Optus WAFL Round 2 WrapTuesday, April 13, 2021 - 9:17 AM - by Chris Pike

SOME statements were made in Round 2 of the Optus WAFL Premiership Season with Subiaco signalling its resurgence, Peel Thunder showing its upside, West Perth firing, Swan Districts looking exciting and Claremont prevailing in the Grand Final rematch.

It was a fascinating second round of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season with all five matches taking place throughout Saturday afternoon and into the evening.

Two of the Round 1 winners did battle at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park, but it was Subiaco who remained undefeated and kept their dominance over East Fremantle going with the 12.14 (86) to 8.5 (53) victory.

Peel Thunder then sent a message of just how lethal the premiers of 2016 and 2017 can still be when they have enough talent available as they delivered the biggest thumping of the season, beating East Perth 24.10 (154) to 7.7 (49) at Leederville Oval.

It was then time for the Grand Final rematch between Claremont and South Fremantle at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium, and it was the Tigers beating the reigning premiers in a see-saw battle in the finish 17.6 (108) to 13.14 (92).

Next up was West Perth hosting the West Coast Eagles in Yanchep, and the Falcons turned on quite the exciting all-round display to open their account for 2021 winning 19.6 (120) to 6.6 (42).

Then lastly on Saturday evening at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park, Swan Districts put together its best all-round performance potentially in Adam Pickering's time as coach to beat Perth 14.15 (99) to 6.13 (49).

Meanwhile in the Reserves, Subiaco defeated East Fremantle 13.4 (82) to 6.8 (44), East Perth beat Peel Thunder 18.9 (117) to 6.10 (46), Claremont downed South Fremantle 6.9 (45) to 4.7 (31), and Perth defeated Swan Districts 10.10 (70) to 8.7 (55).

And in the Colts, Subiaco beat East Fremantle 8.11 (59) to 6.8 (44), Swan Districts defeated Perth 18.12 (120) to 2.6 (18), East Perth downed Peel Thunder 13.11 (89) to 7.2 (44), and Claremont won a tight one over South Fremantle 8.8 (56) to 6.12 (48).

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

EAST FREMANTLE 8.5 (53) lost to SUBIACO 12.14 (86)

Subiaco sent a message that one year in the wilderness might be as long a reprieve as the rest of the WAFL is going to get with the Lions making it two from two to start 2021 after Saturday's 33-point win against East Fremantle.

Prior to missing the finals last year, Subiaco had played in the previous six WAFL Grand Finals for four premierships and now on the back of a Round 1 win against East Perth, they are two from two to start 2021 after the win over East Fremantle at New Choice Homes Park.

Subiaco did have to come from behind at quarter-time but kicked 10 goals to five the rest of the day against the Sharks to claim the 12.14 (86) to 8.5 (53) victory.

It continued the Lions dominance over the Sharks too with the win being a ninth in-a-row for Subiaco against East Fremantle. Going further back, the Lions have won 13 of the last 14 now against the Sharks, and 40 of the past 46. It's also six straight wins for Subiaco at East Fremantle Oval.

Ryan Borchet was a strong target in attack for Subiaco kicking three goals from 15 possessions and seven marks. Harry Marsh and Jordan Faraone also kicked two goals apiece.

Subiaco captain Leigh Kitchin was brilliant with 28 possessions, 10 tackles and six inside-50 entries while Greg Clark gathered 21 disposals (11 tackles), Marsh 18, Hayden Kennedy 17, Rowen Powell 17 and Lachlan Delahunty 17.

Dillon O'Reilly started well for East Fremantle kicking two goals but he'd be the Sharks' only multiple goal scorer.

Luke Strnadica delivered a dominant performance in the ruck for East Fremantle with 23 disposals, five marks and 48 hit outs while Josh Schoenfeld picked up 27 possessions, Milan Murdock 24, Tom Bennett 22, Jarrad Jansen 22 and Cameron Eardley 19.

East Fremantle's recent history against Subiaco meant the Sharks just had to start well on Saturday and they were able to. Luke Strnadica kicked the first goal of the game before Dillon O'Reilly kicked two more and East Fremantle had the start to put the pressure back on Subiaco.

The Lions responded with a couple of goals before quarter-time to Harry Marsh and Nick Menegola, before Ben Sokol started with the second term with another. Lachlan Delahunty put the Lions in front after and half-time the Lions had taken control to lead by 16 points.

The Sharks had another burst to start the second half with goals to Luke English and Jonathon Marsh to get back within five points, and then by three quarter-time the game was right on the line with Subiaco only two points to the good.

It only took 10 minutes for Subiaco to kick three goals and to blow that lead out to 21 points, and the Lions would end up kicking five goals to one in the last term to come away with the 33-point triumph.
 

EAST PERTH 7.7 (49) lost to PEEL THUNDER 24.10 (154)

Peel Thunder delivered a historically dominant performance to beat East Perth by 105 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Both teams had lost their opening round match ups back on Good Friday to Subiaco and East Fremantle respectively, but there was a significant gap between them as Saturday's contest unfolded.

Peel was in control by half-time to lead by 33 points, but the Thunder then turned it up another gear in the second half with 15 goals to three after half-time to end up winning 24.10 (154) to 7.7 (49).

The scoreline of 154 points was the greatest Peel has ever scored eclipsing their 149 points they kicked in a 71-point win against Swan Districts in Round 11, 2001 in Mandurah.

Not only that, but the 105-point winning margin is the first and only time that Peel has won a game in the WAFL by triple-figures. The previous high mark was a 90-point win against Perth at Lathlain in Round 10, 2017.

And to cap off the records set by the Thunder, their 15.5 (95) kicked in the second half is the club's highest ever score amassed after half-time in a WAFL game.

There was plenty to like from the Peel Thunder performance including three goals apiece from Tyrone Thorne and Ben Hancock. Brayden Lawler, Blair Bell, Michael Randall, Joel Western, Ben Middleton, Lachlan Cullen and Liam Henry all kicked two as well.

Taylin Duman racked up 30 possessions for Peel, Will Schofield 26, Connor Blakely 26, Jackson Merrett 25, Randall 25, Thorne 24, Leno Thomas 23, Lawler 22, Hancock 21, Western 20 and Bell 18.

Matthew Young kicked two goals for East Perth to go with 21 possessions while Mitch Dobson also kicked two.

Angus Scott fought valiantly against the tide for the Royals to compile 34 possessions with Jackson Ramsay gathering 28 disposals, Aidan Lynch 25, Kye Willcocks 23 and Rohan Kerr 22.

The Thunder made a fast start with two goals in the opening five minutes to Ben Middleton and Tyrone Thorne before the Royals got on the board thanks to Matthew Young. 

It was then Peel veteran Ben Hancock adding another, another premiership player Blair Bell kicked one too and then Hancock added a second for the Thunder lead to grow to 26 points.

The Royals did close the gap with a couple of goals either side of quarter-time but the Thunder would kick away once more with goals to Lachlan Cullen, Brayden Lawler, Cullen again and Hancock with a third.

That saw Peel up by 39 points and still 33 at half-time after East Perth got one back through Young.

Peel was far from ready to let up, though, and opening the second half with goals to Will Schofield, Thorne, Bailey Banfield and Thorne again as the edge got out to 59 points. 

The Thunder was able to continue on with it from there too to end up leading by 68 points at three quarter-time, and then kicking away even further with seven goals to one in the last term to end up winning by 105 points.
 

CLAREMONT 17.6 (108) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 13.14 (92)

It was yet another tight and tense battle between last year's Grand Finalists at Revo Fitness Stadium only this time Claremont was able to finish the better to beat South Fremantle by 16 points.

Claremont and South Fremantle had met in both the qualifying and preliminary finals of 2019 with the Bulldogs winning both those games on the way to a Grand Final, and then by 2020 they emerged as the WAFL's top two teams.

They met in a second semi-final with Claremont winning by 47 points to book their place in the Grand Final but then on the big day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, South Fremantle turned the tide to win by three points to claim the 2020 premiership.

So Saturday at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium was the first battle between the two teams since that day and it was a see-saw contest right the way through, but this time the Tigers finished the stronger to claim the 17.6 (108) to 13.14 (92) victory.

That leaves Claremont undefeated after the opening two games of 2021 under returning coach Ashley Prescott while the defending premier South Fremantle are 1-1.

Kane Mitchell spent more time forward than he usually has been accustomed to for Claremont and he kicked three goals to go with 25 possessions and eight marks.

Alex Manuel also kicked three goals for the Tigers while Bailey Rogers, Callan England and Anthony Treacy all kicked two goals apiece.

Lachlan Martinis continued to give Claremont great drive off half-back with another 32 possessions while through the middle, Jye Bolton gathered 31 disposals, Jake Patmore 26, Rogers 25, Ben Edwards 23, Ryan Lim 22, Thomas Baldwin 19 and Treacy 19.

Reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Mason Shaw kicked another five goals for South Fremantle from just six kicks while Cody Ninyette kicked another four goals for the Bulldogs.

Brock Higgins delivered a dominant ruck performance for the Bulldogs with 15 possessions and 39 hit outs while captain Dylan Main picked up 26 disposals.

Haiden Schloithe also finished with 24 touches, Tom Blechynden 19, Nick Suban 19, Jacob Dragovich 18, Chad Pearson 18, Zac Strom 18, Brandon Donaldson 18 and Blake Schlensog 18.

Claremont got off to the flying start and it was former captain and Sandover Medallist Kane Mitchell who played opportunist twice in the first 15 minutes to give the Tigers the opening two goals of the Grand Final rematch.

South Fremantle did steady, though, and Matthew Parker and Cody Ninyette kicking two late goals just before quarter-time to give the Bulldogs a three-point edge.

But again Claremont started the second quarter the better with the first goal to Anthony Treacy but South Fremantle regained the lead thanks to Brandon Donaldson. 

The Tigers kicked the next two, though, through Alex Manuel and Jake Patmore but again the Bulldogs finished off the quarter with the momentum with Ninyette adding his second and third goals, and Mason Shaw his first to see the reigning premiers head into half-time leading by nine points.

Claremont then again kicked the first two goals of the third quarter and then this time the Tigers were able to keep that momentum going. Ninyette did respond for South Fremantle with his fourth, but the Claremont kicked another three goals to be 14 points on top.

South Fremantle wasn't going away, though, and Travis Abbott and Shaw kicked goals before three quarter-time but late Claremont goals to Bailey Rogers and Mitchell saw the Tigers back out to a 14-point break at the last change.

South Fremantle grabbed hold of the momentum again, though, to start the last quarter. Shaw kicked his third and fourth goals to make it a two-point game, but Rogers responded for the Tigers.

Haiden Schloithe then kicked another for South Fremantle to make it a one-point game, but Claremont had the answers and would kick away again to claim the 16-point victory over last year's premiers.
 

WEST PERTH 19.6 (120) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 6.6 (42)

West Perth took its show to Splendid Park in Yanchep on Saturday and the Falcons delivered quite the emphatic performance to beat the West Coast Eagles by 78 points.

West Perth started its 2021 season with a competitive showing despite a 21-point loss to South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but it all came together for the Falcons in Yanchep on Saturday.

But having regularly been part of finals action, West Perth wouldn’t have wanted to be playing catch up this season and they sure ensured that wasn’t the case with a dominant performance from the start against the Eagles.

West Perth kicked four goals to one in the opening quarter and then pulled further away with five to two in the second to head into the half-time break leading by 36 points.

It was another four goals to two for the Falcons in the third quarter, and then they really rammed home their advantage to close out the game with six goals to one in the last term to end up winning 19.6 (120) to 6.6 (42).

It was a dominant performance from West Perth in all areas with the Falcons amassing 99 more disposals for the Eagles, ending up converting those to 25 scoring shots to 12 and then the eventual 78-point victory.

West Perth's forward-line was tremendously impressive and potent, and it wasn’t just the usual suspects Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott. Now that doesn’t mean those two weren’t big contributors with Keitel kicking six goals from 17 possessions and nine marks, and Knott still adding three goals.

But they did receive plenty of help and it was the introduction of Mitch Antonio as that third target that made the world of difference. He kicked four goals to go with 25 possessions and 15 marks.

Tyson Moulton and Rudy Riddoch also chipped in with two goals apiece for West Perth as well.

Those forwards got outstanding supply from those further up the field from West Perth too and there was no one better on the field than inspirational captain Aaron Black. He has started the season in as good a form as he's ever been in despite now being 204 games into his career.

He delivered another 43 possessions, nine marks and six inside-50 entries in Saturday's win.

Trent Manzone continued his superb form too amassing another 40 possessions and seven marks for West Perth with Shane Nelson racking up another 31 disposals, Connor West 30, Mitch Peirce 27, Steve Potente 26, Blake Wilhelm 25, Conal Lynch 25 and Noah Pegoraro 20.

It was a decidedly challenging afternoon for the Eagles but there were still some impressive individual performances.

Brayden Ainsworth battled hard all afternoon in the midfield for 36 possessions and 10 marks while Alex Witherden compiled 26 disposals, six marks and four tackles.

Perth recruit Lennon Marlin finished with 26 touches and seven marks while Luke Edwards had 21 possessions, Harry Sinclair 21, Zac Langdon 19, Luke Foley 19 and Hamish Brayshaw 19.

It took only a minute into the game for West Perth to open the scoring through spearhead Tyler Keitel. He'd added a second with the Falcons kicking four to one in the opening term to lead by 18 points at the first break.

The Eagles did kick a couple of early goals in the second quarter, but the Falcons took control and leading into half-time Mitch Antonio kicked another couple of goals with Keegan Knott and Tyson Moulton kicking truly as well to extent their lead at half-time by 36 points.

The Falcons continued to control the contest and kicked another four goals to two in the third quarter, and six more to one in the last to take out the 78-point victory to open their account for 2021 in style.
 

PERTH 6.13 (49) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 14.15 (99)

Swan Districts could very well have put together its best performance in Adam Pickering's time as coach to beat Perth by 50 points at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park on Saturday night.

Perth was coming into the game after a Round 1 win over the West Coast Eagles on top of breaking their finals drought in 2020 while Swan Districts put in an encouraging performance against Claremont despite a first up loss on home turf last Saturday.

So the stage was set for a tantalising match up between the two teams but Swans blew the game wide open through the second and third quarters kicking eight goals to one during that period.

That saw Swan Districts open up a match-winning advantage before going on to win 14.15 (99) to 6.13 (49) impressively against Perth.

It was a dominant performance from Swans as they finished the game with 64 more disposals than the Demons along with 11 more inside-50 entries and 29 scoring shots to 19 on the way to the 50-point victory.

Finding avenues to goal has been a concern for Swan Districts in recent years but Jesse Palmer looks to be a definite answer after kicking another four goals. Matt Riggio also spent more time forward to kick four goals to go with 20 possessions and six tackles.

Reigning Sandover Medallist Sam Fisher delivered a monster showing for Swan Districts with 41 possessions, seven marks, seven inside-50 entries, six tackles and a goal.

Frank Anderson also racked up 31 disposals for the black-and-whites, Nelson Waite 29, Aidan Clarke 28 (14 marks), Jesse Turner 27, Josh Cipro 23, Jackson Beck 21, Brandon Erceg 20, Lachlan Riley 18 and ruckman Corey Gault 18 to go with 25 hit outs.

Jordon Reid kicked two goals on debut for Perth while Chris Masten gathered another 29 possessions, Brady Grey 28, Matthew Taylor 25, Brent Edmonds 25, Austin Davis 23 and Kasey Nicholas 22 to go with 11 marks.

It was a Saturday evening battle at Lathlain with Perth looking to stay undefeated to start 2021 and Swan Districts trying to open its account, but it was Swans who started well with the game's opening goal courtesy of Jesse Palmer.

Perth had a few missed chances before getting their first goal to Jaiden Hunter. Matt Riggio put Swans back on top, Brent Edmonds responded for Perth and then Palmer's second goal of the first term helped the black-and-whites to a six-point advantage at quarter-time.

Swans then kicked away further in the second term with the only three goals thanks to Thomas Edwards, Riggio and Sam Fisher and they were in control with a 26-point lead by half-time.

Swan Districts then further put its foot down in the third quarter to open up a match-winning advantage by three quarter-time. Swans had kicked five goals to one in the quarter and were in a dominant position to be 53 points to the good heading into the fourth.

It was three goals apiece in the last term but the Demons couldn’t make any inroads and Swans were able to cruise to the impressive 50-point win under lights at Lathlain.