WAFL Team of Round 20Wednesday, August 25, 2021 - 4:32 PM - by Chris Pike

THERE sure was plenty squeezed into the three matches in Round 20 of the Optus WAFL Premiership Season meaning the Team of the Week is full of players who delivered standout performances.

The round got underway with two matches on Saturday afternoon starting with Peel Thunder coming back from a 44-point deficit to kick eight second half goals without reply from the West Coast Eagles to win 10.16 (76) to 11.8 (74).

Michael Randall and Tyrone Thorne were the standouts for the Thunder with 36 possessions and two goals, and 25 disposals and two goals respectively. Bailey Williams dominated the ruck for the Eagles with 16 possessions, 58 hit outs and two goals.

The other Saturday afternoon match up saw another thrilling result with East Fremantle kicking two late goals to snatch it from East Perth at Leederville Oval, 13.8 (86) to 12.12 (84).

Hugh Dixon and Dillon O'Reilly kicked three goals each for the Sharks with Blaine Boekhorst racking up 26 possessions and captain Matthew Jupp 25. Matthew Young kicked five goals for the Royals and Eddie Simpson three with Rohan Kerr and Angus Scott collecting 30 disposals apiece.

Then on Sunday, it was a battle between two teams already guaranteed of playing finals and trying to finish as high up as possible, and West Perth came back from 26 points behind to beat South Fremantle 11.7 (73) to 10.7 (67) at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval.

Tyler Keitel kicked another four goals for West Perth and Rudy Riddoch three with Aaron Black amassing another 40 possessions and 13 tackles. Jake Florenca made a spectacular return for South Fremantle with 29 disposals.

That all means that with two rounds of the season remaining and all five finals bound teams having two matches remaining, all sports in that top five are still up for grabs.

Subiaco (12-4) remains a game clear on top of the ladder after the Round 20 results just ahead of South Fremantle, West Perth and Claremont who are all on 11-5 records. Swan Districts is only one game further back at 10-6.

Then outside the top five, East Fremantle (7-10) is in sixth position ahead of East Perth (6-11), Peel Thunder (5-11), Perth (4-12) and West Coast Eagles (4-12).

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – MICHAEL RANDALL (Peel Thunder)

Michael Randall is one of the more exciting emerging local talents at Peel Thunder and he put it all together in what was likely the best game of his WAFL career on Saturday.

The big bodied midfielder finished the 2019 season strongly having broke into the Peel team late in the campaign and then in the delayed and shortened 2020 season, he cemented himself as a regular in the Thunder midfield.

He has carried that into the 2021 season and the now 21-year-old has put together a solid year as an on-baller with the Thunder averaging almost 20 possessions a game with the South Mandurah product proving his value as someone Peel can build around moving forward.

Having come into the Peel team in 2019 who were on the back of winning back-to-back premierships as recently as 2016 and 2017, Randall hasn’t quite been able to be part of the same success and Saturday's victory against the West Coast Eagles was just the seventh he's been part of in his 29 games.

The Thunder produced a stunning turnaround from being 44 points down early in the third quarter to end up kicking the game's next eight goals to win by two points, and Randall was the central figure in all of it.

He ended the afternoon with 36 possessions, made up of 22 kicks and 14 handballs, to go with 11 marks, five entries inside the forward and 50 and kicking two goals in one of the best individual games of the season – and most importantly a match-winning one.

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)
Round 10/11 – Jonathon Marsh (East Fremantle)
Round 12 – Jackson Ramsay (East Perth)
Round 14 – Warrick Wilson (Swan Districts)
Round 15 – Angus Schumacher (East Perth)
Round 16 – Oliver Eastland (Claremont)
Round 17 – Brandon Matera (Subiaco)
Round 18 – Aidan Lynch (East Perth)
Round 19 – Shane Nelson (West Perth)
Round 20 – Michael Randall (Peel Thunder)

BACK POCKET – ZANE SUMICH (West Coast Eagles)
It has been a smart move by him in hindsight to join the Eagles WAFL team in 2021 having made the move from South Fremantle. He might still have not been able to break into the Bulldogs back-line but has been able to show his potential down back in the second half of the season with West Coast and has got plenty to build on now going into 2022. The son of the West Coast and South Fremantle great Peter finished the game against Peel with 24 possessions and eight marks.
Times named in 2021: 2

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle captain is getting close to being able to lay claim to being the best and most consistent full-back in the competition in his first season as skipper at the Sharks. It was a good battle with the East Perth forward-line on Saturday but he stood firm once again in the 141st game of his career and also amassed 25 possessions and seven marks at the same time.
Times named in 2021: 6

BACK POCKET – JAMIE MEADE (East Fremantle)
Is another player who has taken the next step with East Fremantle in 2021 and looks capable of being along for the ride as the Sharks attempt to push for a finals return in 2022 on the back of what is becoming a promising end to this season. Was brilliant shutting down Subiaco's Ben Sokol last week and was just as impressive against East Perth including his 22 possessions, three marks and two tackles.
Times named in 2021: 2

HALF-BACK FLANK – KYE WILLCOCKS (East Perth)
Has become an important and consistent member of the East Perth back-line and is someone who looks to have a long future ahead of him. The 23-year-old from Ellenbrook now has 35 games under his belt and is a tremendously consistent performer in the Royals defence, and he had another 24 disposals down back during Saturday's narrow loss to East Fremantle.
Times named in 2021: 3

CENTRE HALF-BACK – NOAH PEGORARO (West Perth)
There were some big jobs for the West Perth back-line on Sunday against the trio of South Fremantle key forwards, and he was given the task on the supremely talented overhead marker Blake Schlensog for a lot of the game. He did a terrific job limiting him to just the eight kicks and goal for the game while having 12 disposals, four marks and three tackles himself.
Times named in 2021: 6

HALF-BACK FLANK – CHAD PEARSON (South Fremantle)
Continues to quietly go about his business in consistently outstanding fashion as a reliable defender for the Bulldogs who is adept at finding plenty of the football and setting up play for his team out of the back-line. In 76 games, he's already a premiership player and has represented the WAFL State Team, and was terrific again for South Fremantle on Sunday finishing with another 22 touches, four marks and three tackles.
Times named in 2021: 3

WING – ROHAN KERR (East Perth)
The East Perth wingman continues to deliver outstanding football for the Royals as he continues to put together quite the outstanding career after originally moving west back in 2013 after his time in the AFL with Carlton. Went on to play in a premiership during 82 games at West Perth and was mighty unlucky not to win a Simpson Medal, but now after two years away from the WAFL, has been just as good back with East Perth. Had another 30 disposals and eight marks on Saturday.
Times named in 2021: 4

CENTRE – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
The West Perth captain is just a marvel. His body now has plenty of miles on it from the 218 games that he's played for the Falcons and he might very well be at the peak of his powers right now. The 28-year-old is a premiership player, Sandover Medallist and dual fairest and best winner, but is just in brilliant form right now and produced 40 touches, 13 tackles, eight marks and four inside-50 entries in Sunday's win over South Fremantle.
Times named in 2021: 7

WING – BLAINE BOEKHORST (East Fremantle)
The former Carlton and Swan Districts running machine returned for East Fremantle and has shown just how valuable a player he is to the Sharks with just about a best on ground performance in the two-point win against East Perth. Finished the afternoon with 26 possessions, eight marks and a goal in a tremendous performance.
Times named in 2021: 4

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – JONATHON MARSH (East Fremantle)
The versatile powerhouse continues to show just how valuable he can be for East Fremantle when fully up and going, and from splitting his time between playing in the forward-line and in the middle. Produced another impressive all-round performance in Saturday's narrow win over East Perth with 20 disposals, nine inside-50 entries, six tackles, three marks and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 4

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – DILLON O'REILLY (East Fremantle)
He has long been seen as an exciting talent and Fremantle even saw that and had him on their AFL list, but he just hasn’t been able to stay on the park long enough to realise his full potential. But he showed just how impressive he can be as a key forward for East Fremantle in Saturday's win by kicking three goals to go with 11 kicks and nine marks.
Times named in 2021: 1

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – TYRONE THORNE (Peel Thunder)
The little man once again split his time between playing in the middle and up forward for the Thunder and was instrumental in Peel ending up recording its fifth win of the 2021 season. Continued his standout season that included playing for the WAFL State Team with another 25 touches, seven tackles, five marks, four inside 50s and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 5

FORWARD POCKET – MATTHEW YOUNG (East Perth)
The dangerous East Perth forward had a day out for Royals against East Fremantle on Saturday despite the narrow two-point defeat. The forward-line is coming together nicely and he is working in nicely with tall targets Nick Merritt and Eddie Simpson, and he had the best afternoon of his career by kicking five goals from his eight kicks as he made the most of his opportunities in the forward 50.
Times named in 2021: 1

FULL-FORWARD – TYLER KEITEL (West Perth)
The West Perth spearhead had a fascinating battle once again with South Fremantle's Noah Strom on Sunday and that battle might very well be the most fascinating rivalry between a key forward and defender in the league right now that has developed over recent years. Strom held him to just one goal to three quarter-time, but he managed to kick three crucial final quarter goals including the match-winner for West Perth to give him four for the day and 60 for the season.
Times named in 2021: 8

FORWARD POCKET – BLAIR BELL (Peel Thunder)
The dual premiership winning powerhouse forward continues to have a bit of a rollercoaster ride in terms of the impact he's having on games at Peel, but one thing that is consistent is that when the ball's in his vicinity, he's quite a hard to stop one-on-one player. He had a good impact in the narrow win for the Thunder on Saturday with 19 touches, seven marks, seven inside-50 entries and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 2

RUCK – BAILEY WILLIAMS (West Coast Eagles)
The West Coast-listed big man had a day out to take full advantage of Peel not having a recognised ruckman on the day. His timing likely couldn’t have been much better either considering the Eagles might be making a decision on his future right now. He was a dominant presence finishing with 16 possessions, seven marks, 58 hit outs and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 1

ROVER – JAKE FLORENCA (South Fremantle)
He was the heartbreaking story of South Fremantle's premiership triumph in 2020 when he ruptured an Achilles during the preliminary final after being such a key part of the Bulldogs' success. He was runner-up in their fairest and best award highlighting his importance but he made his return on Sunday against West Perth and was brilliant with 29 possessions, eight marks, eight tackles and a special opening quarter goal from right up against the boundary in the forward pocket.
Times named in 2021: 1

INTERCHANGE – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
As he edges towards 200 games with West Perth, the four-time fairest and best winner is delivering as much as he ever has for the Falcons and was instrumental once more in Sunday's crucial come from behind win against South Fremantle. Racked up another 32 possessions to go with six tackles, three marks and three inside-50 entries.
Times named in 2021: 6

INTERCHANGE – TOM BLECHYNDEN (South Fremantle)
Found his feet in last year's South Fremantle team that won the premiership as an outside player, but opportunities as an inside midfielder have opened up in 2021 and he continues to make the most of it. Is proving himself a strong and impressive ball winner week after week, and produced a game of 29 touches, seven tackles, five marks and five inside 50s on Sunday against West Perth.
Times named in 2021: 3

INTERCHANGE – ANGUS SCOTT (East Perth)
What a consistently outstanding performer he has proven to be for East Perth over the past three seasons since crossing over the Nullarbor from VFL club the Casey Demons. Has settled into the wing for the Royals and with Rohan Kerr on the other side, they are best combination in their positions across the league. He delivered another 30 possessions and eight marks on Saturday against East Fremantle.
Times named in 2021: 6

INTERCHANGE – BEN HANCOCK (Peel Thunder)
The Thunder veteran of 121 games continues to have the best and most consistent game of his career in 2021 having become a permanent midfielder for the first time. Spent most of his career up to this point as a defender and had some good success, but is in the middle of the best form of his life right now and finished with another 24 possessions, five marks, five inside 50s and a goal in the win over West Coast.
Times named in 2021: 6
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 20 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Week, including:

Peel Thunder's Stefan Giro, Jackson Merrett, Taylin Duman and Ethan Hughes.

West Coast Eagles' Xavier O'Neill, Brayden Ainsworth, Ben Johnson, Lennon Marlin, Joey Deegan, Isiah Winder and Hamish Brayshaw.

East Perth's Eddie Simpson, Angus Schumacher, Aidan Lynch, Nick Robertson and Scott Jones.

East Fremantle's Hugh Dixon, Tom Bennett, Kyle Baskerville, Michael Tasson, Jarrad Jansen and Fin Gorringe.

West Perth's Rudy Riddoch, Tristan Hobley and Blake Wilhelm.

South Fremantle's Haiden Schloithe, Zac Strom, Jacob Dragovich, Hamish Free and Jason Maskos.