WAFL Team of the Week – Round 6Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - 11:13 PM - by Chris Pike

EAST Fremantle had gun performers down back, up front and in the middle in Saturday's Round 6 WAFL action to help make up just some of the last Team of the Week prior to this Friday's State game.

The WAFL will have a general bye this coming weekend for the State game between Western Australia and South Australia with the best of the WAFL and SANFL going head to head at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon.

The last chance to impress for that State game and then also to head into the break with some form and momentum took place on Saturday in Round 6 WAFL wins for Claremont, South Fremantle, Peel Thunder, West Perth and East Fremantle.

There were five fascinating match ups in Round 6 of the WAFL and it saw Claremont kick the only five goals of the last quarter to put more heartbreak on Swan Districts with the 11.9 (75) to 10.13 (73) at Steel Blue Oval.

West Perth then got off to a fast start to keep its dominance over Perth rolling especially at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park with the Falcons ending up beating the Demons 17.12 (114) to 9.11 (65).

South Fremantle put on five goals in a blistering period in the third quarter to set up its win against East Perth at Leederville Oval with the Bulldogs prevailing 11.12 (78) to 6.13 (49) to record their first premiership points of the season.

West Coast made its best start of the season with five first quarter goals against Peel in Mandurah, but the Thunder kicked 19 goals to two the rest of the day at Lane Group Stadium to win 21.15 (141) to 7.10 (52) to go to the top of the WAFL.

The last game of the round was a twilight fixture at the WACA Ground and East Fremantle proved too strong for Subiaco, prevailing 13.10 (88) to 7.14 (56).

That all led into the selection of the Team of the Week for Round 6 from those who performed well in those five matches, so let's get to how it came together.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – CODY LEGGETT (EAST FREMANTLE)

Only master coach Bill Monaghan knows if he saw Cody Leggett as a potential spearhead when he got him to East Fremantle back in 2020, but with 13 goals in three appearances in 2023 so far, it's sure panning out that way.

Leggett has only played in three games so far this season for the Sharks after being on the comeback trail after his season ended early last year with a hamstring tendon injury, and then copping a one-match suspension after his first game back.

However, in those three games he has already kicked 13 goals for East Fremantle to be rocketing into Bernie Naylor Medal contention trying to chase down West Perth's Tyler Keitel who is on 20 goals with his teammate Mitch Dobson on 17, Subiaco's Ben Sokol 17 and Swan Districts' Jesse Palmer 14.

It's been quite the ride for Leggett as he now approaches his 100-game WAFL milestone that has been a long time coming since he made his debut with Perth back in 2014.

He played the first 67 games of his career with the Demons and most of those were as an attacking half-back where his lethal and lengthy right-boot to drive Perth forward became a feature of his play.

Leggett did have some brief stints forward and even had a seven-goal haul ironically against East Fremantle back in 2016 at Lathlain.

However, he was after a fresh start at East Fremantle by the end of 2019 and following quite the struggle to get cleared to the Sharks, he lined up in the shortened COVID season of 2020.

He then managed just nine games in 2021 but it was last year when coach Monaghan threw him into attack with the thought that he could use his natural footy brain, ability to win one-on-one contests and then brilliant kicking skills to great effect around goals.

It worked a treat and he had kicked 14 goals in nine games last season including five goals the week before his campaign was over against West Perth. He injured his hamstring tendon a week later against Claremont and missed out on being part of East Fremantle's finals run.

However, he was back in the East Fremantle line-up for Round 3 this season against West Coast and kicked five goals in the 108-point win. He also got suspended, but was back two weeks later to kick three goals against West Perth.

Then back at the WACA Ground for the twilight fixture against Subiaco on Saturday, he proved the most effective forward in the game in the win for the Sharks kicking five goals from eight kicks and four marks.

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)
Round 6 – Cody Leggett (East Fremantle)

WAFL TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 6

BACK: Tobe Watson (SD), Matthew Jupp (EF), Chad Pearson (SF)
HALF-BACK: Toby McQuilkin (SF), Brandon Erceg (SD), Karl Worner (PT)
CENTRE: Jesse Turner (SD), Milan Murdock (EF), Liam Henry (PT)
HALF-FORWARD: Callan England (C), Sam Sturt (PT), Ben Hancock (PT)
FORWARD: Brody Wemm (PT), Tyler Keitel (WP), Cody Leggett (EF)
FOLLOWERS: Oliver Eastland (C), Tom Blechynden (SF), Shane Nelson (WP)
INTERCHANGE: Hamish Brayshaw (EP), Charlie Thompson (P), Luke Meadows (WP), Zac Clarke (S)

BACK POCKET – TOBE WATSON (Swan Districts)
Swan Districts might not quite have been able to complete the job against Claremont at home on Saturday, but he put in a terrific defensive performance to give his team the chance. Was given the task of running with Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers who can be a match-winner for the Tigers and did well quelling his influence to 14 possessions and one behind for the day. He also had 11 touches, two marks and two tackles himself.

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The accolades keep coming for the ever-reliable East Fremantle captain and 168-game veteran with him now named captain of the WAFL State team for Friday's clash with the SANFL in Adelaide in what will be his second appearance for WA. He will go into the contest in outstanding form too after doing well in the twilight clash on Saturday limiting Ben Sokol to five kicks and one goal while having 16 possessions and seven marks in the Sharks' win over Subiaco.

BACK POCKET – CHAD PEARSON (South Fremantle)
The 106-game premiership defender from South Fremantle continued his outstanding form to start the 2023 season with another first-class performance in Saturday's win against East Perth. Continues to be tremendous in terms of both his defensive work and then setting up play for the Bulldogs out of the back-line. Not only limited Tom Medhat to two kicks and a goal but also ended up with 22 possessions and seven marks himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – TOBY MCQUILKIN (South Fremantle)
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the 22-year-old picked up by an AFL club in the upcoming mid-season draft because of how consistently terrific he continues to perform in the South Fremantle back-line. His defence is improving all the time and he's proving tough to beat in one-on-one contests but then when it comes to attacking backmen, he's right at the top of the list. He had had another 25 touches and seven marks in the win over the Royals.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – BRANDON ERCEG (Swan Districts)
Is the lone captain fit and healthy at Swan Districts at the moment and is having a tremendous start to the season even if his team has only got one win on the board so far. He couldn't be doing any more to try and will them over the line and was a rock solid defender once again on Saturday against Claremont. Had the job on the dangerous Max Minear and limited him to five kicks and one goal while having 16 possessions, five marks and three tackles himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – KARL WORNER (Peel Thunder)
The creative flair, the run and dash, and the pure amount of ball he is winning off half-back for Peel Thunder so far this season has been remarkable. He continues to be unlucky to not get a call up into Fremantle's AFL team but when that happens, he'll be confident in the form he is in. Was named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time already this season after delivering 26 possessions, 11 marks and a goal against the Eagles.

WING – JESSE TURNER (Swan Districts)
The Swan Districts vice-captain and reigning fairest and best winner has gone up another gear again so far in 2023 and that's saying something considering just how good he was already in 2022. With the added responsibility with the absence of Aidan Clarke, Frank Anderson and Sam Fisher in the midfield, he's standing up admirably and on Saturday against Claremont, he had another 30 touches, nine inside-50 entries, five marks and two tackles.

CENTRE – MILAN MURDOCK (East Fremantle)
He is the reigning East Fremantle fairest and best winner but continues to show that he has taken his game up another gear now so far in 2023 and it perhaps would be a surprise if he wasn’t a clear leader in Sandover Medal voting by the end of Round 6. He was named to the Team of the Week for a fifth time already this season from six games on the back of delivering 26 possessions, seven tackles and a goal in the win against Subiaco at the WACA Ground.

WING – LIAM HENRY (Peel Thunder)
Is now banging down the door for a recall to the Fremantle Dockers team as he's come back to Peel and is doing everything asked of him. Most impressive has been his work rate, he's running himself to exhaustion, using his pace to full effect and the results have been obvious over the past two weeks. Was brilliant again in the win against West Coast finishing with 25 disposals, 11 tackles, seven marks and a goal.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – CALLAN ENGLAND (Claremont)
The 23-year-old now has 73 games with Claremont under his belt and is playing the best and most consistent football of his career so far to start the 2023 season. He's also spending more time in the midfield than ever before and thriving with that added responsibility and opportunity to be more around the ball. He was instrumental in the Tigers' comeback win finishing with 21 possessions, four marks and four tackles and kicking the last goal of the game to give Claremont the win.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – SAM STURT (Peel Thunder)
The Fremantle Dockers forward has come back to Peel with the right attitude to earn another AFL opportunity and he's showing what he's capable of as a versatile forward in a team now sitting on top of the WAFL ladder. Had a superb all-round performance in Saturday's win against West Coast by kicking two goals to go with 24 possessions, eight marks and two entries inside the forward 50.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – BEN HANCOCK (Peel Thunder)
Not only is the Peel captain about the break the games record at the club, but he's doing it while right back to his best form after an injury-interrupted start to the 2022 season. He had a brilliant 2021 prior to that and is now right back to that form and he was the spark that ignited the Thunder's fightback in the second quarter against West Coast. Kicked two quick goals and finished the afternoon with 27 touches, five marks, three tackles and three inside 50s in the 139th game of his career to join Rory O'Brien on the number for Peel.

FORWARD POCKET – BRODY WEMM (Peel Thunder)
The South Mandurah local has joined Peel Thunder this season and fitted in seamlessly to the forward-line and produced the performance of his career in Saturday's win at home against the Eagles. The 25-year-old might be late to starting his WAFL career, but is making up for lost time and he was brilliant against West Coast kicking four goals to go with 18 disposals, seven marks and four entries inside the forward 50.

FULL-FORWARD – TYLER KEITEL (West Perth)
He didn't kick the bag of goals like he was kicking when piling on 15 goals in two weeks earlier this season against West Coast and Swan Districts, but still had a huge say in the win for West Perth against Perth on Saturday. Is such an imposing presence in attack for the Falcons where everything flows through him and he makes everyone around him better. Also found plenty of the ball to finish with two goals to go with 20 possessions and seven marks in his 149th game with his 150-match celebration to come after the State game.

RUCK – OLIVER EASTLAND (Claremont)
It's been a remarkable transformation for him now over his 83-game career at Claremont. Started as a fledgling tall forward and pinch hit ruckman, but now could very well be deserving of the title as the league's best ruckman. Put together another prominent performance in the heart stopping win against Swan Districts made up of 18 touches, 47 hit outs and six tackles.

RUCK ROVER – TOM BLECHYNDEN (South Fremantle)
He won a premiership back in 2020 but was very much in the development stage of his career at that point with plenty of experienced midfielders ahead of him. He's now at the peak of his powers and is the mainstay of the South Fremantle on-ball brigade and is in the best form of his career as a result to start the 2023. Had another standout performance against East Perth finishing with 28 touches, nine tackles, seven marks and five inside-50 entries.

ROVER – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
It's remarkable to think that 214 games into his career and having already won five fairest and best awards with West Perth, playing in two premierships and representing WA five times that the 30-year-old has started the 2023 season in as good a form as at any other point in his decorated career. That continued against Perth on Saturday as he played in his 21st win from 22 games against the Demons and had 34 touches, six marks and six inside-50 entries.

INTERCHANGE – HAMISH BRAYSHAW (East Perth)
The reigning East Perth fairest and best winner and co-captain continues to perform strongly for the Royals in the midfield even if his team has now lost the last three games after opening up with three consecutive victories. Was named to the Team of the Week for a fourth time already in six weeks this season on the back of 30 disposals, nine inside 50s, six marks and three tackles against South Fremantle.

INTERCHANGE – CHARLIE THOMPSON (Perth)
Having made the move west after playing in the VFL with Coburg to play under Peter German at Perth, he's fitted in seamlessly at the Demons this season settling on a wing where his hard running and ball winning ability has been fully on show. The wins might not have quite eventuated, but he is putting together standout performance after another. The 24-year-old had another 32 touches, six marks, four tackles, two inside 50s and a goal against West Perth.

INTERCHANGE – LUKE MEADOWS (West Perth)
On the back of a match winning performance last week against East Fremantle, the reigning Simpson Medallist and 124-game veteran was outstanding once more for West Perth in Saturday's win at Lathlain against Perth. Again an opponent he's now 15-0 against, he was powerful, imposing and effective once more with 30 disposals, six marks, three inside-50 entries and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – ZAC CLARKE (Subiaco)
The 33-year-old has made a return to Subiaco this season showing that he's lost nothing in between now and playing in the 2019 premiership at the Lions. He's now put together a career made up of 92 WAFL games, 110 in the AFL at Fremantle and Essendon on top of what he did in the VFL and in Victoria's EFNL for Doncaster East. His Lions team might have lost to the Sharks on Saturday at the WACA Ground but he was a dominant presence up against Hugh Dixon with 16 touches, 52 hit outs, four tackles and three marks.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH

There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 6 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Swan Districts' Jehb O'Donohue, Jesse Palmer and Jarvis Pina.

Claremont's Talon Delacey, Zac Mainwaring, Jack Buller, Teia Miles, Jye Bolton, Jack Lewsey and Declan Mountford.

East Fremantle's Reuben McGuire, Cam Eardley, Fraser Turner and Jackson McDonald.

Subiaco's Michael Braut, Jaxon McGowan, Angus Dewar, Jack Mayo, Stefan Giro and Liam Hickmott.

East Perth's Liam Tedesco, Scott Jones, Angus Schumacher, Stan Wright, Nick Robertson, Angus Scott, Tom North, Harry Macreadie and Alex Pearce.

South Fremantle's Zac Strom, Brandon Donaldson, Matthew Parker, Brendon Ah Chee, Noah Strom and Glenn Byron.

Peel Thunder's Sebit Kuek, Tom Emmett, Corey Wagner, Nathan Wilson, Joel Hamling and Jacob Blight.

West Coast's Zane Trew, Josh Browne, Ethan Hansen, Jackson Nelson and Joey Deegan.

Perth's Michael Sinclair, Dakota Baldwin-Wright, Corey Byrne, Regan Clarke, Jack Cooley, Jack Avery and Matt Taylor.

West Perth's Aaron Black, Nathan Murray, Mitch Peirce, Ben Johnson and Noah Pegoraro.