WAFL Team of Rounds 10/11Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - 2:05 PM - by Chris Pike

ALL 10 WAFL teams had a match and a bye over the past two weekends so we have decided to do a combined Team of the Week from Rounds 10 and 11 to make it fair, and it's fair to say plenty of players were putting their hands up for selection.

There were just the two matches back in Round 10 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season with Claremont coming from behind to beat Peel Thunder 14.6 (90) to 12.11 (83) and East Perth holding off reigning premiers South Fremantle 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54) in the upset of the season.

Those four teams then had the bye in Round 11 while the other six teams returned to action beginning with the West Coast Eagles getting their first win of the season on the board against Subiaco 12.9 (81) to 11.10 (76) at Leederville Oval.

West Perth kept its impressive form going as well beating Swan Districts 14.9 (93) to 7.5 (47) at Steel Blue Oval while East Fremantle defeated Perth 12.9 (81) to 8.7 (55) at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park.

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).

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – JONATHON MARSH (East Fremantle)
East Fremantle have been on the look out for a reliable, goalkicking forward target for most of this century and on his return to the Sharks from second AFL stint in 2021, Jonathon Marsh could very well be the answer.

The only thing stopping it potentially from happening is that he is so good and so versatile, and talented that he might be required in other areas of the ground at times by coach Bill Monaghan.

Whether during his two AFL stints at Collingwood and St Kilda where he spent two seasons each for a total of 26 games, or in between with his first stint back at East Fremantle in 2017 and 2018, or now in 2021, he has shown what he's capable of.

When he's up and going, he is a pure powerhouse who is mobile enough to be impressive at ground level, tall enough to be a strong mark overhead and then his kicking skills are elite. 

He has shown he can play well as a defender where he's a good spoiler and intercept marker, and tough to beat in one-on-one contests and then his kicking out of the back 50 can become a real weapon.

However, he's also shown he can be an effective and imposing on-baller with his big body making him tough to move at the stoppages and then when he wins enough of the ball, he delivered well inside-50 – if the Sharks have a target worthy of kicking it to.

But it's as a forward where he could truly now settle and become the long-term answer as the main target in attack for the Sharks and potentially create an impressive forward-line if Hugh Dixon can stand up and Tim Bockman, Dillon O'Reilly and Luke Strnadica as the resting ruckman offer something too.

Marsh, though, showed exactly what a match-winner he can be in the forward-line for East Fremantle on Saturday against Perth kicking five goals from 24 possessions and nine marks.

That gives him 19 goals for the season and if he can end up kicking near 50, the Sharks are going to remain right in the mix for a first finals appearance since 2014.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Josh Schoenfeld (East Fremantle)
Round 2 – Sam Fisher (Swan Districts)
Round 3 – Greg Clark (Subiaco)
Round 5 – Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle)
Round 6 – Tyrone Thorne (Peel Thunder)
Round 7 – Keegan Knott (West Perth)
Round 8 – Jye Bolton (Claremont)
Round 9 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)

BACK POCKET – HAYDEN KENNEDY (Subiaco)
The triple premiership winning small defender is right back to his best form in 2021 and he continued that on Saturday even if Subiaco suffer a surprise defeat at the hands of the West Coast Eagles. The 84-game star finished the afternoon with 20 possessions, 10 marks and two tackles.

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle captain continues to lead admirable from his key defensive post and while it hasn’t always been a team easy to play that role in, you can never question his 100 per cent effort and commitment. He helped to ensure Fraser McInnes didn’t hit the scoreboard as well in Saturday's win against Perth to go with 14 possessions and seven marks himself.

BACK POCKET – BRAD FULLGRABE (East Perth)
Was given the significant job on South Fremantle vice-captain, Bernie Naylor Medallist and premiership spearhead Mason Shaw last Sunday, and did such a good job that he had a big say in the upset East Perth victory. He held Shaw to five kicks and one behind for the day while having seven touches and four tackles himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – LACHLAN MARTINIS (Claremont)
He continues to be quite the weapon coming out of defence for the Tigers and he produced another standout performance in their come from behind win over Peel back last Saturday. Finished the afternoon with another 25 possessions, eight marks and five inside 50s and his ability to set up play coming out of the back-line is now one of Claremont's great strengths.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – WILL SCHOFIELD (Peel Thunder)
The West Coast Eagles premiership player has thrown himself fully into giving all he can at Peel Thunder this season and that's included him playing a number of different roles, including in the ruck. But it's as a key defender where he's built his reputation and he had a fascinating duel with Claremont young gun Jack Buller. He might have still kicked four important goals but Schofield dominated the majority of their one-on-one battles and had 12 possessions, four marks and three tackles.

HALF-BACK FLANK – ZAC GUADAGNIN (West Perth)
He is largely still an underrated defender across the competition, but not inside West Perth and he continues to take on the big jobs and do them well week after week. Had a fascinating battle on Saturday with Jesse Palmer from Swan Districts limiting him to the nine kicks and two goals while having 19 possessions and four marks himself along with his strong defensive work.

WING – BAILEY ROGERS (Claremont)
He has been allowed to move further up the field thanks to how well teammate Lachlan Martinis is doing as an attacking defender, and he continues to thrive in his role on the wing for Claremont making his full use of his running ability and good kicking skills. He produced another 29 disposals, six marks, four inside 50s and three tackles in the win against Peel Thunder.

CENTRE – KYLE BASKERVILLE (East Fremantle)
He might have spent most of his game setting up play for the Sharks out of the back-line, but that was a tough defensive unit to break into this week and he has spent plenty of time in the midfield previously. Delivered just about a best on ground performance against Perth for East Fremantle with 28 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and four entries inside the forward 50.

WING – CONAL LYNCH (West Perth)
Is one of a host of emerging players at West Perth who continue to be grabbing their opportunities with both hands to ensure they remain a finals contending outfit. Whether playing through the middle, on the wing or going forward, he is producing plenty for the Falcons right and was tremendous in the win against Swan Districts with 26 disposals, 12 marks and two goals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – SHAYNE HILLE (East Perth)
He has played some good football across his 88-game career with East Perth but potentially never a better four-quarter, all round display than he produced in the win against South Fremantle last Saturday. He was everywhere all afternoon to end up with 23 disposals, 10 tackles, eight marks and seven inside-50 entries for the Royals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – BRANDON DONALDSON (South Fremantle)
It wasn’t a great day for South Fremantle last Sunday as the reigning premiers suffered a shock loss to East Perth, but he was one shining light and his ability to create goals out of nothing still gave the Bulldogs a sniff late in the contest. He was able to swoop on loose balls and crumb off packs impressively to kick four goals from his lethal left boot to go with 20 possessions.

FORWARD POCKET – LUKE STRNADICA (East Fremantle)
Continued his strong form in the ruck for East Fremantle but also provided a good target in attack at times with Brynn Teakle coming into support him in the middle. Was instrumental in the eventual win against Perth finishing with 20 possessions, six marks, 37 hit outs and two goals.

FULL-FORWARD – TYLER KEITEL (West Perth)
His remarkable consistency as a key forward for West Perth to rely upon continues to be a great strength of the Falcons and in honesty, it remains a great mystery why an AFL club hasn’t seen the value in at least putting him on their list to give him a try. But that's to West Perth's benefit and he kicked another three goals from 19 touches and seven marks in Saturday's win over Swan Districts.

FORWARD POCKET – BEN SOKOL (Subiaco)
On the back of his night out before the bye against Perth with six goals, he backed that up on Saturday with a dominant finish to the game against the West Coast Eagles to give Subiaco the chance of pulling off the comeback victory. Kicked another six goals from 14 kicks and seven marks to now have 23 goals for the season ahead of his 100th WAFL appearance.

RUCK – COREY GAULT (Swan Districts)
Continues to cement himself as the WAFL's premier ruckman and the dual fairest and best winning big man is putting together a dominant season with Swan Districts even if it was a loss on Saturday against West Perth. He still finished with 23 touches, nine marks, 37 hit outs, four inside 50s and three tackles.

RUCK ROVER – JYE BOLTON (Claremont)
What a run of form the dual Sandover Medallist and four-time Simpson Medal winner is in right now in the midfield for Claremont. He could very well be in the form of his career as he approaches his 100th WAFL game for the Tigers, and that sure is saying something. He produced another 35 possessions, nine inside 50s, four marks, four tackles and a goal against Peel.

ROVER – MARK HUTCHINGS (West Coast Eagles)
He is an AFL and WAFL premiership player but has battled injuries in recent times. However, he is now working his way back to full health and fitness, and is showing what he his still capable of including a best on ground performance in West Coast's breakthrough win against Subiaco. He finished with 32 possessions, 12 marks, four tackles and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – NATHAN VARDY (West Coast Eagles)
He is an AFL premiership winning big man but can't find a way to break back into the West Coast Eagles team at the moment in 2021. He did his chances no harm with his efforts both in the ruck and up forward in the win against Subiaco, though, by delivering 17 touches, four marks, 26 hit outs and two goals.

INTERCHANGE – LUKE VALENTE (Peel Thunder)
He is building some nice form in the midfield for Peel and has to be putting himself in calculations for an AFL call up with the Fremantle Dockers as a result. Battled manfully against an impressive Claremont outfit last Saturday to end up with 26 touches, six marks, five tackles and four entries inside the forward 50.

INTERCHANGE – NATHAN BLEE (East Perth)
He not only reaches the Team of the Week for sentimental reasons after celebrating his 150th game with East Perth to earn life membership in some style with the surprise win against South Fremantle, but his performance at centre half-back was worthy of his selection too. Mixed up spending time on a variety of Bulldogs forwards and did well on each of them while ending the game with 25 touches, four marks and two inside-50 entries.

INTERCHANGE – KRISTIAN CARY (Perth)
He might not be overly big but he remains Perth's best and most dangerous option up forward consistently. He gave the Demons a shot at the win against East Fremantle by kicking another three goals to go with 16 touches and nine marks.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Rounds 10 and 11 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Claremont's Jack Buller, Alex Manuel, Ryan Lim, Jake Patmore and Jared Hardisty.

Peel Thunder's Ben Hancock, Jarvis Pina and Jackson Merrett.

East Perth's Jayden Magro, Eddie Simpson, Angus Scott, Angus Schumacher, Kye Willcocks, Harley Sparks and Rohan Kerr.

South Fremantle's Chad Pearson, Jacob Dragovich and Tom Blechynden.

Subiaco's Leigh Kitchin, Harry Marsh, Greg Clark, Wil Hickmott and Lachlan Delahunty.

West Coast Eagles' Brendon Ah Chee, Kieran Hug, Alex Witherden, Brayden Ainsworth, Luke Shuey and Xavier O'Neill.

Swan Districts' Jesse Turner, Frank Anderson, Jackson Beck and Sam Fisher.

West Perth's Rudy Riddoch, Shane Nelson, Nathan Murray, Tristan Hobley, Mitch Peirce and Noah Pegoraro.

Perth's Chris Masten, Brant Colledge, Michael Sinclair, Regan Clarke, Corey Byrne, Kasey Nicholas and Jack Avery.

East Fremantle's Jarrad Jansen, Blaine Boekhorst, Tom Bennett, Morgan Davies and Luke English.