WAFL Team of Round 3Wednesday, August 5, 2020 - 12:43 PM - by Chris Pike

IT was a fascinating Round 3 of the 2020 WAFL Premiership Season as spots in the Team of the Round for individuals and for teams in the top four are both becoming increasingly heated.

Round 3 in the WAFL saw all four matches again take place on Saturday afternoon starting with Subiaco getting its first win of 2020 against Swan Districts 11.13 (79) to 6.4 (40) at Steel Blue Oval.

East Perth also opened its account beating East Fremantle 15.9 (99) to 8.8 (56) while West Perth beat Peel Thunder 20.11 (131) to 5.9 (39) and South Fremantle remained unbeaten downing Claremont 7.6 (48) to 5.10 (40).

Selecting the Team of Round 3 was an especially challenging exercise and starting in the midfield, the entire groups from East Perth and West Perth could have easily filled the positions given how well they played.

But then you had Claremont's Declan Mountford and Jack Lewsey, South Fremantle's Jacob Dragovich and Jake Florenca, East Fremantle's Jordan Snadden, Peel Thunder's Jackson Merrett, Subiaco's Ben Newton and Kyal Horsley, and Swan Districts' Frank Anderson making especially strong statements.

The battle for the ruck spot is getting fascinating too and East Perth's Scott Jones, South Fremantle's Brock Higgins, Swan Districts' Corey Gault, Subiaco's Lachlan Delahunty and West Perth Ben Delaporte all made strong cases.

Key defenders Aaron Heal and Haydn Busher were the standouts but then the rest of the back-line had a host of candidates including Claremont's Bailey Rogers, Peel Thunder milestone man Ben Hancock, East Fremantle's Morgan Davies, West Perth's Blake Wilhelm, South Fremantle's Ben Rioli and Nick Suban, and East Perth's Jaxon Cahill.

And then up forward there was West Perth's Tyler Keitel kicking five goals and Michael Lourey four while there were plenty of other of the smaller brigade across the eight teams making their cases for selection.

Following three rounds of the 2020 WAFL season, South Fremantle is out on top of the ladder with a perfect 3-0 record just ahead of West Perth (2-1), Claremont (2-1) and Perth (2-0).

East Perth (1-1) and Subiaco (1-1) are just outside the top four having split their opening two matches with East Fremantle now having won once in three attempts while Swan Districts (0-3) and Peel Thunder (0-3) are still hunting for their first four points.

Round 4 in the WAFL will see a Grand Final rematch at Leederville Oval between Subiaco and South Fremantle while West Perth plays East Perth at Provident Financial Oval, East Fremantle faces Perth at New Choice Homes Park, and Claremont hosts Peel Thunder at Revo Fitness Stadium.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND
Watch football at any level in the modern era and key forwards kicking bags of goals is becoming more and more rare so we've got to a point where a five-goal haul is an unusual event and deserves to be celebrated.

It might have come in a 92-point win for his team, but reigning West Perth fairest and best winner Tyler Keitel found some form after a quiet opening two weeks of the 2020 WAFL season to enjoy himself in Mandurah on Saturday.

He had an afternoon to remember to end up kicking five goals from 16 possessions, five marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries while also pinch-hitting in the ruck for seven hit outs.

It was the type of performance that has seen him become one of the best key position players in the WAFL and it remains somewhat of a surprise an AFL club hasn’t given him a chance given his size, athleticism, marking ability and the fact he can play both ends of the ground.

After a shaky start to his WAFL career when his move to West Perth from East Perth created quite a stir, he first made his mark as a key defender. He became the best intercept marking defender in the competition and was outstanding in repelling opposition attacks and setting up play going the other way.

While he was helping West Perth stop their opponents kicking goals, the Falcons needed more avenues to goal and a tall target to bank on to kick to, and Keitel became that man.

Despite being named full-back in the 2016 WAFL Team of the Year, he moved forward in 2017 and has virtually stayed there ever since. 

Only inaccuracy stopped him from having an even more dominant 2017 where he kicked 46 goals and backed it up with 50 in 2018, and 25 in 2019 where he claimed the West Perth fairest and best award.

The 24-year-old is now a 98-game WAFL player, has kicked 136 goals and remains key to whatever success West Perth is able to achieve.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Chris Masten (Perth)
Round 2 – Logan McDonald (Perth)
Round 3 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)

TEAM OF THE ROUND 
BACK: Jaxon Cahill (EP), Haydn Busher (C), Hayden Kennedy (S)
HALF-BACK: Nick Suban (SF), Aaron Heal (S), Morgan Davies (EF) 
CENTRE: Jackson Merrett (PT), Ben Newton (S), Luke Meadows (WP)
HALF-FORWARD: Jiah Reidy (SD), Nick Martin (S), Matthew Young (EP)
FORWARD: Nick Robertson (EP), Tyler Keitel (WP), Haiden Schloithe (SF)
RUCK: Scott Jones (EP), Angus Scott (EP), Aaron Black (WP)
INTERCHANGE: Rohan Kerr (EP), Kyal Horsley (S), Shane Nelson (WP), Jacob Dragovich (SF)

BACK POCKET – JAXON CAHILL (East Perth)
Might not be the naturally attacking small defender like a lot of others in the modern game, but he is capable of still winning enough of his own ball and setting up play while being outstanding in locking down his opponents and helping his teammates defensively. At his best in win over East Fremantle at all that and had 17 disposals and six marks.

FULL-BACK – HAYDN BUSHER (Claremont)
At times the last couple of years he has been able to be used as a floating third tall defender or even as a big-bodied wingman, but now has settled into the role as No. 1 tall back for the Tigers with Anton Hamp going forward. And is doing it brilliantly so far including holding South Fremantle's Mason Shaw to five kicks and one goal while having eight disposals and four marks himself.

BACK POCKET – HAYDEN KENNEDY (Subiaco)
The best small defender in the competition continues to show why with another standout performance for Subiaco in Saturday's win against Swan Districts. Whether setting up play from down back or getting up into the middle, he's effective with everything he does and ended the game with 22 possessions, six marks and four entries inside the forward 50.

HALF-BACK FLANK – NICK SUBAN (South Fremantle)
The former Fremantle stalwart of 156 games continues to be a strong contributor with South Fremantle and looks as fit, focused and motivated as ever. Got forward a bit and went close to a goal but banged it into the post but had a tremendous game against Claremont for 22 possessions and five tackles.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – AARON HEAL (Subiaco)
Is now a 100-plus game triple premiership defender and the more responsibility heaped on his shoulders, the better he seems to perform. No Jordan Lockyer down back on Saturday for Subiaco meant he had to be the leader of the back-line and the No. 1 tall and he put in a superb defensive display on top of having eight possessions, four marks and two inside-50 entries.

HALF-BACK FLANK – MORGAN DAVIES (East Fremantle)
Is a creative attacking defender who East Fremantle puts a lot of responsibility and faith in to set up play for them coming off half-back and running through the middle. Did that well despite the loss to East Perth to finish the afternoon with 20 possessions, seven marks and two inside-50 entries.

WING – JACKSON MERRETT (Peel Thunder)
His Peel Thunder team might have been well beaten by West Perth but the reigning fairest and best winner did all he could to try and will them into the contest. Remains one of the best wingmen in the game as the former Essendon AFL player of 56 matches ended Saturday's game with another 31 possessions, 11 marks and three tackles.

CENTRE – BEN NEWTON (Subiaco)
The quality midfielder has made an impressive start to the new WAFL season both when playing on the ball and when drifting forward where he's always had an ability to find the goals or set them up for teammates. Ended the game against Swan Districts with 19 possessions, five inside 50s, four marks and a goal.

WING – LUKE MEADOWS (West Perth)
Was able to get back home to Perth in time to play this WAFL season having initially planned on spending his second year in Melbourne and playing in the VFL. But has picked up right where he left off during his initial 90-game stint at the Falcons as a brilliant ball user, hard nut and good runner. Produced 27 disposals, six marks, six tackles, four inside 50s and two goals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – JIAH REIDY (Swan Districts)
You often hear coaches wanting to get 20 or 30 games into young players as quickly as possible before being able to fully judge their potential and expect consistent performances from them. Well he is now a 29-game WAFL player and is finding his feet nicely both at half-forward and in the middle. Delivered a game against Subiaco on Saturday made up of 15 disposals, six marks, four inside-50 entries and two goals.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – NICK MARTIN (Subiaco)
The Subiaco forward-line has been hit hard from the team that won last year's premiership with Ryan Borchet, Rowen Powell, Clancy Wheeler and Max Walters all not there, but the positive is the opportunities that opens up and 19-year-old is grabbing his. Played well against Swans to kick two goals from 16 possessions and seven marks.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – MATTHEW YOUNG (East Perth)
The 21-year-old from Augusta-Margaret River has long been earmarked as a talent for the future but his time might be now to book in his regular spot for East Perth and to become an important player in the line-up. Can play through the middle and forward to equally good effect which he showed in the win against East Fremantle for three goals from 18 possessions and eight marks.

FORWARD POCKET – NICK ROBERTSON (East Perth)
He put together a strong 73-game AFL career for himself at the Brisbane Lions and it's probably a surprise he's out of the system so quickly, but that's to East Perth's benefit and he showed his quality in the forward-line from limited opportunities against the Sharks. He had a purple patch kicking his three goals all in the third quarter and ended the game with 12 possessions, six marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

FORWARD POCKET – HAIDEN SCHLOITHE (South Fremantle)
The Sandover Medallist, dual fairest and best winner and South Fremantle life member returned to the side on Saturday and showed what a difference a player with clean hands and elite foot skills can do in a hard fought contest like the game with Claremont was. He ended up kicking a goal to go with 16 possessions, eight tackles, six inside-50 entries and four marks.

RUCK – SCOTT JONES (East Perth)
Has returned to East Perth in 2020 after his time with the Fremantle Dockers where he did manage to play six AFL games and not look out of his depth. But he is back to the Royals now and split his time between the ruck and forward to great effect in the win over East Fremantle to kick two goals to go with 11 possessions, five marks, five tackles and 22 hit outs.

RUCK ROVER – ANGUS SCOTT (East Perth)
The hard nut had an impressive first season with East Perth having made the move west from the Casey Demons, and now has started 2020 perhaps in even better touch after the long wait. As part of a dominant midfield with a host of contributors, he was the standout finishing with 31 possessions, eight marks and six entries inside the forward 50.

ROVER – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
The West Perth captain continues to show that he remains on top of his game despite now nearing the 200-game mark to go with a career that includes a premiership, Sandover Medal and a couple of fairest and best awards. Was brilliant in big win over Peel with 28 touches, six inside 50s, five marks and three tackles.

INTERCHANGE – ROHAN KERR (East Perth)
The former West Perth premiership star and hard-running Carlton AFL-listed player brought up his 100th WAFL appearance on Saturday in the win against East Fremantle. Is fresh off being named on the wing in the 2019 Team of the Year and has started 2020 strongly also delivering 29 disposals and five marks in the win against the Sharks.

INTERCHANGE – KYAL HORSLEY (Subiaco)
The most decorated current player in the WAFL is nearing the 200-game milestone and continues to produce outstanding football for Subiaco despite everything he has achieved. Showed he remains a class above every time he went near the ball in the win against Swan Districts with 19 possessions, six inside 50s, five tackles and two goals.

INTERCHANGE – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
Was part of a midfield for West Perth that had a great day against Peel Thunder, and any one of them could have found a spot in this side but his performances just can't be ignored because he has been doing it throughout his entire 161-game career. Was superb once more with 30 possessions, three marks, three inside 50s and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – JACOB DRAGOVICH (South Fremantle)
Has turned himself into one of the most consistent prolific midfield ball winners over the past 18 months having earned the opportunity to get the chance as a starting on-baller. Was outstanding in the win against Claremont on Saturday with 25 possessions, seven tackles, five inside 50s and three marks.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 3 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Swan Districts' Frank Anderson, Jesse Turner, Aidan Clarke and Brayden Spackman.

Subiaco pair Lachlan Delahunty and Greg Clark.

East Perth trio Jackson Ramsay, Aidan Lynch and Shayne Hille.

East Fremantle foursome Jordan Snadden, Blaine Boekhorst, Cody Leggett and Tom Bennett.

Peel Thunder threesome Blair Bell, Ben Howlett and 100-game milestone man Ben Hancock.

West Perth's Connor West, Conal Lynch, Mitch Peirce, Blake Wilhelm and Michael Lourey.

South Fremantle's Jake Florenca, Zac Strom, Blayne Wilson, Ben Rioli and Brock Higgins.

Claremont's Alec Waterman, Declan Mountford, Jack Lewsey, Jye Bolton and Kane Mitchell.