Optus WAFL Round 14 WrapMonday, July 15, 2019 - 1:14 PM - by Chris Pike

THE merry go round in fifth position on the WAFL ladder continues with the West Coast Eagles improving to that spot after a fourth straight win while Subiaco went a long way to securing another minor premiership and Perth won a heartstopper to move closer to a first finals berth in 22 years.

It always shaped as though it would be a season-defining Round 14 of the 2019 Optus WAFL Premiership Season with the matches spread across Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, and that's exactly how it panned out.

Subiaco made it seven straight wins to be three games now on top while Perth solidified its place in the top five with a win with a goal after the siren while the West Coast Eagles made it four straight wins to leap West Perth and Peel Thunder into fifth position on the ladder.

Round 14 in the WAFL began on Saturday afternoon in a low-scoring grind at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park before East Fremantle pulled away in the final quarter to snap a three-game losing run and hand Swan Districts a sixth consecutive loss, winning 8.11 (59) to 3.12 (30).

Then also on Saturday afternoon, East Perth kept its finals hopes alive in another low-scoring affair, beating Peel Thunder 9.10 (64) to 6.9 (45) at Leederville Oval.

Saturday night hosted a battle of third against fourth and with Perth and South Fremantle already having played out a one-point thriller earlier in 2019, it was another nail-biter this time at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

South Fremantle looked to have the game won leading by 13 points at the 13-minute mark of the last quarter. But Perth kicked the last three goals of the contest, including the winner to Gordon Narrier after the siren, to secure the 15.5 (95) to 13.11 (89) victory.

There were then two more Round 14 match ups on Sunday including the clash of the top two sides at Leederville Oval with Subiaco on a six-game winning and Claremont having won five straight.

It proved to be a tight affair too but the Lions prevailed 10.11 (71) to 9.9 (63) to go a long way to securing what would be a fifth consecutive minor premiership.

The last game of the round took place at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park as well with the West Coast Eagles making it four straight wins to move into fifth position with a commanding 20.14 (134) to 10.5 (65) win against West Perth.

ROUND 14 OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

EAST FREMANTLE 8.11 (59) defeated SWAN DISTRICTS 3.12 (30)

It wasn’t pretty and there was only eight goals kicked between the two teams over the first three quarters, but East Fremantle was able to play some better football in the last quarter to end up beating Swan Districts by 29 points.

East Fremantle and Swan Districts came into the game on Saturday at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park as the two bottom teams in the WAFL desperate to return to the winners list with Swans having lost their past five matches and the Sharks their previous three.

So both teams were down on confidence and that's how the game panned out, at least for the opening three quarters.

East Fremantle kicked the lone goal of the first quarter and then pulled away in the second term kicking three goals to just one from Swan Districts to head into half-time leading by 18 points.

Swans did give themselves a chance by kicking two goals to one from the Sharks in the third quarter with the game right on the line by three quarter-time with East Fremantle only holding a nine-point lead.

But the Sharks dominated the fourth term with three goals to just three behinds from Swans to come away with the 8.11 (59) to 3.12 (30) victory.

The win improves East Fremantle to a 4-9 record on the season but they remain in ninth position while Swan Districts is now two games clear in bottom spot at 2-11 having lost their past seven matches heading into the Round 15 bye.

Luke Strnadica provided a good target in attack again for East Fremantle in the absence of Cameron Loersch kicking another two goals combining with backing up Jonathon Griffin in the ruck.

Jarrad Jansen was tremendous in the midfield for the Sharks with 31 possessions while Cameron Eardley picked up 27 disposals, Tom Bennett 22, Michael Tassone 20, Morgan Davies 19, Kyle Baskerville 19 and Tim Bockman 18.

Griffin battled hard in the ruck again for the Sharks with the captain finishing with 12 disposals, four tackles and 45 hit outs.

Leigh Kohlmann kicked two goals from four kicks for Swan Districts with Callum Garcia the other goal scorer for the black-and-whites.

It was tough going again for Swans but George Hampson continued to battle hard and provide as much as he possibly could against the odds. Against the team he won a fairest and best with in 2018, he delivered 23 possessions, eight tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Matt Riggio also picked up 22 touches for Swans, Lachlan Riley 20, Seb Bright 20, Alex Howard 20, Tony Notte 20, Brayden Noble 17 and Mitch Howlett 17.
 

EAST PERTH 9.10 (64) defeated PEEL THUNDER 6.9 (45)

East Perth kept its finals hopes alive for 2019 with a hard fought yet relatively comfortable 19-point victory against the also finals contending Peel Thunder at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

It was a big game for both clubs coming into it on Saturday with Peel attempting to break back into the top five and East Perth trying to remain in contention so the stakes were high at Leederville Oval.

East Perth then started impressively kicking the only three goals of the first quarter to come into the quarter-time break leading by those three goals.

Peel did get on the board with a couple of their own goals in the second term, but East Perth still managed to extend its lead by kicking three more majors and that was enough for the Royals to hold a four-goal half-time advantage.

Peel stayed in touch in the third quarter by kicking three goals but East Perth also kicked three goals for the term to retain their 25-point advantage at three quarter-time.

East Perth then didn’t manage a goal in the last quarter, kicking just the four behinds, but Peel couldn’t take advantage kicking just 1.4 themselves.

That saw the Royals hold on to win 9.10 (64) to 6.9 (45) to make it consecutive victories to improve to a 5-8 record to remain an outside chance of reaching the finals. 

Peel has now lost the past two games to be 5-8 and just the one game outside of fifth position.

Mitch Dobson continued to show that while undersized, he's a strong option up forward for East Perth kicking another three goals from 15 possessions and eight marks.

Claremont recruit Eddie Simpson and Ben McGuire also kicked two goals apiece for the Royals.

Rohan Kerr returned to his season-long stunning form on the wing for East Perth racking up another 34 possessions to go with 12 marks and four inside-50 entries.

Jackson Ramsay, fresh off being WAFL Player of the Round, put in another strong showing too made up of 30 disposals, eight tackles, seven marks and six inside-50 entries.

Nelson Waite is also continuing to show he belong at league level with 25 possessions and 12 marks with Kye Willcocks gathering 21 disposals, Stan Wright 20, Julian Ameduri 20, Shayne Hille 19, Matthew Johnson 17 and Jaxon Cahill 17.

Ajang Ajang showed another strong display in the ruck with 13 touches, three tackles and 38 hit outs.

Lachie Schultz delivered another impressive performance for Peel finishing with 22 possessions, four marks and two goals.

Brett Bewley racked up 27 possessions for the Thunder while Bailey Banfield continued to bang the door down for an AFL call up with the Dockers with 26 disposals, 11 tackles, eight inside 50s and a goal.

Jackson Merrett finished with 18 possessions, Luke Valente 18, Tobe Watson 17 and Hugh Dixon 15.
 

PERTH 15.5 (95) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 13.11 (89)

Perth produced the most remarkable five minutes to kick the last three goals, including one after the siren to Gordon Narrier, to storm home and break the hearts of South Fremantle to win by a goal on Saturday night.

It always loomed as a massive game for both clubs who came into the clash sitting third and fourth on the WAFL ladder respectively with South Fremantle having lost three straight matches while Perth had also lost five of their previous eight matches.

Throw in the fact that they played out a thriller back in Round 2 where Perth won by three points and the game had all the makings of a season-defining one when they locked horns under lights on Saturday evening at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

South Fremantle started strongly kicking the game's first two goals thanks to Kade Stewart and Dylan Main, but Perth soon steadied starting with Marshall Jones running into an open goal.

Zareth Roe and Matthew Rogers then kicked first quarter goals too and the Demons led by four points at quarter-time.

It took just 45 seconds into the second term for Perth to extend its lead thanks to Jones kicking his second goal but South Fremantle answered quickly with Brandon Donaldson finding some space and finishing well on his left boot kicking into the new Eagles headquarters.

Haiden Schloithe then finished well too to put the Bulldog back in front before the Demons regained the momentum with three goals in six minutes, including a beauty from the boundary by captain Corey Yeo and then two in succession by Roe.

The Bulldogs did get one back before half-time thanks to 100-game Steve Verrier but the Demons still led by 10 points at the major break.

South Fremantle came out firing to start the second half with two quick goals to Mason Shaw and that saw the visitors regain the lead. Perth responded with the next two goals from Rogers and Cody Ninyette before the Bulldogs drew back level with Jacob Dragovich kicking truly.

The Bulldogs then went up by seven points thanks to Zac Strom booting a goal which was answered quickly when Roe booted his fourth of the night for the Demons.

But South Fremantle had the last say of the third term with a Daniel Cabassi goal to lead by seven points at the last change.

South Fremantle twice led by 18 points in the last quarter after goals to Caleb Datson and Stewart, and the Bulldogs were still 13 points to the good at the 24-minute mark.

But Perth wasn’t done with yet and got back to within seven points with Roe kicking his fifth goal. Cody Leggett then added another and it was a one-point ball game before a shot from Roe was rushed through for a behind for scores to be tied.

Perth continued to do all the attacking and then out of a ball up, Michael Bennell found the ball and his quick snap forward found Gordon Narrier at the top of the goal square as the siren sounded.

He went back and kicked the goal for Perth to win 15.5 (95) to 13.11 (89) as the Demons celebrated wildly as they took another giant step towards a first finals appearance since 1997.

It was a tough loss to take for South Fremantle who looked to have the game won and finished with 34 extra possessions than Perth, 28 more marks, 13 more inside-50 entries and 24 scoring shots to 20.

But in the end it was a fourth straight loss to the Bulldogs who do remain in third position but only percentage ahead of the Demons with both teams holding 8-5 records.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, Perth's forward-line foursome of Zareth Roe, Gordon Narrier, Michael Bennell and Cody Ninyette were exciting.

Roe kicked a career-best five goals to go with 12 possessions and seven marks with Ninyette booting two majors while Narrier kicked the match-winner and Bennell did some nice things from 10 touches and a goal.

Matthew Rogers and Marshall Jones also kicked two goals apiece for the Demons.

Clint Jones had a big night against his former team with 36 possessions while captain Corey Yeo racked up 31 disposals, Matthew Taylor 28, Cody Leggett 23 (12 tackles), Brant College 22 and Michael Sinclair 17.

Bernie Naylor Medal leader Mason Shaw kicked another three goals for South Fremantle from 16 possessions and seven marks while Kade Stewart kicked two goals to go with 22 touches, nine marks, seven inside 50s and three tackles.

Jacob Dragovich did all he could to try and lift the Bulldogs with 36 possessions as did Haiden Schloithe with 31 touches, five marks, four tackles and a goal.

Captain Dylan Main spent more time in the midfield and had 27 disposals, eight tackles and six marks while Zac Dent collected 25 possessions, Chad Pearson 20, Caleb Datson 20, 100-gamer Steve Verrier 19 and ruckman Brock Higgins 19 to go with 24 hit outs.
 

SUBIACO 10.11 (71) defeated CLAREMONT 9.9 (63)

Subiaco and Claremont entered Sunday's clash at Leederville Oval as the form teams in the competition and while the Lions came away with an eight-point win, they were pushed all the way by the Tigers.

Subiaco came into the clash on a six-game winning run since their first loss in two years at the hands of South Fremantle while Claremont was in outstanding form too having won five straight to improve to second position on the ladder

Claremont had the chance to make the fight for the minor premiership fascinating if they could come away with the win at Leederville Oval on Sunday, but while Subiaco prevailed 10.11 (71) to 9.9 (63) there was a lot to like from the showing by the Tigers.

Subiaco started strongly by kicking the first two goals thanks to Clancy Wheeler and Ben Newton, but then by quarter-time Claremont had responded thanks to Matthew Palfrey and Anton Hamp with scores all square at the first change.

The Lions did pull away kicking four goals to two in the second quarter to  head into the half-time break with a 12-point advantage.

It was then just a goal apiece in the third quarter with the Lions extending their advantage to 16 points by three quarter-time.

Subiaco then put the game out of reach of Claremont to start the final term with goals to Lachlan Delahunty, Ben Sokol and Ryan Borchet.

The Lions' lead got out to a game-high 25 points but the Tigers weren’t done with yet. Over the next 17 minutes, they kicked goals courtesy of Jye Bolton, Ian Richardson, Richardson again and then Palfrey to fall just eight points short of a stunning comeback.

Ben Newton, Ben Sokol and Kyal Horsley all kicked two goals each for Subiaco with Horsley also racking up 27 possessions, six inside 50s and five marks.

What Lachlan Delahunty might not have produced in ruck hit outs against Claremont's Jeremy Goddard, he made up for around the ground with 30 possessions and a goal for the Lions.

Leigh Kitchin also finished with 23 disposals, Newton 19, Jordan Lockyer 19, Greg Clark 18, Rowen Powell 16 and Travis Cleggett 16.

Ian Richardson, Matthew Palfrey and Harry McCracken booted two goals apiece for Claremont.

Kane Mitchell amassed another 29 possessions and 15 tackles for the Tigers with Declan Mountford also gathering 25 disposals, Jye Bolton 24, Ryan Lim 22, Bailey Rogers 19 and Lachlan Martinis 18. Goddard had 49 hit outs in the ruck.
 

WEST PERTH 10.5 (65) lost to WEST COAST EAGLES 20.14 (134)

The West Coast Eagles continued their tremendous form on Sunday afternoon making it four straight victories with a 69-point win against West Perth at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

Things were looking challenging for the Eagles in their inaugural WAFL season when they strung together five straight losses to sit on the bottom of the ladder at the end of Round 9.

But with West Coast's injury-list decreasing and more players becoming available to play at both AFL and WAFL level for the Eagles, the response has been impressive highlighted with the four consecutive WAFL victories.

They had already shown good form coming into Sunday's game against West Perth following wins against East Fremantle, South Fremantle and Peel Thunder, and then they perhaps produced their most emphatic performance against the Falcons.

A tremendous crowd of over 3000 people turned out to watch the game as well with West Coast dominated the first term with eight scoring shots to two. That only saw them kick three goals to two, though, and lead by 11 points at quarter-time.

West Coast kicked away further in the second quarter piling on six goals to three from West Perth to head into the half-time break leading by 31 points.

West Perth showed some good fight in the third term to outscore the Eagles to close the gap to 24 points by three quarter-time. But West Coast pulled away further in the last term with eight goals to one to win 20.14 (134) to 10.5 (65).

The Eagles forward-line worked tremendously with Jake Waterman producing a stunning game made up of six goals, 25 possessions and 15 marks. Jack Petruccelle also kicked five goals from 11 kicks and Fraser McInnes three goals to go with 15 touches and seven marks.

Josh Smith continued his tremendous form for the Eagles with another 28 possessions while Brayden Ainsworth collected 26 disposals, Matthew Allen 23, Hamish Brayshaw 22, Francis Watson 19, Kurt Mutimer 18 and Nick Reid 18.

Keegan Knott kicked three goals from seven kicks for West Perth with Tyler Keitel kicking another two goals to go with 20 possessions, seven marks and seven hit outs splitting his time between playing forward and in the ruck.

Corey Chalmers racked up 28 possessions for the Falcons, Shane Nelson 28, Mitch Peirce 22, Aidan Lynch 21, Aaron Black 18, Trent Manzone 18, Zac Guadagnin 18 and Blake Wilhelm 17.