Optus WAFL Round 10 WrapMonday, June 14, 2021 - 6:00 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE were just two games in Round 10 of the WAFL but the result was two terrific contests with Claremont leaving it late to overcome Peel Thunder and East Perth producing the upset of the season over South Fremantle.

With East Fremantle, Perth, Subiaco, Swan Districts, West Coast Eagles and West Perth having the Round 10 bye, it was up to the four teams that were in action to put on a show and they didn’t fail to deliver.

There was just the one game on Saturday afternoon and for much of the game Peel Thunder was on track to cause the upset, but Claremont then kicked the last three goals in the dying minutes to end up winning 14.6 (90) to 12.11 (83) at Claremont's Revo Fitness Stadium.

It was always going to be a big day at Leederville Oval with both teams celebrating significant milestones with East Perth's Nathan Blee earning life membership by reaching 150 games and South Fremantle's premiership midfielder Jacob Dragovich was bringing up his 100th game.

The game turned out to be quite the struggle for four quarters but in the end East Perth did a terrific job to strangle South Fremantle and cause the upset of the season to defeat the reigning premiers 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54).

Claremont, Peel Thunder, East Perth and South Fremantle will now all have a bye in Round 11.

While they rest and recuperate, this Saturday will see Subiaco play the West Coast Eagles, Swan Districts take on West Perth and Perth face East Fremantle.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 10

CLAREMONT 14.6 (90) defeated PEEL THUNDER 12.11 (83)

Peel Thunder threw the gauntlet right down to Claremont all Saturday afternoon at Revo Fitness Stadium with the Tigers leaving until the last minutes to snatch the victory.

It was a seesaw battle all afternoon with numerous momentum swings but with Peel leading by 12 points at the 21-minute of the last quarter, it did like the Thunder were going to leave with the impressive road victory.

Claremont wouldn’t be denied, though, and in the dying minutes they kicked three goals to end up securing the 14.6 (90) to 12.11 (83) victory in gritty fashion against a focused and determined opponent.

Emerging young key forward Jack Buller proved a match-winner again for Claremont to end up kicking four goals from six kicks for the day. Alex Manuel also kicked three goals for the Tigers.

Jye Bolton produced another best on ground performance for Claremont to continue his remarkable run of form with another 35 possessions, nine inside 50s, four marks, four tackles and a goal.

Bailey Rogers racked up another 29 disposals for the Tigers, Lachlan Martinis 25, Ryan Lim 22, Jake Patmore 19 and Jared Hardisty 18 to go with nine tackles.

Blair Bell, Lachlan Cullen and Roy George all kicked two goals apiece for Peel.

Luke Valente worked hard against the star-studded Claremont midfield for the Thunder with 26 possessions, six marks and five tackles.

Ben Hancock also finished with 20 disposals and six tackles for Peel while Jarvis Pina had 20 touches, Jackson Merrett 19, Michael Randall 18 and ruckman Lloyd Meek 17 to go with 37 hit outs and three tackles.

Peel started well away from home with the first couple of goals of the game through Bailey Banfield and Blair Bell. It took Claremont almost 16 minutes to score for the first time and that was a goal to Alex Manuel.

Jack Buller then also kicked truly shortly before quarter-time to cut Peel's lead to two points at the break.

Claremont then took the lead midway through the second quarter with goals to Isaac Barton firstly, and then Buller and Ben Edwards to be threatening to blow the game apart with a 16-point advantage.

Peel wouldn’t go away, though, starting with a goal to Roy George, and leading into half-time Lachlan Cullen and Stefan Giro also kicked truly and the Thunder went into the major break with a three-point advantage.

The Thunder kept that momentum going into the third quarter with a couple of quick goals to Cullen and Brodie Lake. That saw their lead grow out to 15 points but the seesawing continued responded in kind with goals to Manuel and Jye Bolton.

Bell's second goal kept Peel in front, though, and then when Brayden Lawler kicked truly as well the Thunder were out to a 16-point advantage once again.

However, Anton Hamp kicked a goal just before three quarter-time and that kept Claremont within 10 points by three quarter-time.

Manuel brough the Tigers back within four points to start the last term but Peel ended up appearing to have a game-winning edge at the 21-minute mark when George kicked his second goal of the game.

It wasn’t to be, though, with Claremont digging deep with three goals in the last six minutes with two of those to Buller and the other to Jake Patmore to snatch the seven-point win from the gutsy Thunder.
 

EAST PERTH 8.11 (59) defeated SOUTH FREMANTLE 8.6 (54)

East Perth turned in their performance of the WAFL season on Sunday to stun the reigning premiers South Fremantle by winning by five points at Leederville Oval.

The Royals did take heart out of their fighting performance back in Round 6 against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but history was still against them.

South Fremantle came into the game having won seven straight matches against East Perth, and also hadn’t lost to the Royals at Leederville Oval since 2014.

Add in the fact the Bulldogs were in third position as reigning premiers and East Perth had just the one win on the board so far against the winless West Coast Eagles, and the odds were stacked against the Royals.

Nobody told the East Perth players that, though, and spurred on by the 150th game of Nathan Blee, they were on top most of the game pull off the spirited 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54) upset victory over South Fremantle.

With East Perth having just one win to their credit so far and South Fremantle building some momentum in their premiership defence, there's no doubt this was the upset result of the season.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for East Perth either to win to celebrate the 150th game of loyal, consistent and popular defender Nathan Blee. 

On the day he earned life membership, not only did he celebrate with the memorable win but he was one of the best players on the field from centre half-back with 25 possessions and four marks.

South Fremantle was celebrating a milestone of its own with Jacob Dragovich getting to 100 games with the Bulldogs. The premiership midfielder couldn’t do any more to try and lift South Fremantle either finishing with 28 possessions, eight marks and three tackles.

Jayden Magro and Eddie Simpson kicked three goals apiece for East Perth with Simpson adding 16 possessions and 10 marks.

Angus Scott racked up another 26 possessions and seven marks on the wing for East Perth while Angus Schumacher fought hard in the midfield for 23 disposals, six tackles and five marks.

Shayne Hille was tremendous with 23 possessions, 10 tackles, eight marks and seven inside-50 entries while Kye Willcocks finished with 23 touches, Harley Sparks 23, Rohan Kerr 22 and Aidan Lynch 18.

The East Perth back-line stood tall led by Brad Fullgrabe holding Bernie Naylor Medallist Mason Shaw to five kicks and one behind.

Brandon Donaldson was South Fremantle's only forward to have much impact with four goals from 15 disposals.

South Fremantle's back-line was actually pretty solid only allowing East Perth eight goals from 36 inside-50 entries with Chad Pearson finishing with 29 possessions and nine marks, Jason Maskos 21 disposals and six marks, Jarrod Salmeri 18 touches and seven marks, Toby McQuilkin 16 possessions and 10 marks, and Blake Schlensog 12 disposals and five marks.

Tom Blechynden racked up 26 possessions, seven tackles, six marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal on the wing for South Fremantle as he continued his impressive form.

East Perth made an impressive start when the lethal left boot of Jayden Magro was on song early as he swooped on the loose ball with too much space inside the forward 50.

South Fremantle responded with a crafty snap from Brandon Donaldson and then South Fremantle got another next up thanks to Cody Ninyette who had a lively opening for the Bulldogs.

East Perth responded impressively, though, starting with a couple of goals to big man Eddie Simpson, and they then took a 12-point lead into quarter-time on the back of a second goal to Magro.

Manfred Kelly offered a glimpse of his talents with a clever crumbing goal for South Fremantle early in the second term but the Royals continued to have the answers and it was Harley Sparks who kicked a good set shot from 50.

Donaldson's second for South Fremantle kept the Bulldogs with seven points and then Tom Blechynden had the reigning premiers back within a point and they had some momentum for the first time in the game.

The Royals responded well, though, with a terrific snapped goal from Simpson for his third goal at the half and that saw the home team head into half-time leading by eight points.

The game turned into a real grind after half-time and the Royals couldn’t take their chances kicking six behinds for the third term while South Fremantle kicked a goal through Donaldson with their only scoring shot.

South Fremantle knew it had to lift in the final term and the Bulldogs peppered the goals early, but couldn’t kick truly only to see Magro find the major opening up the other end with his third.

Twice did the Bulldogs get back within a goal thanks to goals from Haiden Schloithe and Donaldson, but ultimately it was a relay free-kick ending up in an Aidan Lynch goal that led the Royals to hold on for stunning five-point upset.