WAFL Team of the Week – Round 5Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - 8:59 PM - by Chris Pike

WITH Perth breaking through for a first win of 2023, a host of Demons players put up their hands for a spot in the WAFL Team of the Week for Round 5 while wins for Claremont, Subiaco, West Perth and Peel Thunder also meant there were no shortage of standout performers.

It was a statement round in the WAFL across the weekend and it was in the wins for the Tigers, Lions, Falcons, Thunder and Demons where the large majority of the players in the Round 5 Team of the Week come from.

The round got underway on Saturday afternoon and it was a thriller at Revo Fitness Stadium with Claremont bouncing back from conceding the opening six goals to East Perth to end up winning 13.13 (91) to 12.12 (84) to reclaim top spot.

West Perth also hit back from a loss last week to beat East Fremantle 10.12 (72) to 7.15 (57) at the WACA Ground.

The two winless teams then locked horns at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park and it was Perth proving far too good to beat the West Coast Eagles 18.16 (124) to 4.3 (27) to open their account for 2023 under new coach Peter German.

The last game on Saturday then saw Subiaco put the clamps on an opponent once again which saw the Lions beat South Fremantle 7.10 (52) to 6.4 (40) at Leederville Oval.

The round wrapped up at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium on Sunday with Peel Thunder making it four wins from five matches this season with the 17.16 (118) to 9.2 (56) victory against Swan Districts.

That all led into the selection of the Team of the Week for Round 4 from those who performed well in those five matches, so let's get to how it came together.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – JAIDEN HUNTER (PERTH)

Perth has been calling out for a forward target to spearhead their attack for a long time and it was a young man on return from a knee reconstruction that provided plenty of hope for the future in Saturday's win against the West Coast Eagles.

Jaiden Hunter was emerging nicely coming into the start of the 2022 season for Perth as a young key position player who had come through the colts team in 2020 and then had a solid season in the reserves to get used to playing against men in 2021.

Perth was then hoping he could provide a key target in attack for them and he had started encouragingly in the pre-season for 2022, but then in the third game he injured his knee and ultimately it was found he ruptured his ACL.

That ended his season before it even started with the knee reconstruction, but to Hunter's credit, he worked hard in rehabilitation through 2022 and was virtually ready to go for the start of pre-season coming into 2023 under new Demons coach Peter German.

He then banged down the door for his first appearance in the Perth league team since 2021 by kicking 12 goals over the opening three reserves matches including five in Round 2 against Peel Thunder and four in the opening round against Subiaco.

That made Hunter an automatic call up into the league side for Saturday's clash with the Eagles at Lathlain once he was available again, and he wasted no time making his mark.

Standing at 196cm tall and now having put on some muscle over his time out over the past 12 months, the 21-year-old now looks ready and able to be a strong target in attack.

He put that into action too with two early goals against the Eagles and as the afternoon unfolded with Perth ending up winning by 97 points, he finished with four goals from 13 possessions and six strong marks.

With his strong attack on the ball, prowess to mark overhead and then a natural ability to kick a goal, there's good reason for Perth fans to be excited about a forward-line with him as the centre piece for a long time to come.

Even more exciting was that he formed a terrific combination with fellow key target Harry Quartermaine who also kicked four goals alongside him after a rough start to the 2023 season.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Max Walters (Subiaco)
Round 2 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
Round 3 – Ryan Borchet (Subiaco)
Round 4 – Brady Grey (Peel Thunder)
Round 5 – Jaiden Hunter (Perth)

WAFL TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 5

BACK: Chad Pearson (SF), Declan Hardisty (C), Angus Dewar (S)
HALF-BACK: Tom North (EP), Noah Pegoraro (WP), Jack Avery (P)
CENTRE: Ben Hancock (PT), Regan Clarke (P), Ben Elliott (C)
HALF-FORWARD: Nathan Murray (WP), Mitch Dobson (WP), Blair Bell (PT)
FORWARD: Bailey Rogers (C), Jaiden Hunter (P), Cody Leggett (EF)
FOLLOWERS: Oliver Eastland (C), Luke Meadows (WP), Liam Hickmott (S)
INTERCHANGE: Jye Bolton (C), Jesse Turner (SD), Liam Henry (PT), Jack Cooley (P)

BACK POCKET – CHAD PEARSON (South Fremantle)
Things might not quite be clicking for South Fremantle so far in the 2023 season, but one area coach Todd Curley doesn’t have to worry about is the back-line and he continues to be the cornerstone of that alongside Toby McQuilkin, Noah Strom and Jordan Boullineau who all did well on Saturday against Subiaco. He delivered another strong defensive performance to go with his 28 touches, eight marks and three tackles in the 105th game of his WAFL career.

FULL-BACK – DECLAN HARDISTY (Claremont)
He might have only had one kick and one handpass for the day, and didn't take a mark and gave away one free-kick, and if all you did was look at the stats then you'd be surprised to see him in the Team of the Week. However, the 93-game standout defender was as instrumental as anyone in Claremont's win with his defensive prowess against East Perth including shutting down Tom Medhat and holding the Royals spearhead to five kicks and one goal for the day.

BACK POCKET – ANGUS DEWAR (Subiaco)
The 104-game triple premiership winning defender is right at the peak of his powers to start the 2023 season down back with Subiaco. Through necessity, had to spend some time playing forward last year and he did have his moments doing so, but it's as a defender who can play on talls and smalls and do lockdown jobs, and be attacking and creative going the other way where he's best suited. Had another 17 touches, four tackles and three marks in win against South Fremantle.

HALF-BACK FLANK – TOM NORTH (East Perth)
He has returned to the WAFL this season to resume his career with East Perth having moved back across the Nullarbor, and he is just a smooth mover, has so much time and poise, and is a lethal kick on his left book that it's a pleasure to watch him. He was tremendous against Claremont again off half-back racking up 35 possessions, four marks and four tackles.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – NOAH PEGORARO (West Perth)
West Perth's premiership winning centre half-back took on the job on one of East Fremantle's tall forward targets on Saturday at the WACA Ground and did an outstanding job in his role on Dillon O'Reilly. Not only did he keep the Sharks forward to five kicks and no score for the day, but he also finished with 14 possessions and five marks himself in a prominent showing in his 60th WAFL appearance.

HALF-BACK FLANK – JACK AVERY (Perth)
For the second consecutive week, he had a huge impact off half-back for Perth where he can use his height and size to play tall when the ball is in the air, but is then such a creative and attacking threat to set up play for the Demons coming out of the back-line. In just the 25th game of his career with Perth, showed that he will be a big part of the club's future on the back of his performance consisting of 33 disposals and 12 marks.

WING – BEN HANCOCK (Peel Thunder)
The Peel captain didn’t have it all his own way on Sunday against Swan Districts after copping an early knock and having to come off multiple times with the blood rule. However, having the bandage on his head only helped him standout even more in delivering a best on ground performance in the big win for the Swans. Ended up with 33 possessions, nine inside 50s, six marks, six tackles and a goal in the 138th game of his career.

CENTRE – REGAN CLARKE (Perth)
He can be a true match-winner for Perth with his ball-winning ability but then the way he can run and carry the ball, and be a damaging influence when he's on song. He got to show his full array of talents in Saturday's 97-point victory against the West Coast Eagles and in his 39th WAFL game, he delivered 33 touches, seven inside 50s, four tackles, three marks and two goals.

WING – BEN ELLIOTT (Claremont)
On the back of his breakout season in 2022 with Claremont's midfield, he has built into 2023 nicely too having come into the team in Round 2. He was as important as anybody in the Tigers win on Saturday against East Perth not only with his ball winning ability, but his ferocious attack on the ball and laying some hard hitting tackles, and to go forward and kick goals. Ended up kicking the match-winner on his left boot to go with 24 disposals, seven marks and six tackles.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – NATHAN MURRAY (West Perth)
Spent most of the day in the midfield for West Perth on Saturday against East Fremantle in the absence of Aaron Black, Dean Munns and Mark Hutchings, and not only did he hold his own, but was one of the best afield in the win for the Falcons in his 17th WAFL match. Put together a first-rate performance made up of 27 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s and a goal to be named to the Team of the Week for a second time in three rounds.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – MITCH DOBSON (West Perth)
The powerhouse West Perth forward continues to thrive on his move to the Falcons from East Perth. He became a premiership player in 2022 and now has started the 2023 season in even better form and he opened Saturday's game with East Fremantle in hot fashion. He ended the afternoon kicking four goals from his seven kicks and three marks.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – BLAIR BELL (Peel Thunder)
The dual premiership winning powerhouse was back the previous week after missing the prior two games for the Thunder and showed just how important he is for his team in Sunday's win against Swan Districts. He is just such an imposing presence and can have a significant impact on the contest anytime he's around it, and just has a knack for being in the right spot at the right time. Then is damaging with the ball in hands and kicked two goals from his 22 touches in the big win.

FORWARD POCKET – BAILEY ROGERS (Claremont)
The 2021 Sandover Medal winner is such a weapon for Claremont that whether he's playing in the middle or spending most of his time forward, he's capable of being a match winner and that's after he was such a prolific half-back for much of his first 100 WAFL games. Proved to be the best forward on the ground against East Perth on Saturday and ended up kicking three crucial goals to go with 19 possessions and four marks.

FORWARD POCKET – CODY LEGGETT (East Fremantle)
Showed once again why he's such an important player with East Fremantle by his performance in the forward-line in just his second appearance of the season. After returning from the hamstring injury that ended his season early last year, he starred against West Coast but then got suspended for a week. However, he was back to take on West Perth and was the Sharks' leading goalkicker to kick three for day with the 95-game defender turned forward also having eight kicks, five marks and four tackles.

RUCK – OLIVER EASTLAND (Claremont)
He could very well be the best ruckman in the competition right now and that's no mean feat considering the calibre of opposition he's facing. However, the way he's got the better of Scott Jones and Zac Clarke in recent weeks highlights just how far he's come 82 games into his career even if he does give up some considerable size. He just wills himself to get on top throughout the game and had another 16 disposals, 29 hit outs and seven marks against Jones and East Perth on Saturday.

RUCK ROVER – LUKE MEADOWS (West Perth)
On the back of an inspirational grand final performance last year that not only saw him become a premiership player with West Perth, but a Simpson Medallist, and he has started 2023 in first-rate form again as well in the midfield for the Falcons. The 123-game star is such an imposing physical force and a damaging player with ball in his hands, that his disposals always count. They certainly did that in the win against East Fremantle where he had 24 possessions, six marks, five inside-50 entries and four tackles but then two match-winning last quarter goals too.

ROVER – LIAM HICKMOTT (Subiaco)
On the back of playing in Subiaco's premiership team of 2021 and then having a standout season in 2022 by being named to the Team of the Year despite it not being the sort of successful campaign the Lions have been accustomed to, he appears to have gone up another gear with his all-round game to start 2023. Was outstanding in the win against South Fremantle once more finishing with 30 touches, 11 tackles, six inside 50s, four marks and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – JYE BOLTON (Claremont)
Having been predominantly used to great effect off half-back so far this season, the four-time Simpson Medallist and dual Sandover Medal winner again started in defence for Claremont on Saturday. However, the in case of emergency button was pressed after East Perth's hot start and he went into the midfield and was instrumental in the Tigers ending up getting over the line. The 137-game veteran finished with 32 touches, six marks, four inside-50 entries and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – JESSE TURNER (Swan Districts)
The Swan Districts vice-captain and reigning fairest and best winner has had to take on extra responsibility in the midfield right now in the absence of Aidan Clarke, Sam Fisher and Frank Anderson, but he's proving more than up to the task. He might even be in better form than he was last year and that sure is saying something, and in his 124th game, he ended up with 33 disposals, four marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries.

INTERCHANGE – LIAM HENRY (Peel Thunder)
It was the type of performance from the 21-year-old that the Fremantle coaching staff would have been hoping to see him produce with the Thunder before they considered recalling him to add to the 31 AFL games he's played. He ran hard and most significantly did it going both ways, and was damaging and effective with the ball in his hands making the most of his 26 touches, five marks, five inside-50 entries and four tackles.

INTERCHANGE – JACK COOLEY (Perth)
The 22-year-old versatile big bodied midfielder made the move to Perth from East Perth for a fresh start this season and in his third game with the Demons and 31st overall in the WAFL, showed that he could be someone they can bank on for a long time to come. Had a significant impact in the big win against the Eagles for the Demons with 32 possessions, seven tackles, six marks and three entries inside the forward 50.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH

There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 5 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Claremont's Talon Delacey, Anthony Treacy, Callan England, Lachlan Martinis and Teia Miles.

East Perth's Nick Bonomelli, Nick Robertson, Corey Watts, Hamish Brayshaw, Angus Schumacher and Mitch Crowden.

Subiaco's Ryan Borchet, Zac Clarke, Wil Hickmott, Taj Schofield, Stefan Giro, Rylie Morgan, Drew Rohde and Galen Savigni.

South Fremantle's Jordan Gallucci, Brandon Donaldson, Toby McQuilkin, Jordan Boullineau, Glenn Byron and Tom Blechynden.

East Fremantle's Cam Eardley, Jarrad Jansen, Jonathon Marsh, Kyle Baskerville and Milan Murdock.

West Perth's Shane Nelson, Ben Johnson and Zac Guadagnin.

West Coast's Callum Jamieson, Josh Browne, Ethan Hansen, Jackson Nelson, Alec Waterman and Joey Deegan.

Perth's Harry Quartermaine, Simon Hayward, Charlie Thompson, Corey Byrne, Jye Clark, Matt Taylor and Austin Davis.

Peel Thunder's Sam Sturt, Riley Smith, Brady Grey, Will Brodie, Corey Wagner, Karl Worner and Joel Hamling.

Swan Districts' Jackson McLachlan, Josh Cipro and Jarvis Pina.