WAFL Team of the Week – Round 11Tuesday, June 27, 2023 - 11:17 PM - by Chris Pike

CLAREMONT and East Perth had thumping Round 11 WAFL wins to now occupy the top two positions on the ladder with plenty of players standing out while Swan Districts produced a terrific performance to knock off the reigning premiers.

There were just the three games in Round 11 of the WAFL with the Tigers and Royals scoring wins by a combined 201 points against the West Coast Eagles and Perth respectively while the Swans kept their season alive by beating West Perth at Joondalup.

The lone match in Round 11 saw Claremont return to top position in the WAFL by beating the winless West Coast Eagles 22.15 (147) to 8.8 (56) at Revo Fitness Stadium.

From the Tigers victory, Jye Bolton, Anthony Treacy, Talon Delacey, Callan England, Teia Miles and captain Declan Mountford all made the Team of the Week. Zane Trew earned a place from the Eagles.

The other two matches took place on Sunday and it was East Perth with a dominant performance to make it five wins on the trot to rocket to second position beating Perth 23.8 (146) to 5.6 (36) at Leederville Oval.

From East Perth's 110-point win, Nick Robertson, Harrison Macreadie, Mitch Crowden, Hamish Brayshaw and Angus Scott all earned places in the Team of the Week. Connor Sing fought against the odds down back for the Demons.

The last game of the round was at Pentanet Stadium and Swan Districts produced its best performance of the season to beat West Perth 11.6 (72) to 8.9 (57).

Nathan Ireland, Jarvis Pina, Jehb O'Donohue, Aidan Clarke, Brayden Noble and Nathan Blakely all made the Team of the Week from Swans. Aaron Black made it from West Perth in his 250th game along with premiership teammates Shane Nelson and Zac Guadagnin.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – NATHAN BLAKELY (SWAN DISTRICTS)

Swan Districts ruckman Nathan Blakely looks like he is running around for his team right now in his return WAFL season like he's doing it purely because he loves being back out there, and that's because he is doing it because of his passion for the club and game.

While there are players in the WAFL who have been full-time footballers or who strive to be professional players, for Blakely his return to Swan Districts this season is all about his love of the football club and the game, and it's showing with the way he's playing.

Some players might run out onto the field with the weight of the world on their shoulders with the pressure they put on themselves to perform. 

But for Blakely it's somewhat of a release from his work as a doctor and even if he's arriving at the ground fresh off a night shift, getting to run around and lead the ruck for Swan Districts once more is the most fun part of his week.

The freedom and enjoyment he's playing with is a pleasure to watch and it has to be team lifting for his teammates, and the way he has played now over his last couple of games mean it wouldn’t be a stretch to say he is in career best form either.

Going back to last week and Blakely had a start to the game against East Fremantle at the WACA Ground where he just couldn’t help but find the ball at every turn in the first half before ending up with 20 possessions and 28 hit outs.

It turned out a disappointing loss for Swan Districts, though, which is ultimately what matters most to Blakely and he was one of a host of the members of his team on Sunday at Joondalup who simply weren’t going to be denied even if West Perth are reigning premiers and were celebrating Aaron Black's 250th game.

Blakely delivered a tremendous performance in the ruck where he finished with 23 disposals, 17 hit outs and six tackles but he also made himself dangerous going forward. 

He kicked a clever quick snap in the first quarter and then kicked a crucial match sealing goal against the breeze in the fourth quarter from a set shot to make up a brilliant afternoon personally and for his team.

It was the 87th game of a career for Blakely that started back in 2013 and has become quite the juggling act as he completed his medical studies and now has transferred into full-time work. But the 2023 version of him at 30 years of age has him playing with a joy that's infectious.

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)
Round 7 – Zac Clarke (Subiaco)
Round 8 – Nick Robertson (East Perth)
Round 9 – Talon Delacey (Claremont)
Round 10 – Dillon O'Reilly (East Fremantle)
Round 11 – Nathan Blakely (Swan Districts)

WAFL TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 11

BACK: Nick Robertson (EP), Connor Sing (P), Harrison Macreadie (EP)
HALF-BACK: Jye Bolton (C), Nathan Ireland (SD), Jarvis Pina (SD)
CENTRE: Zane Trew (WCE), Jehb O'Donohue (SD), Mitch Crowden (EP)
HALF-FORWARD: Aidan Clarke (SD), Brayden Noble (SD), Hamish Brayshaw (EP)
FORWARD: Anthony Treacy (C), Aaron Black (WP), Talon Delacey (C)
FOLLOWERS: Nathan Blakely (SD), Callan England (C), Shane Nelson (WP)
INTERCHANGE: Zac Guadagnin (WP), Teia Miles (C), Declan Mountford (C), Angus Scott (EP)

BACK POCKET – NICK ROBERTSON (East Perth)
Another week and another commanding performance from the East Perth hard man in the back-line in the big win against Perth on Sunday. The 28-year-old who played 73 AFL matches with the Brisbane Lions and has now played 45 at East Perth is in some of the best form of his life and it's coincided with him settling in the Royals' back-line. Had another standout performance with 27 touches and eight marks while also having a terrific battle with Demons excitement machine Sam Stubbs.

FULL-BACK – CONNOR SING (Perth)
He has now become a cornerstone of the Perth back-line 32 games into his WAFL career and while he might be a little unheralded on the outside, there's no doubt coach Peter German would have him pencilled in as just about his first player selected every week. Is usually given the job on the opposition's best key forward each week and that was again the case on Sunday. He did well limiting East Perth's Mitch Schofield to 10 touches and one goal while having six touches, three marks and two tackles himself despite the Demons losing by 110 points.

BACK POCKET – HARRISON MACREADIE (East Perth)
The former Carlton AFL defender was seen as a significant off-season acquisition for East Perth and he's more than living up to that billing now for the Royals in the WAFL. Is proving a standout lockdown key defender and again on Saturday in the 110-point win against Perth, he was given the job on dangerous Demons forward Kristian Cary for most of the day. He limited him to two kicks and one goal while having 11 touches and seven marks himself as the Royals won a fifth straight game. 

HALF-BACK FLANK – JYE BOLTON (Claremont)
Claremont had a thumping 91-point win against West Coast on Saturday and he ran his own show for the most part for the Tigers across the half-back line. Put together a brilliant and dominant performance on the way collecting 42 possessions, eight marks and three inside-50 entries as he continues to be one of the best and most lethal and prolific ball winners in the competition. Makes the Team of the Week for a sixth time already this season.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – NATHAN IRELAND (Swan Districts)
It's a Swan Districts back-line that was expecting to be anchored by co-captain Brandon Erceg and the emerging Will Collins this season, but with both currently sidelined, Swans had to get creative on Sunday against West Perth with fellow co-captain Chris Jones also unavailable to be thrown down back. Nathan Ireland has been a key forward and pinch hit ruckman for much of his 35-game career so far, but what he showed on Sunday is that the back-line could be for him. He was given the job on West Perth star Tyler Keitel and limited him to seven kicks and one goal while having 11 touches and five marks himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – JARVIS PINA (Swan Districts)
He was recruited to Swan Districts to be an attacking defender to give them great run and drive off half-back, and second season in at Bassendean and he's more than delivering on those hopes. He is in the best and most consistent run of form now in his career and was tremendous again in Sunday's win against West Perth at Joondalup. Ended up with 30 touches, 12 marks, five tackles and four inside 50s while also doing well defensively when he needed to.

WING – ZANE TREW (West Coast)
It's been tough going for West Coast at all levels in 2023 but when the WAFL team is losing by almost 100 points a game each week and a 91-point margin to Claremont on Saturday is considered better than normal, it's a hard team to stand out in. But he has been one shining light for the Eagles with the way he's been able win plenty of the ball, run hard and show that he's deserving of more opportunity at AFL level after 30 WAFL matches. Worked tirelessly again with 31 disposals, eight inside 50s, five tackles and three marks.

CENTRE – JEHB O'DONOHUE (Swan Districts)
Has turned himself into being one of the most tenacious and effective run-with players in the competition and did another crucial job for Swan Districts on Sunday against West Perth. Was given the job to quell the influence on reigning Grand Final Simpson Medallist Luke Meadows and did well limiting him to 17 touches and no score while having 14 disposals, four tackles, three marks and three inside-50 entries himself to make the Team of the Week for the second time in the past three weeks.

WING – MITCH CROWDEN (East Perth)
Was another player that the Royals threw everything into recruiting this past off-season on the back of his time in the AFL at Fremantle and he is well and truly showing why. Continues to win plenty of the hard ball in at the contests, but it's his ability to break out into space and use his lethal left boot that is allowing him to become truly dangerous. Made the Team of the Week for a fourth time with his performance against Perth consisting of 25 disposals, seven marks, six inside 50s and three goals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – AIDAN CLARKE (Swan Districts)
What a spectacular return he has made from a hamstring injury with Swan Districts over the past five weeks. He gets named in the Team of the Week for a fourth time in those five games since he's been back for the black-and-whites, and the powerful way he attacks the contest and wins the ball in close, and then with his lethal left boot when he gets the chance to use is making him one of the most effective players in the competition. Was huge again in Sunday's win against West Perth with 30 touches, eight tackles, six marks and a brilliant long goal.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – BRAYDEN NOBLE (Swan Districts)
He is now 107 games into his WAFL career at Swan Districts and continues to be an important part of the side just because of the versatility he provides. He can play a whole variety of roles and on Sunday he was required to be the main forward target in the absence of co-captain Chris Jones. He stood up strongly as well to end up kicking three goals from 15 possessions, 10 marks and four tackles to be a crucial part of the win against West Perth.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – HAMISH BRAYSHAW (East Perth)
He continues to be having a brilliant season as part of an East Perth team now sitting in second position in the WAFL ladder with their on-ball brigade their great strength. The best part of it is with the depth they have, the midfielders can split their time between playing on the ball and then in the forward-line to be goalkickers, and he's the shining example of that. Earned a spot in the Team of the Week for a fifth time on the back of 38 possessions, 10 marks, seven inside 50s and two goals in the 110-point win against the Demons.

FORWARD POCKET – ANTHONY TREACY (Claremont)
It was an afternoon for the Claremont small forwards to shine against West Coast on Saturday and he was one of them to have a day out in the eventual 91-point victory. Was playing the 36th league game of his career with the Tigers and for the first time he managed to kick more than two goals. He had kicked two goals 10 times previously but on Saturday he broke through to finish with four for the afternoon to go with 19 touches, six marks and five tackles in an impressive display.

FULL-FORWARD – AARON BLACK (West Perth)
It's not easy to have too many firsts when you are celebrating your 250th game in a career that's seen you play in two premierships and be co-captain in one, win a Sandover Medal, three fairest and best awards, and play seven times for your state. But being named to full-forward in the Team of the Week is a first from the day when he reached his milestone even though it was a loss for West Perth. He did spend a lot of the day playing out of the goal square too with some stints up the field, and finished with 20 possessions, eight marks and two goals.

FORWARD POCKET – TALON DELACEY (Claremont)
Two weeks ago he was the hero for Claremont against Peel Thunder before the bye and continued on the momentum this past Saturday in the 91-point win against West Coast. Continues to emerge as a crucial part of the Tigers forward-line by kicking another four goals from 10 kicks, three marks and three tackles to have now kicked 22 goals for the season already and been named to the Team of the Week after back-to-back games.

RUCK ROVER – CALLAN ENGLAND (Claremont)
Continues to thrive having been entrusted to play as a permanent on-baller this season. Had previously spent most of his 77-game career as a half-forward who might occasionally spend time up the ground on the wing, but he's now showing that his best role all along might have been in the midfield. Is proving one of the most consistent performers around the ball in the competition this season and had another 28 touches, five inside 50s, four marks, four tackles and two goals in the win against West Coast on Saturday.

ROVER – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
He would have been as desperate as anybody to get the win for West Perth to celebrate the 250-game milestone of his great mate Aaron Black on Sunday. He also had young Swan Districts midfielder Ben Hewett running with him for a lot of the day, but he continued his fine season that's defying the fact he's 30 years of age and 219 matches into his career. Finished with another 33 disposals, five marks, three inside-50 entries and two tackles.

INTERCHANGE – ZAC GUADAGNIN (West Perth)
The West Perth premiership defender is 87 games into his WAFL career with the Falcons now and continues to be among the best and most versatile backmen in the competition. Was given the task on dangerous Swan Districts forward Jesse Palmer on Sunday and limited him to seven kicks and two behinds while having 21 possessions and five marks himself despite the loss.

INTERCHANGE – TEIA MILES (Claremont)
He has proven to be a terrific recruit for Claremont with the skill and drive he's providing for a Tigers' back-line unit where alongside Jye Bolton and Lachlan Martinis, it's become their greatest strength. He had another strong performance in the commanding win against West Coast on Saturday finishing with 35 disposals, 10 marks, six tackles and three inside 50s to find himself selected to the Team of the Week for a second time so far in 2023.

INTERCHANGE – DECLAN MOUNTFORD (Claremont)
The Claremont captain is working into the season nicely now after an injury-interrupted start to proceedings and he delivered his best performance of 2023 so far on Saturday in the emphatic home win against the West Coast Eagles. He racked up 32 possessions for the afternoon to go with seven inside 50s, six marks and five tackles in the 77th game of his WAFL career.

INTERCHANGE – ANGUS SCOTT (East Perth)
The ridiculously hard running East Perth wingman could very well cover more ground across a game than any other player in the WAFL, and that's why he continues to be such an important member of the Royals team. He has been playing at a similar level now throughout all his 71-game career with East Perth, but he's doing it in a winning team with the Royals having won five in-a-row to be in second spot. He had another 33 disposals, 10 marks and seven inside 50s on Sunday against Perth.
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH

There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 11 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Round, including:

Claremont's Tyron Smallwood, Joel Western, Ben Elliott and Oliver Eastland.

West Coast's Jackson Nelson and Ethan Hansen.

East Perth's Tom Medhat, Liam Tedesco, Stan Wright, Kye Willcocks, Jacob Msando and Christian Ameduri.

Perth's Ajang Ajang, Brodie Gray, Charlie Thompson and Regan Clarke.

Swan Districts' Tom Edwards, Brad Lynch and Josh Cipro.

West Perth's Tristan Hobley and Nathan Murray.