, also had 14 disposals and seven marks in Saturday's win against West Perth.

HALF-BACK FLANK – BEN HANCOCK (Peel Thunder)
Is now one of the leaders and consistent performers at Peel Thunder with 90 games under his belt. Largely playing off half-back, continues to be rock steady and put in a strong showing in Saturday's thumping win against Swan Districts ending the afternoon with 20 possessions, seven marks, four tackles and three inside-50 entries.

WING – ROHAN KERR (East Perth)
Is putting together a remarkable season even more impressive considering he has spent the last two years out of the WAFL system having left West Perth at the end of 2016 due to a job he took up at the Alcoa refinery in Pinjarra. But has returned to East Perth this year and picked up right where he left off with the 93-game WAFL star named to the Team of the Round for a seventh time on the back 41 possessions and 14 marks against Perth.

CENTRE – KYAL HORSLEY (Subiaco)
The former captain continues to enjoy the freedom of playing without the captaincy in 2019. Not that he wasn’t playing just as well last year or ever since he returned to Subiaco in 2014, but he is in outstanding form once again this season for the Lions and delivered another 29 possessions, seven tackles and two goals to be named to the Team of the Round for a seventh time.

WING – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
Now in his third season as West Perth captain, the 2014 Sandover Medallist and dual fairest and best winner continues to lead the Falcons in remarkably impressive fashion as a prolific ball winner who puts his body on the line whether in at the contest or by running all day. Now with 184 games under his belt, continues to deliver and had another 29 possessions and nine tackles against Subiaco.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – GEORGE HAMPSON (Swan Districts)
Unfortunately for the dual fairest and best winning premiership player, he continues to be in career-best form over the past 18 months now that he is over the injury troubles with his body. But like last year, he is now shining in a team that is anchored to the bottom of the ladder. That's not his fault, though, and he was tremendous in a losing effort against Peel with 30 possessions, five tackles and two goals.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – LACHLAN DELAHUNTY (Subiaco)
His remarkable versatility as a big man continues to be perhaps the largest reason for Subiaco's on-going success. There's not another player anything like him in the competition with his mobility, running ability and for what he can do equally effectively in the air and at ground level. Continues to rack up midfield numbers with another 30 possessions to go with six marks, 23 hit outs and two goals both playing forward and in the ruck.

FORWARD POCKET – BLAIR BELL (Peel Thunder)
The dual premiership forward had some solid seasons back in the flag winning years for Peel, but without question 2019 has been the best season of his career. Having already played State football, he continues to shine kicking another four goals on Saturday from 10 kicks, seven marks and five inside-50 entries to give him 23 goals on the season and named to the Team of the Round for a third time.

FULL-FORWARD – RYAN BORCHET (Subiaco)
The 22-year-old continues to impress with the opportunities he's now receiving as the main spearhead in attack for Subiaco showing just how good of a job the Lions continue to do in bringing players through their ranks when they are ready to thrive. Was tremendous again in win over West Perth with four goals from 15 possessions and five marks.

FORWARD POCKET – ANDREW STRIJK (West Perth)
Is another of the West Perth veterans who continues to ensure the Falcons remain a competitive unit and is showing no signs of slowing down or his influence diminishing despite having now played 238 matches and being 31 years of age. Kicked another four goals from nine kicks and five marks against the notoriously difficult to score against Subiaco back-line.

RUCK – BROCK HIGGINS (South Fremantle)
The standout ruckman in the competition returned from his one-week suspension and while South Fremantle lost, whether it was Nathan Vardy, Bailey Williams or Keegan Brooksby his opponent from the Eagles, he was the standout big man in the game. Finished with 22 possessions, 35 hit outs and nine inside-50 entries as he was named ruckman of the round for an eight time already in 2019.

RUCK ROVER – HAIDEN SCHLOITHE (South Fremantle)
The dual South Fremantle fairest and best winner and 2017 Sandover Medallist couldn’t have done much more to try and get the Bulldogs back on the winner's list against West Coast. Despite his team falling short, he put in a commanding performance made up of 25 possessions and three goals in his second game back from a knee injury.

ROVER – MITCH CROWDEN (Peel Thunder)
The hard-nosed midfielder continued to shine for Peel to bang down the door for a return to Fremantle's AFL side leading the way in Saturday's big win against Swan Districts. Ended the afternoon by amassing 29 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal, and he can't do anymore to try and earn an opportunity back in the Dockers line-up.

INTERCHANGE – NICK KOMMER (East Fremantle)
Every time he steps onto the field for East Fremantle he continues to show just how much the Sharks have missed him every time he's been unable to play because of his body over the past 18 months. It was a similar story at Essendon too because he proved he could more than play at AFL level. But he looks healthy now and delivered 32 possessions, six marks and five tackles in narrow loss to Claremont.

INTERCHANGE – LLOYD MEEK (Peel Thunder)
Finally got the opportunity he's been craving to be the No. 1 ruckman for Peel on Saturday and opposed to two quality opponents from Swan Districts, Corey Gault and Nathan Blakely, he delivered a brilliant performance made up of 20 possessions, 36 hit outs, six marks, six tackles and two goals. But then he injured a foot late in the game and is now sidelined indefinitely.

INTERCHANGE – DECLAN MOUNTFORD (Claremont)
Returned home to Claremont in 2019 somewhat unlucky to not still be in the AFL system but as one of the most significant WAFL recruits for the season, and he continues to show why. A chance to step up further on Saturday in the absence of Jye Bolton and he delivered with 25 possessions, eight tackles, five marks, five inside 50s and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – COREY YEO (Perth)
The Perth captain continues to lead from the front in one of the best midfielders in the competition and his ability to win the inside and outside ball, win clearances and then also hurt the opposition on the outside continues to make him one of the best on-ballers in the league as well. Showed that again in win over East Perth with 25 possessions, five tackles and a goal.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 12 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

East Fremantle's Blaine Boekhorst, 100-gamer Cameron Eardley, Morgan Davies, Tom Bennett, Jarrad Jansen, Kody Manning, Luke Strnadica and Jonathon Griffin.

Claremont's Kane Mitchell, Haydn Busher, Lachlan Martinis and Ian Richardson.

East Perth's Stan Wright, Nelson Waite, Shaquille McKenzie, Kye Willcocks, Patrick McGinnity and Mitch Dobson.

Perth's Clint Jones, Jacob Payne, Cody Leggett and Kristian Cary.

Peel Thunder's Brayden Lawler, Sam Sturt, Travis Colyer, Jackson Merrett, Haydn Matthews, Tom North and Taylin Duman.

Swan Districts' Jesse Turner, Matt Riggio, Steven Payne, Nathan Blakely, Corey Gault, Lachlan Riley, Alex Howard and Tony Notte.

West Perth's Aidan Lynch, Connor West, 150-gamer Shane Nelson, Blake Wilhelm, Mitch Peirce, Trent Manzone, Tyler Keitel and Corey Chalmers.

Subiaco's Greg Clark, Max Walters, Ben Newton, Clancy Wheeler, Leigh Kitchin, Simon Moore and Angus Litherland.

South Fremantle's Jacob Dragovich, Steve Verrier, Chad Pearson, Dylan Main and Zac Strom.

West Coast Eagles' Kurt Mutimer, Brendon Ah Chee, Brayden Ainsworth, Hamish Brayshaw, Francis Watson, Tom Cole, Nick Reid and Jake Waterman.