WAFL Team of Round 2Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - 9:04 PM - by Chris Pike

WHAT a Saturday afternoon and evening it was in Round 2 of the Optus WAFL Premiership Season and to narrow down so many impressive individual performances down to a final 22 was once again no easy task.

To highlight just how challenging of a task it was to pick the WAFL Team of the Round this week, you only have to look at those that missed out. Among those were a full-forward who kicked five goals, the reigning Player of the Week who racked up plenty of the ball again and plenty others.

It was a history-making win for Peel Thunder and not all their standout performers could make it while their vanquished opponents even had some strong contributors despite the result.

There was a whole host of players who were tremendous in the Grand Final rematch but with five games and 10 teams with players pushing their case, there are only so many spots. Even Swan Districts had players they can consider unlucky after their big win and the same goes for West Perth.

Round 2 of the WAFL got underway on Saturday afternoon with Subiaco continuing its winning ways against East Fremantle, prevailing 12.14 (86) to 8.5 (53) at East Fremantle's New Choice Homes Park.

Leederville Oval was the scene of a history-making performance from Peel Thunder as they scored their biggest ever win and kicked their highest score beating East Perth 24.10 (154) to 7.7 (49).

And in the Grand Final rematch at Revo Fitness Stadium, it was Claremont getting over South Fremantle 17.6 (108) to 13.14 (92).

West Perth won big over the West Coast Eagles 19.6 (120) to 6.6 (42) at Yanchep's Splendid Park before on Saturday night, Swan Districts was too good for Perth 14.15 (99) to 6.13 (49) at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – SAM FISHER (Swan Districts)
There are absolutely no signs of a Sandover Medal hangover for Swan Districts' on-baller Sam Fisher, in fact his form over the opening two weeks of 2021 might even be trumping what he produced last year.

The 23-year-old Canberra native arrived at Swan Districts to settle into the midfield on the back of having spent a season in the AFL system with the Sydney Swans and more recently plying his trade in the VFL with the Northern Blues.

He had been playing good football but not necessarily banging down the door for another AFL opportunity, so he made the bold move to head to Western Australia and play in the WAFL.

In the end, Fisher was brilliant in the midfield for Swan Districts averaging 26.5 disposals a game which given the shorter quarters is even more impressive and his consistency saw him have no game below 18 touches.

He was named to the WAFL Team of the Year and became the first winner of the Sandover Medal from Swan Districts since Andrew Krakouer's brilliant 2010. In just eight games, Fisher polled 13 votes and his consistency was highlighted with him earning votes in six of those matches.

But there are no signs of anything but him at least backing up what he did a year ago, if not improving on it. He started off with 33 possessions, six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal in the opening round against Claremont.

Then he went up another gear on Saturday night in Swans' win over Perth with 41 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s, six tackles and a goal.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Josh Schoenfeld (East Fremantle)

WAFL TEAM OF THE ROUND
BACK: Hayden Kennedy (S), Kasey Nicholas (P), Blake Wilhelm (WP)
HALF-BACK: Nelson Waite (SD), Taylin Duman (PT), Lachlan Martinis (C)
CENTRE: Trent Manzone (WP), Leigh Kitchin (S), Frank Anderson (SD)
HALF-FORWARD: Kane Mitchell (C), Ryan Borchet (S), Michael Randall (PT)
FORWARD: Tyrone Thorne (PT), Tyler Keitel (WP), Mitch Antonio (WP)
RUCK: Luke Strnadica (EF), Aaron Black (WP), Sam Fisher (SD) 
INTERCHANGE: Brock Higgins (SF), Bailey Rogers (C), Will Schofield (PT), Aidan Clarke (SD)

BACK POCKET – HAYDEN KENNEDY (Subiaco)
He missed the opening round win over East Perth but the small defender picked up right where he left off in the win on Saturday over East Fremantle. Finished with 17 possessions, four marks and two inside-50 entries. The premiership defender was named in the Team of the Year back in 2018 and now is going to be an important cog in Subiaco's revival in 2021.

FULL-BACK – KASEY NICHOLAS (Perth)
Has found his niche as a key defender with the Demons and after a standout game in Round 1 in the win over West Coast, he backed it up again on Saturday night despite Perth going down at home to Swan Districts. He still stood tall in impressive fashion and ended up with 22 disposals, 11 marks and three tackles.

BACK POCKET – BLAKE WILHELM (West Perth)
Has racked up over 100 games now for the Falcons and is a regular here in the Team of the Week and was named to the 2020 Team of the Year, but for some reason is still largely flying under the radar for the standout football he plays in the West Perth back-line. Was superb again in the Falcons' win over the Eagles with 25 disposals, six marks and five entries inside-50.

HALF-BACK FLANK – NELSON WAITE (Swan Districts)
The former East Perth player came to Swan Districts last year searching for more league opportunities. That saw him play eight games in the shortened 2020 season and now he is truly showing what he's capable of as an attacking defender in the opening two rounds of 2021. He was superb again in Saturday night's win against Perth with 29 touches, five marks and four tackles.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – TAYLIN DUMAN (Peel Thunder)
He might not be a true key defender but he sure was a dominant presence in the history-making win for Peel against East Perth. Was the best player on the ground with his ability to read the ball, mark strongly and then set up the attacking forays for the Thunder. Ended the afternoon with 30 possessions, nine marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries.

HALF-BACK FLANK – LACHLAN MARTINIS (Claremont)
The run and drive he continues to provide Claremont out of defence has been a big reason why Bailey Rogers has been able to be released up the field, and it's working a treat. He was terrific again in the win over South Fremantle in the Grand Final rematch with 32 touches, five marks, four tackles and two inside-50 entries.

WING – TRENT MANZONE (West Perth)
He might sometimes get lost in the shuffle at West Perth with how good, prolific and consistent Shane Nelson and Aaron Black are in the midfield, but he just continues to deliver outstanding football on the wing for the Falcons. Has started 2021 in tremendous fashion and produced 40 possessions and seven marks in the big win on Saturday against the Eagles.

CENTRE – LEIGH KITCHIN (Subiaco)
The Subiaco captain has started the new season in dazzling form and knowing he has to perhaps even go up a gear in 2021 in the absence of Kyal Horsley, he is showing he's more than capable. Was named the centreman back in the 2017 Team of the Year and the triple premiership winner is in brilliant form to start this season on the back of 28 possessions, 10 tackles and six inside-50 entries in the win over East Fremantle.

WING – FRANK ANDERSON (Swan Districts)
His form really has pretty much gone hand in hand with fellow recruit from last year Sam Fisher even if he doesn’t also have the Sandover Medal to show for it. But he continues to be a huge factor in the midfield at Swan Districts and racked up another 31 possessions, six tackles, five marks and five inside-50 entries in Saturday night's win against Perth.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – KANE MITCHELL (Claremont)
The former captain, Sandover Medallist and premiership star is spending a bit more time forward and then with stints in the midfield so far in 2021, but it's working a treat. He kicked two quick goals to open the Grand Final rematch against South Fremantle and ended up with three for the game to go with his 25 possessions, eight marks and three tackles.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – RYAN BORCHET (Subiaco)
After a breakout 2019 season where he kicked 42 goals and became a premiership player, he was one of a host of Subiaco players to fall to the injury curse in 2020. But he is back up and firing early in 2021, and looking to be one of the best key forward targets in the competition. He produced another three goals from 15 disposals and seven marks in the Lions' win over the Sharks.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – MICHAEL RANDALL (Peel Thunder)
He has turned himself into one of the more consistently strong midfielders in the competition and also gets forward for Peel and has proven himself a handy goalkicker as well. He was instrumental once again in the Thunder's first ever 100-plus point win by delivering 25 disposals, nine marks, three tackles, two inside 50s and two goals.

FORWARD POCKET – TYRONE THORNE (Peel Thunder)
Has transformed himself this off-season into a player ready and able to deliver consistently at league level whether it's playing in the midfield to use his speed and running ability, or to play as a crafty small forward with exciting goal sense. Stood out in both capacities in the win over East Perth with 24 touches, six marks and three goals for the Thunder.

FULL-FORWARD – TYLER KEITEL (West Perth)
It continues to be a surprise that an AFL club hasn’t seen him worth investing in. He burst onto the scene in stunning form as a key defender who was a standout intercept mark and set up player. Now continues to be a standout spearhead in attack and was superb again in West Perth's big win over West Coast kicking six goals from 17 touches and nine marks.

FORWARD POCKET – MITCH ANTONIO (West Perth)
He certainly would have expected to have played more than four league appearances with West Perth by the time he was 24 years of age after the exciting colts career he had and the impressive reserves form he started off showing. But he has shown tremendous perseverance and based on what he did on Saturday with four goals from 25 possessions and 15 marks, he should be able to bank on plenty more league appearances with the Falcons.

RUCK – LUKE STRNADICA (East Fremantle)
East Fremantle surely would be wishing they had two of him in 2021 because not only is he cementing himself as one of the WAFL's standout ruckmen, but if he were forward there's every chance he could be one of the league's best attacking threats too. But he is in fine form on the ball to start the new season and produced 23 possessions, 48 hit outs, five marks, four tackles and a goal against the tide in the Sharks' loss to Subiaco.

RUCK ROVER – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
What a remarkable champion not only of the West Perth Football Club but of the WAFL in general he is. His accolades just keep racking up and he's doing it as the Falcons captain and he might even be getting better season on season. He had another 43 possessions, nine marks and six inside 50s in big win over the Eagles as part of a career that has spanned 204 games and including a premiership, Sandover Medal, two-time fairest and best winner and six-time state representative.

INTERCHANGE – BROCK HIGGINS (South Fremantle)
Has been such a stalwart as ruckman ever since joining South Fremantle from East Perth back in 2015 and was deserving of becoming a premiership player last year as anyone. Showing no signs of slowing down, though, and put in another standout performance despite the loss to Claremont made up of 15 disposals, 39 hit outs, three inside-50 entries and two tackles.

INTERCHANGE – BAILEY ROGERS (Claremont)
The usual attacking defender has now found a permanent spot on the wing with Claremont and he's enjoying the freedom to be closer to the goals instead of the man setting up play out of the defensive 50. He got forward to kick two important running goals in the win against South Fremantle to go with his 25 possessions, four marks and three entries inside the forward 50.

INTERCHANGE – WILL SCHOFIELD (Peel Thunder)
He might not have necessarily expected to be carrying the ruck when he signed up with Peel after his AFL career at the West Coast Eagles, but he sure provided the Thunder with plenty around the ground. As expected he didn’t get a lot of hit outs opposed to East Perth's Scott Jones and Ajang Ajang, but he more than made up for that as a virtual extra midfielder finishing with 26 possessions, seven marks, three tackles, three inside 50s, a goal and the 16 hit outs.

INTERCHANGE – AIDAN CLARKE (Swan Districts)
Is another Swan Districts player who has developed along steadily and is now in career-best form to start the 2021 season and is beginning to show what he's truly capable of. Produced another standout showing in the win over the Demons with 28 possessions, 14 marks, four inside-50 entries and a goal.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 2 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

East Fremantle's Josh Schoenfeld, Milan Murdock and Jarrad Jansen.

Subiaco's Harry Marsh, Greg Clark and Rowen Powell.

East Perth's Matthew Young, Angus Scott and Jackson Ramsay.

Peel Thunder's Ben Hancock, Brayden Lawler, Joel Western, Connor Blakely and Jackson Merrett.

Claremont's Anthony Treacy, Jye Bolton, Jake Patmore, Declan Hardisty and Ben Edwards.

South Fremantle's Dylan Main, Haiden Schloithe, Chad Pearson, Blake Schlensog, Mason Shaw and Cody Ninyette.

West Perth's Keegan Knott, Shane Nelson, Connor West, Mitch Peirce, Steve Potente and Conal Lynch.

Brayden Ainsworth, Alex Witherden and Lennon Marlin of the West Coast Eagles.

Perth's Chris Masten, Brady Grey, Matthew Taylor, Austin Davis and Brent Edmonds.

Swan Districts' Jesse Palmer, Matt Riggio, Jesse Turner, Josh Cipro, Brandon Erceg and Corey Gault.