WAFL Round 1 RecapSunday, March 31, 2024 - 11:02 PM - by Chris Pike

THE 2024 WAFL season started with a bang with West Perth winning thanks to a late goal on Thursday night from Keegan Knott and finished with Perth ending its drought over Subiaco along with wins for Peel Thunder, East Perth and Swan Districts.

The 2024 WAFL season got under way on Thursday night under lights at Joondalup's Pentanet Stadium with West Perth and Claremont doing battle in a rematch of the 2022 grand final.

It was a tight affair all evening but in the end it was decided at the 27-minute of the final quarter with a left-foot snap in traffic from former Tiger Keegan Knott to put the Falcons in front and secure the 11.9 (75) to 11.7 (73) victory.

West Perth has now won seven straight games dating back to the end of last season and it was a first up win for new coach Jason Salecic with Tyler Keitel kicking three goals, and Knott and Jack Demarte two each.

Luke Meadows won the Simpon Medal in that 2022 grand final and was terrific again with 28 possessions while Aaron Black gathered 21 disposals, Shane Nelson 21, Connor West 21, Ben Johnson 18 and Noah Pegoraro 18.

Bailey Rogers and Alex Manuel kicked three goals apiece for Claremont with Zac Mainwaring adding two while Jye Bolton had 32 disposals, Callan England 27, Declan Mountford 25, Anthony Davis 23 and Oliver Eastland 23 to go with 45 hit outs and a goal.

The rest of Round 1 all took place across Saturday afternoon beginning with the grand final rematch from last year with Peel Thunder proving too strong at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium to beat East Fremantle 12.10 (82) to 9.9 (63).

Peel made the fast start on home turf with five goals to two in the first quarter which was an advantage they were able to maintain virtually the rest of the afternoon for the 19-point win.

Nathan Wilson played a new role in attack and kicked five goals for Peel with Jack Delean adding two while Neil Erasmus amassed 36 possessions, captain Ben Hancock 25, Will Brodie 19, Jonathon Ietto 18, Scott Tuia 18 and Liam Reidy had 47 hit outs.

Brayden Lawler kicked two goals for East Fremantle against his old team with Milan Murdock finishing with 27 touches, Tom Bennett 24, Fraser Turner 24 and Brynn Teakle had 35 hit outs.

East Perth made an impressive start to its season too beating a South Fremantle team lacking potency 12.10 (82) to 6.7 (43) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Christian Ameduri kicked three goals in the win for the Royals with Shayne Hille and Tom Medhat adding two each with Mitch Crowden finishing with 28 touches, Tom North 27, Angus Scott 27 and Angus Schumacher 22.

Harrison Macreadie was also a tower of force down back with 10 possessions and eight marks, with the majority of those contested intercept marks.

Brandon Donaldson kicked two of the six goals for South Fremantle with Jake Florenca picking up 34 disposals, Tom Blechynden 28, Haiden Schloithe 23 and Toby McQuilkin 23.

The West Coast Eagles sent a scare into Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval but the black-and-whites responded with eight goals to one in the final quarter to win 21.11 (137) to 10.13 (73).

West Coast kicked six goals in the third quarter to get back within two points, but Swan Districts responded to win by 64 points to still be yet to lose to the Eagles in the WAFL with West Coast having now not won for 27 consecutive matches.

Leigh Kohlmann marked his return for Swan Districts kicking six goals with Jiah Reidy and Jackson McLachlan adding three each, and Tom Edwards, Jesse Turner and Ayden Cartwright two.

Jye Chalcraft (35 possessions) and Nik Rokahr (32) arrived with big reputations and showed why combining for 67 touches for Swan Districts with Turner gathering 29 disposals, Jarvis Pina 26, Aidan Clarke 23 and Josh Cipro 22.

Loch Rawlinson and Trey Ruscoe kicked three goals each for the Eagles and Tyrell Dewar two while Andrew Gaff had 29 touches, Alex Witherden 25 and Harley Sparks 20.

Subiaco made a fast start against Perth at Mineral Resources Park to close the round but the Demons impressed from there on the way to a drought breaking 10.10 (70) to 8.8 (56) win.

It ends a 14-game losing streak for the Demons against the Lions with their first win over them since Round 16, 2016, with Aaron Clarke dangerous in attack kicking three goals.

Fellow gun recruit Charlie Constable impressed on debut for Perth with 34 possessions with Jack Cooley picking up 27 touches, Jacob Coniglio 26, Corey Byrne 23, Charlie Thompson 22 and Austin Davis 22.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals for Subiaco and Jack Mayo two with returning captain Greg Clark outstanding with 39 possessions.

The man he replaced as skipper, Leigh Kitchin, also had 35 touches, Liam Hickmott 28, Marlin Corbett 28 and Luke Foley 20.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

WEST PERTH 11.9 (75) defeated CLAREMONT 11.7 (73)

PEEL THUNDER 12.10 (82) defeated EAST FREMANTLE 9.9 (63)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 6.7 (43) lost to EAST PERTH 12.10 (82)

SWAN DISTRICTS 21.11 (137) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 10.13 (73)

PERTH 10.10 (70) defeated SUBIACO 8.8 (56)