Optus WAFL Round 19 WrapTuesday, August 17, 2021 - 11:11 AM - by Chris Pike

IT turned out quite the eventful Round 19 in the WAFL with East Fremantle scoring a stunning upset over Subiaco while Swan Districts, West Perth and Claremont all kept the race fascinating for the other top five positions.

Subiaco suffering the upset loss to East Fremantle meant that their fellow teams in the top five have reason for hope of finishing higher than the current positions they occupy, and three of those in the Swans, Tigers and Falcons all scored victories on the weekend.

Round 19 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season saw the second placed South Fremantle and the eighth placed Peel Thunder sit out with a bye, but the four games that did take place were fascinating all in their own way.

Three of the four matches took place on Saturday afternoon starting at Leederville Oval with East Fremantle snapping a nine-game losing streak against Subiaco. The Sharks did it in style too beating the Lions 16.12 (108) to 9.10 (64).

Swan Districts celebrated the 60th anniversary of their 1961 premiership in perfect fashion too with an emphatic 14.11 (95) to 8.6 (54) win against East Perth at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

Claremont had lost four of its past six matches heading to Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park, and Perth made them earn it, but the Tigers got the win they needed to win 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68) and hand the Demons a ninth consecutive defeat.

The round then wrapped up on Sunday at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval and with West Perth's guns Tyler Keitel, Shane Nelson and Aaron Black all dominant, the Falcons hammered the West Coast Eagles 16.10 (106) to 5.5 (35).

Those results mean that after 19 rounds of the season completed and three weeks to go, Subiaco remains clear by a game on top of the ladder but their percentage edge is now gone and they have played an extra game than South Fremantle.

The Lions are now 12-4 with a percentage of 131.2 while the Bulldogs are 11-4 at 131.3.

Claremont (11-5) remains third just ahead of West Perth (10-5) but the Falcons' percentage is better than the Tigers with Swan Districts still in fifth spot at 10-6.

The rest of the teams are all out of finals contention with East Fremantle sixth spot at 6-10 ahead of East Perth (6-10), Peel Thunder (4-11), Perth (4-12) and West Coast Eagles (4-11).

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 19

SUBIACO 9.10 (64) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 16.12 (108)

East Fremantle has had nightmares over playing Subiaco most of this century but the Sharks delivered a remarkable turnaround on Saturday for a shock 44-point.

Subiaco had not only won its last nine matches against East Fremantle coming into Saturday's game at Leederville Oval, but had won five straight this WAFL season to be a game and significant percentage clear on top of the ladder.

With East Fremantle now out of finals contention it appeared a mere formality for Subiaco to continue its winning ways on home turf on Saturday.

That appeared to be even more the case with the Lions leading by 27 points midway through the second quarter even they were without Leigh Kitchin, Jordan Lockyer, Brandon Matera and then from early in the game, Greg Clark.

From that moment on, the game underwent the most remarkable of transformations with East Fremantle kicking the next 12 goals including keeping Subiaco scoreless the entire third quarter.

Eventually East Fremantle went on to score the stunning 16.12 (108) to 9.10 (64) victory to leave the race for top spot well and truly alive and Subiaco slightly vulnerable.

Jonathon Marsh was brilliant whether in the middle or forward for East Fremantle finishing with three goals from 27 possessions while Hugh Dixon also kicked three goals from 18 disposals and nine marks.

Tom Bennett, Luke Strnadica, Matthew Burton and Dillon O'Reilly all kicked two goals apiece as well for the Sharks.

Kyle Baskerville was tremendous again the middle for the Sharks with 27 possessions while Michael Tassone finished with 25 disposals, Bennett 22, Jarrad Jansen 18, Ryan Lester-Smith 17, Burton 17 and Strnadica 17 to go with 50 hit outs.

Jack Mayo kicked two goals for Subiaco but there were some impressive defensive performance from the Sharks and none better than Jamie Meade holding Ben Sokol to just the one goal and five kicks.

Lachlan Delahunty battled hard around the ground for Subiaco with 32 possessions, 12 marks and 11 hit outs while Hayden Kennedy finished with 26 disposals, Angus Dewar 23, Liam Hickmott 23, Max Walters 19, Chad Harris 18 and Bailey Matera 18.

East Fremantle saw their finals chances disappear last week but the Sharks weren’t in the mood to feel sorry for themselves on Saturday despite having lost their last nine games against Subiaco, and having beaten them just six times in the last 45 attempts.

The Sharks had the opening four scoring shots of the game against the Lions and eventually Hugh Dixon was able to kick truly but Subiaco soon responded thanks to usual defender Hayden Kennedy.

The Lions then took control with three goals late in the first quarter with two of them courtesy of Jack Mayo to end up 17 points to the good by quarter-time.

Subiaco's lead then grew to 23 points with a goal to last week's hero Ben Sokol to start the second quarter and the signs were getting ominous before Jonathon Marsh pegged one back for East Fremantle.

Chad Harris resumed Subiaco's advantage to 23 points and then the Lions missed several opportunities to blow the game right open by not being able to convert in front of goal.

East Fremantle had to stand up or were staring at another loss to Subiaco that had become the normal. And the Sharks did respond with the last two goals of the half through Dixon and Luke Strnadica to be back within 14 points.

Strnadica then kicked truly again to open the second half and then at the 10-minute mark of the second term, it was just a two-point ball game when Corey Holmes kicked truly for the Sharks.

East Fremantle then assumed the lead and never looked back. 

The Sharks would hold Subiaco completely scoreless the entire third quarter and goals to Dillon O'Reilly (two), Tom Bennett and Marsh saw them go from 27 points down midway through the second term to 29 points up by three quarter-time.

The Sharks then put the game right out of reach of the Lions with goals to start the final term through Luke English, Matthew Burton and Bennett. 

The lead was 47 points with East Fremantle having kicked the last 12 goals of the game before going on to secure the shock 44-point result.
 

SWAN DISTRICTS 14.11 (95) defeated EAST PERTH 8.6 (54)

Swan Districts produced one of its most complete performances of the season to beat East Perth by 41 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Decked out in replica uniforms to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of their first ever premiership team in 1961, Swan Districts put together one of their best performance of the 2021 WAFL season on Saturday against an in-form Royals team.

East Perth might have been just short of staying in the finals race but had won five of their previous seven games coming into Saturday's trip to Steel Blue Oval.

That meant that Swans were always going to have to play well to overcome them at Bassendean on Saturday to get their 10th win of the season and to keep their hopes alive of still finishing higher up than fifth position heading into the finals.

It was a tremendous performance all over the field in the end from Swan Districts to record the 14.11 (95) to 8.6 (54) win and officially lock away a finals return with no mathematical possibility of now missing out in any way.

Aidan Clarke produced a standout performance for Swan Districts to continue his career breakout season by kicking four goals to go with 19 possessions and eight tackles.

Brayden Noble also kicked three goals to continue his purple patch of form while Nathan Ireland and Warrick Wilson added two goals apiece for the black-and-whites.

Jesse Turner was outstanding out on the wing and through the middle for Swan Districts throughout the day finishing with 28 possessions, 12 marks and six entries inside the forward 50.

It was the Swan Districts defenders who were the true stars of the day with them repelling the majority of the 33 entries inside-50 from East Perth. 

Brandon Erceg took seven marks to go with 20 possessions, Tony Notte 19 touches and eight marks, Alex Howard 16 disposals and eight marks, and Chris Jones 16 possessions and 10 marks.

Josh Cipro also gathered 19 disposals for Swans, Frank Anderson 17 and Sam Fisher 16.

Ben McGuire made the most of his opportunities in attack for East Perth upon his recall to the league side by kicking three goals from three kicks for the afternoon. Stan Wright also returned for the Royals and kicked two goals from seven kicks.

East Perth's wingmen Rohan Kerr (32 possessions, 10 marks) and Angus Scott (32 touches) had impressive afternoons while Angus Schumacher collected 23 disposals, Nathan Blee 21, Aidan Lynch 21, Kye Willcocks 19 and Harley Sparks 19.

East Perth came into the clash on an impressive run of form including having upset the finals bound Claremont and South Fremantle in recent times, but it was Swan Districts who got off to a fast start on Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

Aidan Clarke and Jesse Palmer both kicked goals inside the game's first five minutes for the black-and-whites before Brayden Noble kicked two goals in the space of three minutes just before time-on.

That saw Swans lead by 24 points already and that soon became 30 points with a goal to Nathan Ireland and 36 with a second major of the opening quarter to Clarke.

East Perth's lone goal of the opening quarter didn’t come until the 28-minute mark of the opening term thanks to Angus Schumacher.

The Royals then managed the first goal of the second term too through ruckman Scott Jones before Warrick Wilson kicked truly and put Swan Districts back on top to the tune of 31 points.

Swans were still in control by half-time leading the Royals by 33 points.

If East Perth had any hopes of a fightback, that was quickly snuffed out to start the second half when Noble kicked his third quarter. However, the Royals did kick the next couple of goals courtesy of Ben McGuire and Stan Wright.

Swans continued to have the answers, though, and Clarke kicked a third goal to keep them in control and still leading by 27 points at three quarter-time.

East Perth did put a scare into Swans midway through the fourth term after goals to McGuire and Shayne Hille to make it an 18-point ball game. 

However, Swans continued to have the answers and kicked the final four goals of the contest including one just before the siren to Sam Fisher and secure the impressive 41-point victory.
 

PERTH 10.8 (68) lost to CLAREMONT 11.10 (76)

Claremont might not have quite found the return to form they were hoping for, but the Tigers got the four points they needed against Perth at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Claremont had lost its past two matches coming into Saturday's game at Lathlain and four of the past six overall to have slipped to third position on the ladder, and if they wanted to stay there and stay in touch of a top two finish, they desperately needed a win against the Demons.

Perth had been struggling losing its past eight matches and continuing to have to battle without a whole host of their regular first 22 available so if Claremont was going to find some form and confidence, the Demons did appear a good opponent.

It didn’t turn out that way and Claremont could just never quite shake off Perth the entire game with the Demons even closing the gap to just two points late in the final term after two quick goals to ex-Tigers Jack Richardson.

But Jye Bolton kicked his third goal on a quiet afternoon to seal the 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68) win to maintain their hold on third spot.

Bolton kicked the three goals for Claremont despite being well held to just 10 possessions young Demon Brodie Gray while Timm House also kicked three goals for the Tigers and Isaac Barton two.

Bailey Rogers continued his tremendous ball winning form for Claremont with another 31 possessions and 10 entries inside the forward 50 while Ben Edwards finished with 30 disposals, Ryan Lim 23, Max Spyvee 16 and Steven Miller 15 to go with 28 hit outs.

Jack Richardson kicked two goals from three kicks for Perth with Kristian Cary and, in his 100th WAFL game, Brent Edmonds kicking two goals each as well as for the Demons.

Austin Davis ended up with 26 possessions and is one player to have taken his chance to thrive in 2021 while Andrew Fisher had 18 disposals, Matthew Taylor 17, Conor McPartland 17, Jayden Quill 17 and Sam Perkusich 17.

Perth might have come into the contest out of the finals hunt and on an eight-game losing run, but they finished last week well against East Perth and opened up with the first goal against Claremont thanks to Kristian Cary.

Claremont soon responded through young big man Steven Miller but the Demons continued their strong start with a goal from 100-gamer Brent Edmonds and that saw the home team lead by eight points at quarter-time.

The Tigers were staring at a third successive loss and had to respond, and they did to start the second term with a couple of quick goals to Jack Buller and Jye Bolton. 

Isaac Barton and Timm House soon joined in to put them on top by 16 points, and then 22 by half-time with a second goal to the well held Bolton.

Perth refused to go away, though, and goals to start the second half from Edmonds and Zac Sanderson quickly cut their deficit in half before Claremont steadied with two of their own from Barton and House to be 24 points up by three quarter-time.

The Demons kept on coming in the last quarter and goals to Cary, Clayton Giblett and Sam Stubbs had them within seven points at the 18-minute mark. 

House's third goal served as a steadier for Claremont but Perth hit back with two goals in the space of two minutes to former Tiger Jack Richardson to give the home side all the momentum and just a two-point deficit. 

However, Bolton drilled a long set shot from well outside 50m to give him three goals despite a quiet afternoon and Claremont clung to the closer than anticipate yet crucial win.
 

WEST PERTH 16.10 (106) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 5.5 (35)

West Perth and West Coast both brought strong recent form into their clash at Provident Financial Oval on Sunday, but it was only the Falcons that maintained that for a 71-point triumph.

West Perth had won six of its last seven games prior to a bye last weekend while West Coast had also won four of the last six so it was a fascinating match up at Joondalup to close Round 19 on Sunday.

The Falcons needed to win to maintain touch for a top three finish with the Eagles still hopeful of avoiding a wooden spoon, but it didn’t take long for West Perth to show its dominance.

The Falcons held the Eagles scoreless for the first 45 minutes of the game and kicked six goals themselves up to that period to have already opened up a match-winning advantage.

West Perth had led by 71 points by three quarter-time with the game all but over and the Falcons going on to finish up with the 16.10 (106) to 5.5 (35) triumph.

The three big guns from the Falcons all stood up to deliver dominant performances once again with Tyler Keitel kicking another seven goals from 17 disposals and seven marks.

Then there was Aaron Black racking up 39 possessions, six marks and four tackles, and Shane Nelson 41 disposals, three marks, three tackles and three entries inside the forward 50.

Nathan Murray and Rudy Riddoch also kicked two goals apiece for the Falcons while Tristan Hobley racked up 30 touches, Zac Guadagnin 24, Scott Nelson 22, Mitch Peirce 22, Murray 20 and Noah Pegoraro 20 to go with 12 marks and a goal. 

West Coast had all single goalkickers – Jake Waterman, Jamaine Jones, Jarrod Brander, Kieran Hug and Cooper Nitschke.

The Eagles had some good ball winners on the day still with Brayden Ainsworth gathering 30 possessions, Hamish Brayshaw 28, Brander 27, Josh Rotham 23, Isiah Winder 21 and Mark Hutchings 20.

West Perth came into the game after a loss to Subiaco but the Falcons had won six straight before that while West Coast had also been impressive lately winning four of the last six setting up a tantalising match up.

However, the Falcons were still fighting for a top three finish and a finals double chance and quickly asserted their dominance over the bottom placed Eagles.

In fact, West Perth didn’t allow West Coast to score at all until the 16-minute mark of the second term when Jake Waterman kicked a goal.

Leading up to that, West Perth opened up a match-winning 42-point lead on the back of four opening quarter goals and a couple more to open the second term before that lone goal to Waterman.

West Perth would finish with the last goal of the first half still thanks to Rudy Riddoch to be up by 44 points at the major break.

Tyler Keitel kicked another three goals in the third quarter with West Perth continuing to dominate and extending their lead over the Eagles to 71 points at three quarter-time, and that would end up being the final winning margin.