WAFL Team of the Week – Round 3Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - 10:49 PM - by Chris Pike

SPOTS in the WAFL Team of the Week for Round 3 were once again tough to lock down given how impressive East Perth continued to be while West Perth won a tight one over Swan Districts, Subiaco stunned Claremont, and South Fremantle and East Fremantle had emphatic wins.

With East Perth's prime movers continuing to rack up big numbers and be equally as damaging, and Subiaco having equally impressive performances from those in attacking and nullifying roles, the Leederville Oval co-tenants put plenty of players up in the mix for Team of the Week honours.

Add in how impressive South Fremantle was in bouncing back combined with East Fremantle's triple figure hammering of the Eagles, and then Swan Districts and West Perth fighting out a tight affair, and there were no shortage of players putting their hands up for selection.

Round 3 in the 2023 WAFL season got underway on Saturday afternoon with Subiaco putting together a terrific performance despite the absence of Leigh Kitchin, Stefan Giro and no impact from Max Walters to beat Claremont 14.10 (94) to 10.10 (70) at Leederville Oval.

At the same time, South Fremantle hit back from a loss to Claremont to be impressive in defeating Peel Thunder 13.14 (92) to 6.12 (48) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Then on Saturday night, East Perth kicked the first seven goals of the contest to remain undefeated and set up the eventual 17.13 (115) to 6.11 (47) win against the winless Perth at Mineral Resources Park.

Sunday afternoon saw the Lathlain venue back in action and it was East Fremantle scoring their third 100-plus point win already over the West Coast Eagles by winning 25.11 (161) to 8.5 (53).

The tight contest of the round took place at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday and it was West Perth who kept Swan Districts winless in 2023 by winning 12.9 (81) to 11.8 (74).

That all led into the selection of the Team of the Week for Round 3 from those who performed well in those five matches, so let's get to how it came together.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – RYAN BORCHET (SUBIACO)

His flowing brunette mullet might immediately catch the eye, but it didn’t take long for the Subiaco forward to let his football do the talking in his first appearance of the season for the Lions on Saturday against Claremont.

Ben Sokol had been doing a terrific job spearheading the Subiaco attack over the first two games of the season, but he needed some support and Ryan Borchet is the obvious answer as that second target with Jack Mayo still to come in and provide the third option.

The 25-year-old was playing the 52nd game of his league career that started in 2018 and while it was the fourth time over the journey that he's managed to kick five goals, it could very well be the performance that sees him realise his enormous potential.

Right across his career he has threatened to become one of the standout forwards of the competition with his overhead marking and leaping ability combined with athleticism and powerful, and usually accurate kick on goal.

He had a bit of a rollercoaster ride back in 2022 on return to league action after breaking his leg in 2021 that ultimately cost him a chance to play in a second premiership team after being there in the flag triumph with the Lions in 2019.

After kicking just four goals in the opening four matches of the 2022 season, Borchet had a purple patch with 18 majors over the next six games but he couldn’t quite maintain that adding just the seven over the final seven matches of the season with Subiaco missing finals.

He ended up with 29 goals and it was a solid return, but not quite at the level he was at back in 2019 when he kicked 42 in the premiership season before the shortened COVID season in 2020 and then his fractured tibia in 2021.

Borchet then missed the first two rounds of the 2023 season after suffering a concussion in pre-season, but he made an immediate impact on Saturday in Subiaco's impressive win against Claremont.

He ended up kicking five goals from 14 possessions and nine marks. Combine that with the four goals from Sokol and with Mayo building form and fitness in the reserves, and the signs are ominous of what the Subiaco attack will be capable of in 2023.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Max Walters (Subiaco)
Round 2 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
Round 3 – Ryan Borchet (Subiaco)

WAFL TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 3

BACK: Galen Savigni (S), Matthew Jupp (EF), Seb Bright (SD)
HALF-BACK: Tom North (EP), Chad Pearson (SF), Drew Rohde (S)
CENTRE: Jesse Turner (SD), Mitch Crowden (EP), Jacob Dragovich (SF)
HALF-FORWARD: Hamish Brayshaw (EP), Ryan Borchet (S), Nathan Murray (WP)
FORWARD: Koltyn Tholstrup (S), Tyler Keitel (WP), Cody Leggett (EF)
RUCK: Oliver Eastland (C), Milan Murdock (EF), Shane Nelson (WP)
INTERCHANGE: Kyle Baskerville (EF), Brendon Ah Chee (SF), Neil Erasmus (PT), Rylie Morgan (S)

BACK POCKET – GALEN SAVIGNI (Subiaco)
He is now 15 games into his league career with Subiaco and the 21-year-old continues to shine as part of a defensive unit at the Lions that has been miserly to start the season and that's with Jordan Lockyer still to come back in. He was terrific down back in Saturday's win against Claremont and finished the afternoon with 19 possessions, eight marks, four tackles and three inside-50 entries.

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle captain and 165-game veteran remains right at the peak of his powers as perhaps the premier key defender in the competition. He might have only had 30 inside-50 entries to contend with from West Coast on Sunday, but helped propel countless of those attacks and was rock solid defensively and helped set the Sharks up from defence with 18 disposals and 10 marks.

BACK POCKET – SEB BRIGHT (Swan Districts)
He might have only managed 27 games over the previous four seasons since making his league debut in 2019, but through 2022 he began to cement a spot in the Swan Districts back-line and now has started 2023 in career-best form. Coach Andrew Pruyn isn’t afraid to give him some big jobs and that included West Perth goal sneak Keegan Knott on Sunday. He limited him to four kicks and one goal while having 13 disposals, two marks, two tackles and two inside 50s himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – TOM NORTH (East Perth)
The former Fremantle-listed midfielder returned to the WAFL this season after spending the past two years playing in the VFL with Carlton. Keen to team up with former Dockers teammates Scott Jones and Mitch Crowden, he signed with the Royals and has slotted into a role off half-back tremendously where he can showcase his running and kicking ability. Was a standout once more in Saturday night's big win over Perth with 26 possessions, 12 marks and a goal. 

CENTRE HALF-BACK – CHAD PEARSON (South Fremantle)
Has started the season in South Fremantle's back-line in terrific form. Given how good he has been now over his 103-game career with multiple top three fairest and best finishes, it would be a stretch to say he's in the best form of his career but it might very well be true. He delivered another standout performance in Saturday's win against Peel equally impressive in nullifying his opponent and cutting off opposition attacks, and then being creative and attacking the other way. Finished with a game high 28 possessions and 11 marks.

HALF-BACK FLANK – DREW ROHDE (Subiaco)
He is now 128 games into his WAFL career and is already a triple premiership player with Subiaco, but the 29-year-old appears right on top of his game with Subiaco to start the 2023 season. He continued his terrific form and impressive leadership again on Saturday in the win against Claremont by compiling 24 possessions, 10 marks, three inside-50 entries and a goal.

WING – JESSE TURNER (Swan Districts)
The reigning Swan Districts fairest and best winner and vice-captain had to assume extra responsibility on Sunday in the absence of Aidan Clarke, Frank Anderson and Tobe Watson with Sam Fisher then hurting a hamstring in the third quarter. He showed he was more than up to the task with another standout performance despite the narrow loss to West Perth finishing with 36 possessions, six inside-50 entries, three marks and three tackles.

CENTRE – MITCH CROWDEN (East Perth)
What a midfield he is now part of with East Perth and because of the depth and quality of on-ballers they have, they are able to rotate them off half-back and resting forward as well. He looked a class above on Saturday night with his power to break through tackles, break the lines and then be punishing on his lethal left foot. Kicked two impressive goals to go with 28 touches, 10 inside 50s, four tackles and three marks against the Demons.

WING – JACOB DRAGOVICH (South Fremantle)
The 2020 premiership winning star has made quite the spectacular return to South Fremantle this season after spending a season playing in the south west where his year ended early through injury. Already with over 100 games under his belt and the premiership, the 27-year-old has been right back to his best straightaway upon return and produced another 27 possessions, seven tackles, five marks, five inside 50s and two goals against Peel.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – HAMISH BRAYSHAW (East Perth)
Had another flying start in attack by kicking two goals and then split his time the rest of the evening through playing in the middle and resting forward in East Perth's hammering of Perth on Saturday night. The co-captain and reigning fairest and best winner produced a performance made up of 26 touches, eight marks, six inside 50s, five tackles and two goals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – NATHAN MURRAY (West Perth)
It was his first appearance of the season and just the 15th game of his league career with West Perth, but he produced just about a best on ground performance for the Falcons in the narrow win against Swan Districts. Was terrific at half-forward both working up the ground to win plenty of the ball and then to be clever and dangerous inside-50 around goal. Ended up kicking three goals to go with racking up 30 possessions, six tackles and four marks.

FORWARD POCKET – KOLTYN THOLSTRUP (Subiaco)
The 17-year-old could still be playing colts with Subiaco but he banged the door down over pre-season to earn a league opportunity, and has already shown he's more than up to the task. Kicked a goal in a lively debut in Round 1 against Perth and then on Saturday, was thrown the job of nullifying the decorated and in-form Jye Bolton against Claremont. Did a tremendous, and annoying, job to hold Bolton to 11 possessions while having 11 touches, five tackles, four marks and a goal himself.

FULL-FORWARD – TYLER KEITEL (West Perth)
Fresh off a career-best 10 goals in the previous week's hammering of the West Coast Eagles, continued his strong form as the spearhead in attack for West Perth in a fascinating match up with former Carlton-listed Swans big man Jesse Glass-McCasker. Kicked another five goals in the win for the reigning premiers to go with 13 touches and six marks as he approaches 150 games and life membership.

FORWARD POCKET – CODY LEGGETT (East Fremantle)
Was in the middle of a standout season as the second option in attack at East Fremantle last year alongside Jonathon Marsh before injuring a hamstring tendon in Round 9 to end his season prematurely. However, he made his return on Sunday and was brilliant in attack for the Sharks on his old home ground at Lathlain against the Eagles to end up kicking five goals from 21 touches and seven marks in the 94th game of his WAFL career. The only downside was a striking charge out of the game that's seen him offered a one-match ban if he takes the early plea.

RUCK – OLIVER EASTLAND (Claremont)
He is now 80 games into his WAFL career with Claremont and continues to take great strides to putting himself in the mix as the best ruckman in the competition. Took on the challenge against the dominant presence of Zac Clarke on Saturday and while Subiaco proved too good for his Tigers, he was superb in a fascinating big man contest. Finished the afternoon with 23 touches, 33 hit outs, six marks, five tackles and four inside-50 entries.

RUCK ROVER – MILAN MURDOCK (East Fremantle)
He is the reigning fairest and best winner in a team that made the preliminary final in 2022 and has started the season perhaps even better form in 2023 with East Fremantle. Continues to cement himself as one of the prime in-and-under players in the competition and was an unstoppable force against West Coast on Sunday with 33 possessions, nine tackles and two goals.

ROVER – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
There's precious little more that can be said about the remarkable veteran of 211 games who is already a five-time fairest and best winner and dual premiership winning player with West Perth. Is now in blistering form once again in the middle to start the season with the Falcons and delivered a performance consisting of 40 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s and four marks in Sunday's win against Swan Districts.

INTERCHANGE – KYLE BASKERVILLE (East Fremantle)
Fresh off a 2022 season that saw him named to the WAFL Team of the Year despite missing six matches highlighting just how important and prolific he was in East Fremantle's midfield. Has now started the 2023 campaign in outstanding form and was a dominant presence with his flair and run through the middle of Sunday's hammering of West Coast with 34 touches and six inside-50 entries to go with 13 score involvements.

INTERCHANGE – BRENDON AH CHEE (South Fremantle)
He might have been somewhat pigeonholed as a half-forward in his 58-game AFL career at Port Adelaide and West Coast, but is enjoying the continued chance to play on the ball for South Fremantle and then to spend time forward in between. Put together another standout performance in Saturday's win over Peel with 27 disposals, seven marks and two goals.

INTERCHANGE – NEIL ERASMUS (Peel Thunder)
Put together his third consecutive strong performance to start the season with Peel Thunder as he tries to bash the door down to earn a place in Fremantle's AFL team. Can't do much more after another impressive showing in Saturday's loss to South Fremantle where he finished with 27 possessions and eight tackles.

INTERCHANGE – RYLIE MORGAN (Subiaco)
Perhaps hasn’t quite been able to lock down a league berth at Subiaco like he would have hoped when crossing over for the 2022 season, but like he did at Claremont, has earned universal respect for his work ethic and dedication even if playing predominately reserves football. He got his chance on Saturday in the absence of Stefan Giro and Jordan Snadden, and was thrown the job of running with former teammate Bailey Rogers. Was superb in limiting him to 13 touches and two goals while having 10 disposals, three tackles, two marks and two inside-50 entries himself.

UNLUCKY BUNCH

There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 3 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

South Fremantle's Dylan Main, Brandon Donaldson, Toby McQuilkin, Noah Strom and Jordan Boullineau.

Peel Thunder's Clay Hall, Ben Hancock, Karl Worner, Nathan Wilson and Traye Bennell.

Subiaco's Liam Hickmott, Taj Schofield, Ben Sokol and Angus Dewar.

Claremont's Callan England and Lachlan Martinis.

East Perth's Angus Scott, Angus Schumacher, Christian Ameduri, Kye Willcocks and Stan Wright.

Perth's Charlie Thompson, Corey Byrne, Trent Manzone, Regan Clarke, Jack Cooley, Michal Sinclair and Jacob Coniglio.

Swan Districts' Jackson McLachlan, Jarvis Pina, Chris Jones, Jesse Palmer, Brandon Erceg and Will Collins.

West Perth's Luke Meadows, Noah Pegoraro, Zac Guadagnin and Ben Johnson.

East Fremantle's Tom Joyce, Tom Bennett, Harry Marsh, Josh Schoenfeld, Alex Montauban and Dillon O'Reilly.

West Coast's Josh Browne, Jackson Nelson, Jed Kemp, Callum Jamieson and Alec Waterman.