Optus WAFL Round 18 WrapTuesday, August 10, 2021 - 2:10 PM - by Chris Pike

IT was another fascinating afternoon of action in Round 18 of the WAFL season with Subiaco snatching a win off Subiaco, South Fremantle continuing its derby dominance, East Perth winning again and Swan Districts locking in a finals berth.

Round 18 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season saw all four matches take place on Saturday afternoon with West Perth and the West Coast Eagles sitting out proceedings with the bye.

The Game of the Round was always destined to take place at Revo Fitness Stadium and it didn’t disappoint between Claremont and Subiaco. The Tigers led virtually all day but the Lions kicked the last two goals through Ben Sokol to grab the 14.9 (93) to 13.10 (88) victory.

Swan Districts then secured a first finals appearance since 2017 by defeating Peel Thunder 14.15 (99) to 7.5 (47) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

East Perth maintained its strong recent form too even If it might just see them come up short of reaching the finals with a 9.12 (66) to 5.11 (41) victory against Perth at Leederville Oval.

South Fremantle then kicked eight of the last nine goals of the derby to beat East Fremantle 19.9 (123) to 9.8 (62) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to make it 12 straight victories for the Bulldogs against their old foe.

The Round 18 results leave Subiaco (12-3) a game and percentage clear on top of the WAFL ladder while South Fremantle (11-4) is now also a game and percentage clear in second ahead of Claremont (10-5).

West Perth (9-5) remains fourth and Swan Districts (9-6) fifth.

With only three games left in their season, East Perth (6-9) is sixth but three games and a huge percentage behind Swans. Then there is East Fremantle (5-10), Peel Thunder (4-11), Perth (4-11) and West Coast Eagles (4-10).
 

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 18

CLAREMONT 13.10 (88) lost to SUBIACO 14.9 (93)

For virtually the whole afternoon at Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont looked on track to knock off Subiaco and keep the race for top spot a battle in three, but the Lions just refuse to give in a battle.

The Tigers put together almost a complete four quarter performance in a game that would have seen them join South Fremantle on 11 wins and to stay only one game behind Subiaco.

However, Subiaco's Ben Sokol kicked the last two goals of the game to give him six for the afternoon and that saw the Lions snatch the 14.9 (93) to 13.10 (88) win over the Tigers.

The result means that Subiaco improves to a 12-3 record on the season to be a game and percentage clear of the second placed South Fremantle while Claremont is now a further game back at 10-5.

Not only did Ben Sokol kick the game's last two goals to be the match-winner for Subiaco, but he finished for six on the afternoon to go with 10 kicks and eight marks to give him 36 goals on the season to be third in the Bernie Naylor Medal race.

Nick Martin continued his impressive form as well up forward for Subiaco with another three goals from nine kicks and six marks while Michael Braut chipped in with two goals.

Greg Clark continued his remarkable career-best season as well for Subiaco and could well have earned more Sandover Medal votes with 30 possessions, 12 tackles, six inside 50s and five marks.

Lachlan Delahunty made a welcome return for the Lions too and the Sandover Medallist produced 23 disposals and 25 hit outs with Leigh Kitchin racking up 21 touches, Chad Harris 20, Hayden Kennedy 19, Harry Marsh 19 and Wil Hickmott 19.

Meanwhile, Liam Hickmott had a significant impact by limiting Claremont superstar Jye Bolton to just the 11 possessions for the afternoon in a run-with role.

Timm House showed why Claremont was so keen to get him back to the club to provide a tall target in attack and he delivered three goals from 14 possessions and seven marks in just his second league game of the season.

Alex Manuel also kicked three goals for the Tigers, Callan England two and Jake Patmore two.

Bailey Rogers amassed another 28 possessions for Claremont but could only manage three behinds while former captain, Sandover Medallist and dual premiership star Kane Mitchell returned from his demotion with 26 touches, 11 tackles and five inside-50 entries.

Max Spyvee also finished with 20 disposals for Claremont, Jason Carter 19, Jack Lewsey 18 and impressive young ruckman Steven Miller 18 to go with 28 hit outs and eight entries inside the forward 50 as he gave the Lions some headaches especially early.

Claremont shot out of the blocks desperate to stay in the top two race this season with the Tigers kicking the first five goals of the game.

They remained on top most of the afternoon and were still 23 points on top of Subiaco late in the third quarter, and 17 points up by three quarter-time.

When big man Timm House kicked his third goal at the 17-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Claremont was back on top by 13 points and had appeared to have done enough, but Subiaco just refused to lie down.

Nick Martin got the Lions back within seven points, Ben Sokol then made it a one-point ball game and ultimately he nailed his sixth goal of the afternoon at the 25-minute mark to put the Lions in front for the very first time of the day.

Subiaco held on for the 14.9 (93) to 13.10 (88) victory from there with it a fifth win in-a-row for the Lions who improve to a 12-3 record on the season a game and percentage clear on top of the ladder.

It's going to take a couple of losses in their last three games now for Subiaco to miss out on securing the minor premiership while Claremont is locked in a battle over third spot now falling a game and percentage behind the second placed South Fremantle.

 

SWAN DISTRICTS 14.15 (99) defeated PEEL THUNDER 7.5 (47)

Swan Districts overcame a valiant effort from a desperately undermanned Peel Thunder to score a crucial 52-point win at home on Saturday.

Swan Districts missed a chance the week before to lock in a finals spot and kept East Fremantle's hopes alive in the process, but another opportunity presented against a Peel team with just one Fremantle-listed player available at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Peel was coming off a 116-point loss to South Fremantle so the chance was right there for Swan Districts to take advantage of, but to Peel's credit they fought hard until being overrun as the second half unfolded.

Swans kicked six goals to two in the final term to secure the 14.15 (99) to 7.5 (47) with the win locking away a first finals appearance for the black-and-whites since 2017, and the first under the coaching tenure of Adam Pickering.

Brayden Noble was terrific as a key target in attack for Swan Districts finishing the afternoon with three goals to go with nine kicks and eight marks. Warrick Wilson also chipped in with two goals as did midfielders Aidan Clarke and Frank Anderson.

Clarke also finished with 32 possessions, seven marks, seven inside 50s and three tackles with Anderson contributing another 30 touches, 11 tackles and five entries inside the forward 50.

Jesse Turner also racked up 29 possessions for Swan Districts, Sam Fisher 23, Jesse Palmer 20, Josh Cipro 20, Jak Watson 19 and Tony Notte 18 to go with eight marks.

Jack Sears and Ryan Bennell kicked two goals each for Peel to combine for four of their team's seven goals for the day.

Tyrone Thorne was tremendous for the Thunder finishing with 33 possessions and nine tackles while James Sturrock gathered 26 disposals, Michael Randall 25, Blair Bell 21 and Bodie Kitchingman 18.

Swan Districts got off to a good start and Brayden Noble was on fire in attack in the opening 10 minutes with Peel's defence quickly taken back to conceding 14 goals to South Fremantle's three tall forwards a week ago.

He took early marks and had three shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes and converted one of them into a goal. Peel did manage to reply through Brayden Lawler but Swans finished the opening quarter strongly with goals to Sam Fisher and Jak Watson.

Frank Anderson then kicked a goal early in the second quarter with Josh Cipro getting forward to do the same. Anderson added his second of the term to put Swans 34 points in front at the 14-minute mark before Peel did respond with a couple of goals through Ryan Bennell.

That saw Peel do well to at least remain competitive and to have cut the lead of Swan Districts to 24 points at half-time.

Peel threatened to even pull off what would have been a stunning upset to start the second half with goals to Jack Sears and Lachlan Cullen to put the pressure back on Swans who needed to respond knowing what was on the line for them.

Aidan Clarke and Jesse Palmer got a couple of goals back for Swans before three quarter-time to open up a 25-point advantage.

Noble kicked another goal early in the last term to extend that lead out to 30 points and by the time Jesse Turner added another by the final siren Swan Districts had opening up a 52-point winning margin.

 

EAST PERTH 9.12 (66) defeated PERTH 5.11 (41)

All East Perth could do was keep winning and hope other results would go their way to stay in the WAFL finals race for the 2021, and the Royals did have a solid win over the Demons.

East Perth was back home on Saturday at Leederville Oval to host the horribly undermanned Perth, and the Royals had to work for it, but ended up doing enough to come away with the 9.12 (66) to 5.11 (41) victory.

With Swan Districts winning at the same time it means that East Perth can't play finals for 2021 with three games to go and with them sitting three games and a massive percentage out of fifth place, but the Royals are in some impressive form.

East Perth has now won its last two matches and five of the past seven to have found some good form that they will hope they can finish the season, and then carry into 2021.

Meanwhile, it was a competitive showing from Perth but ultimately they did only kick five goals and now lost eight matches in-a-row and the end of the season just can't come quick enough for the Demons.

Tom Edwards-Baldwin kicked three goals from eight kicks and four marks for East Perth and he would prove to be the only multiple goal scorer in the game.

Aidan Lynch was outstanding in the midfield for the Royals with 32 possessions, 10 marks, six tackles, four inside-50 entries and a goal while Angus Schumacher had another 27 disposals and seven marks.

Harley Sparks likely had the best game of his career with 24 possessions and seven marks while Rohan Kerr finished with 21 disposals and six marks and Angus Scott 21 touches.

Nathan Blee had 20 possessions down back with Nathan Eaton also having 20 disposals and Kye Willcocks 18 while ruckman Scott Jones finished with 16 touches, 33 hit outs, five marks, four tackles and a goal.

Perth's goals came from Mitch Browne, Oscar Bird, Jayden Quill, Brent Edmonds and Zac Sanderson.

Andrew Fisher worked hard again for Perth with 25 possessions and seven marks while Conor McPartland finished with 23 disposals, Brent Edmonds 23 (11 marks), Corey Byrne 20 (eight tackles), Jack Avery 19, Matthew Taylor 18, Austin Davis 18 and Sam Perkusich 18.

Perth made an impressive start to revive hopes of a win that could have seen them escape bottom spot and also end whatever finals hopes East Perth was still clinging to. 

The Demons had the first four scoring shots of the game but they were all behinds before East Perth went up the other end kicked the game's first goal through ruckman Scott Jones.

Aidan Lynch then added another for the Royals soon after but the Demons weren’t going away and finally got their first goal through Zac Sanderson. Jayden Quill added another before quarter-time and they were within five points by the first break.

Perth then took the lead to start the opening quarter with a goal to Oscar Bird. It took almost 10 minutes for East Perth to respond through Tom Edwards-Baldwin with Angus Schumacher adding another to put the Royals up by 11 points.

It was just a 12-point advantage at half-time for the Royals but that quickly became 26 points in the third quarter after goals to Jackson Ramsay and Edwards-Baldwin.

Perth stayed in touch by three quarter-time, though, to be within 17 points after a goal to Mitch Browne but Eddie Simpson extended East Perth's lead back out to 23 points to start the final term, and they did enough from there to hold on and win by 25.

 

SOUTH FREMANTLE 19.9 (123) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 9.8 (62)

East Fremantle threatened to make a game of it for a half at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday but in the end South Fremantle cruised to a 12th consecutive derby victory.

The build up to the game was enough to suggest South Fremantle's run of dominance in derbies was under genuine threat with the Sharks coming off a win against Swan Districts that kept their slender finals hopes alive.

The Bulldogs were fresh off a 116-point hammering of Peel as well and needed to keep winning to keep their hold on a top two spot, and for the first half it was a good contest with South Fremantle only holding a 13-point lead by half-time.

However, South Fremantle would go on to kick eight of the last nine goals of the game to make it 12 consecutive derby victories over East Fremantle with the 19.9 (123) to 9.8 (62) win.

The win improves South Fremantle to an 11-4 record on the season to be a game and percentage in second spot behind Subiaco but in front of Claremont.

Meanwhile, the loss puts an end to East Fremantle's finals chances with them now four games behind the fifth placed Swan Districts but only three games of the 2021 season remaining.

South Fremantle's forward-line was once again on fire even if Blake Schlensog was well held by East Fremantle captain Matthew Jupp.

Brandon Donaldson had a career-best afternoon kicking five goals for the first time in his 76-game career to go with 19 possessions and six marks. Mason Shaw also kicked four goals, Cody Ninyette three, Haiden Schloithe two and Aiden Hall two.

Tom Blechynden led the way in the midfield for South Fremantle with 25 possessions and nine tackles while George Wessels returned to the side with 24 disposals and five inside-50 entries.

Nick Suban also finished with 19 touches, Zac Strom 18 and Manfred Kelly 17 to go with seven tackles with his defensive pressure in the forward-line outstanding.

Hamish Free held down the ruck too with 13 touches and 42 hit outs to nullify the influence of Luke Strnadica.

Jonathon Marsh and Corey Holmes kicked two goals apiece for East Fremantle.

Kyle Baskerville collected another 23 possessions for the Sharks to go with five tackles while Luke English had 21 disposals and 12 tackles.

Cam Eardley also 20 possessions for East Fremantle and Ryan Lester-Smith 16.

Given South Fremantle's dominance in recent derbies, when Jacob Dragovich kicked a goal less than five minutes into the game, the signs were ominous. But East Fremantle did work into the contest and got the next goal through Michael Tassone.

Aiden Hall and Jimmy Miller both kicked truly soon after to put South Fremantle back up by 14 points but Tim Bockman and Jonathon Marsh kept the Sharks close and just down by nine points at quarter-time.

The Sharks were then right back in the contest only three points down to start the second quarter with a quick goal from Tom Bennett. 

There was the chance of a tight derby for the first time in a long time even with South Fremantle kicking the next four goals over the space of 24 minutes to open up a 24-point edge. 

Corey Holmes kicked a couple late into the half, though, for the Sharks and the contest was well and truly alive at half-time with the Bulldogs only up by 13 points.

Despite three goals in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter for South Fremantle, East Fremantle stayed in touch with a couple of their own through Jarrad Jansen and Dillon O'Reilly.

However, from that point on South Fremantle dominated and it felt just like many of the previous 11 meetings between the two teams have with the Bulldogs asserting their dominance.

South Fremantle kicked the game's next eight goals either side of three quarter-time to go from being 20 points in front at the 13-minute mark of the third quarter to 66 points up by the 19-minute mark of the fourth term when Brandon Donaldson kicked his fifth goal.

East Fremantle kicked the last goal of the derby through Marsh but South Fremantle still won by 61 points to make it 12 straight derby wins on the back of kicking eight of the last nine goals of the game to move a game clear in second position.