Optus WAFL Round 11 WrapMonday, June 21, 2021 - 1:36 PM - by Chris Pike

THE West Coast Eagles scored their first win of the WAFL season in fine fashion denying Subiaco top spot while West Perth kept their hot form rolling while East Fremantle returned to the winner's list.

There might have been just the three matches that took place in Round 11 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season with Claremont, East Perth, Peel Thunder and South Fremantle having the bye, but the games that did take place sure didn’t disappoint.

First up was Subiaco hosting West Coast at Leederville with the Lions looking to keep the Eagles winless to return to the top of the ladder.

However, the Eagles had other ideas and they opened their account for 2021 holding on to beat Subiaco 12.9 (81) to 11.10 (76).

Two teams looking to consolidate their place in the top five went at it also on Saturday afternoon at Steel Blue Oval, and it was West Perth who proved too strong for Swan Districts winning 14.9 (93) to 7.5 (47).

The last game of Round 11 then took place at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park and it was East Fremantle who kept themselves right in the finals mix with the 12.9 (81) to 8.7 (55) victory against Perth.

After Round 11 with every team having now played nine games, it is Claremont a game clear on top of the WAFL ladder with an 8-1 record to be ahead of Subiaco (7-2).

Reigning premiers South Fremantle (6-3) are third with West Perth (5-4) and Swan Districts (5-4) rounding out the top five.

East Fremantle (4-5) is just outside the top five ahead of Perth (4-5), Peel Thunder (3-6), East Perth (2-7) and the West Coast Eagles (1-8).

Meanwhile in the two Round 11 Reserves match ups, Swan Districts defeated West Perth 6.18 (54) to 6.4 (40) and Perth defeated East Fremantle 13.7 (85) to 4.4 (28).

Then in the Colts battles for Round 11, Swan Districts beat West Perth 12.14 (86) to 5.5 (35) and East Fremantle prevailed 18.15 (123) to 5.2 (32) against Perth.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 11

SUBIACO 11.10 (76) lost to WEST COAST EAGLES 12.9 (81)

The West Coast Eagles had some big inclusions and they ended up holding out Subiaco for their first win of the season at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Subiaco needed the win to return to the top of the WAFL ladder having won their last four matches while West Coast hadn’t tasted victory yet in 2021, and in fairness hadn’t really come close.

The Eagles had lost their opening eight matches this season by an average of 60.5 points so there was a fear of what sort of damage the Lions could do to them after hold Perth to just one goal in their last outing.

There was nothing to be worried about, though, and the Eagles were terrific and then withstood a Ben Sokol led charge from Subiaco in the last quarter to hold on for the 12.9 (81) to 11.10 (76) victory.

The win is the first of the Eagles for the season and there was plenty to like in their performance both in terms of future AFL selection for those involved, but as well for what they can produce in the WAFL for the rest of 2021.

Ruckman Nathan Vardy was impressive with 17 possessions, 16 hit outs and two goals but all eyes were on returning West Coast captain Luke Shuey. Despite his game time restricted to 80 minutes, he was superb with 22 possessions, seven marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Brendon Ah Chee also kicked two goals including taking yet another spectacular mark to add to his highlight reel with Kieran Hug also kicking two majors including the sealer for the Eagles.

Mark Hutchings was superb with 32 possessions, 12 marks and a goal while Alex Witherden gathered 26 touches, Brayden Ainsworth 25, Jarrod Brander 21, Xavier O'Neill 19 (11 tackles), Hamish Brayshaw 19, Bailey Williams 18 (18 hit outs, eight marks) and Zane Trew 18 (nine tackles).

Ben Sokol continued his brilliant goalkicking form for Subiaco with six goals for the afternoon from 17 disposals and seven marks. Michael Braut also kicked two goals for the Lions.

Subiaco captain Leigh Kitchin finished with another 22 possessions while Harry Marsh ended up with 21 disposals, Hayden Kennedy 20, Greg Clark 20, Wil Hickmott 20, Drew Rohde 19, Bailey Matera 19 (13 marks) and Lachlan Delahunty 19 to go with 13 hit outs and seven marks.

West Coast might have not won a game yet in 2021 as they came up a team seen by many as premiership favourites, but the Eagles started strongly with the opening five scoring shots resulting in goals to Bailey Williams, Nathan Vardy and Jarrod Garlett.

Subiaco didn’t score for almost the entire first 20 minutes and didn’t kick a goal until Wil Hickmott closed the opening quarter with one but West Coast still managed to lead by 13 points at quarter-time.

West Coast kept the momentum going in the second term with an early goal to Brendon Ah Chee. Liam Robilliard kicked another soon after to keep the Eagles up by 21 points but the Lions did fire back to close out the opening half with goals to Lewis Putt, Michael Braut and Nick Martin.

That was enough to see Subiaco take a one-point lead into the half-time break before Ben Sokol kicked the Lions out to a seven-point lead to start the second half and it appeared they might run away with it from there.

The Eagles would have none of it, though, and hit back with the next six goals of the game to suddenly go from being down by seven points to leading by 30 when Nathan Vardy kicked truly at the 23-minute mark of the third quarter.

Sokol got one back before three quarter-time for Subiaco but West Coast still led by 23 points at the last change.

Sokol was threatening to be the match-winner for Subiaco during the fourth quarter as well when he kicked three consecutive goals between the eight and 24-minute marks.

That took the Lions from being down by 22 points to down by just four, but they couldn't quite get in front and it was Kieran Hug who kicked the winning goal for the Eagles at the 27-minute mark.
 

SWAN DISTRICTS 7.5 (47) lost to WEST PERTH 14.9 (93)

A healthy crowd turned out to Steel Blue Oval on Saturday but what they saw was West Perth continue its good form at the expense of Swan Districts.

The two teams met in front of well over 4000 people at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday attempting to consolidate their hold on a finals position. With both teams coming into the game in impressive recent form too, the stage was set for a tantalising match up.

However, West Perth got on top early with four goals to two in each of the opening two quarters to go into half-time leading by 28 points and going on to turn that into an eventual 14.9 (93) to 7.5 (47) victory.

The win is a second straight for West Perth while the Falcons have now won four of their past five matches while the loss snapped a two-game winning run for Swan Districts.

Jesse Palmer kicked another two goals for Swan Districts while Warrick Wilson chimed in with two goals as well from nine kicks and seven marks.

While West Perth racked up 86 more disposals for the game as a team, Swan Districts did have some impressive ball winners in their own right with Jesse Turner leading the way with 33 possessions, eight marks, five inside-50 entries and three tackles.

Frank Anderson continued his terrific form for the black-and-whites with another 32 disposals, six marks, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal as well.

Corey Gault dominated the ruck for Swan Districts with 23 possessions, nine marks and 37 hit outs while Jackson Beck gathered 19 disposals, Sam Fisher 18, Aidan Clarke 16 and Josh Cipro 16.

West Perth's impressive recent form has certainly been helped by their options for goals in attack that has now extended beyond Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott. Keitel still had a big day, though, on Saturday with 19 possessions, seven marks and three goals.

Former Swan Rudy Riddoch torched his former team too with three goals while Mitch Antonio kicked two and so did midfielder Conal Lynch to go with 26 possessions and 12 marks for the Falcons. Tom O'Donnell chipped in with two handy goals as well.

West Perth ran out dominant in the possession game with 86 more marks, 30 more marks and 15 extra inside-50 entries than Swan Districts with Shane Nelson amassing another 32 possessions and seven marks.

Nathan Murray continued his emerged with another 28 disposals, eight marks, six tackles and five inside 50s while Tristan Hobley finished with 28 touches, Mitch Peirce 25, Aaron Black 21, Kris Shannon 21 and Noah Pegoraro 20.

The game started with a quick goal for West Perth to Conal Lynch but then after a couple of misses, Swan Districts responded to a major with Warrick Wilson.

Both teams then traded goals through Nathan Alexandre and Jesse Palmer but then West Perth dominated the rest of the term with goals to Tom O'Donnell and Lynch again to see them leading by 15 points at quarter-time.

Early goals in the second quarter from Mitch Antonio and Tyler Keitel saw West Perth pull away further before Swan Districts did manage a couple of settlers courtesy of Brayden Noble and Palmer.

However, West Perth finished with the last goal of the half as Keitel kicked his second and the Falcons held on to a handy 28-point advantage by the half-time break.

Swan Districts started the second half well with three of the first four scoring shots, but only one of those turned into a goal through Wilson. 

West Perth again took back control for the second half of the third term, though, with two of the goals coming to Riddoch and another to Keitel and suddenly the Falcons held on to a match-winning 41-point advantage.

West Perth then put the result well beyond doubt with goals to Tyson Moulton and Riddoch to start the final term. 

Swan Districts did get a couple of goals back through Frank Anderson and Sam Fisher, but Keegan Knott kicked the last goal of the contest and West Perth went on to score the 46-point victory to make four wins in the last five games.
 

PERTH 8.7 (55) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 12.9 (81)

Perth and East Fremantle were looking to put the head on the teams in the top five with a win on Saturday and it was the Sharks who proved too strong at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

Both the Demons and Sharks had the opportunity to take a step closer towards breaking into the top five with a win on Saturday in Round 11 of the WAFL, and it was the Sharks who got on top early.

East Fremantle led by 20 points shortly before quarter-time and ended up maintaining that advantage most of the rest of the way on the afternoon to end up scoring the important 12.9 (81) to 8.7 (55) victory.

The win snapped a three-game losing slide for the Sharks to improve them to a 4-5 record on the season on back of the announcement that coach Bill Monaghan has re-signed. Perth has now lost two straight to be 4-5 as well.

Jonathon Marsh produced a match-winning performance for East Fremantle made up of five goals to go with 24 possessions, nine marks and three tackles.

Luke Strnadica also kicked two goals when resting forward for the Sharks but he did most of his good work in the ruck with 20 possessions, six marks and 37 hit outs.

East Fremantle's midfield might have lost Cam Eardley pre-game while still missing Josh Schoenfeld, Corey Chalmers, Milan Murdock and Cody Leggett, but they still got on top of the Sharks with Kyle Baskerville leading the way with 28 possessions, eight marks, four tackles and four inside 50s.

Jarrad Jansen also had 27 possessions and six tackles for East Fremantle, Blaine Boekhorst 23 disposals and six marks, Tom Bennett 21 touches and five inside 50s, Morgan Davies 20 possessions and 10 tackles, and Luke English 20 disposals and seven tackles.

Kristian Cary kicked three goals for Perth from 16 possessions while laying nine tackles with Mitch Browne and Sam Stubbs also kicking two goals apiece.

Perth got a host of key players back and they made some strong contributions with Christ Masten picking up 24 possessions, Michael Sinclair 23, Fraser McInnes 14 and Brady Grey 10.

Brant Colledge also gathered 24 disposals for the Demons, Regan Clarke 21, Corey Byrne 20, Kasey Nicholas 20 and Jack Avery 18.

East Fremantle made a fast start with the first goal inside two minutes to Luke Strnadica while Brynn Teakle came into the team and started in the ruck.

Blaine Boekhorst then ran forward to kick truly as well and Jarrad Jansen added another for the Sharks to lead by 20 points just before quarter-time. Perth did get back within 14 points, though, at the first change following their first goal through Mitch Browne.

The Demons then closed to within just eight points to start the second quarter but East Fremantle immediately responded through Tim Bockman and that would become an on-going trend.

Sam Stubbs and Jonathon Marsh then traded goals, and so did Stubbs and Strnadica again heading into half-time with East Fremantle still holding on to a 14-point lead to be on track to snap their three-game losing slide.

It became the Marsh and Kristian Cary show during third quarter with the former kicking three goals for the Sharks and the latter two for the Demons, but the end result was similar with East Fremantle still up by 16 points at three quarter-time.

Jack Steel kicked Perth back within 10 points to start the final term but East Fremantle continued to have the answers starting with a goal to Matthew Burton and then one to Cody Smith as the lead for the Sharks got back out to 21 points, and they would win by 26 after another to Marsh.