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WAFL story lines - Top Dogs, career-high hauls, draftee shines on debutMonday, June 2, 2025 - 7:45 PM - by Jordan McArdle
We take a look at the biggest story lines across the WAFL and WAFLW competitions in our weekly column.
Top Dogs prevail in WA Day Derby demolition
South Fremantle have strengthen their spot atop the WAFL ladder with a dominant RAC WA Day Derby victory in wet and wild conditions at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
More than 5000 fans braved the weather to witness the Bulldogs prevail by 54 points in the top-of-the-table clash and go 7-1, with 27 scoring shots to just seven.
The Strom brothers impressed at both ends of the ground with Zac booting four goals and Noah reliable as ever down back.
Isiah Winder also starred with a game-high 30 disposals to go with six marks, four inside 50s and a goal, while Hamish Free amassed a whopping 53 hit-outs after 60 last week and Tom Blechynden and Matthew Ward combined for 27 tackles.
Veteran Cameron Eardley and captain Kyle Baskerville fought hard for the Sharks, while Jack Avery had some big moments in defence.
Royals snatch second spot with Derby win
East Perth jumped the Sharks in second spot on the ladder after defeating West Perth in the other WA Day Derby at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
Small forward Sam van Diemen was outstanding in the wet with four goals from 20 touches.
Former Docker Tom North continued his hot form with a game-high 30 disposals and team-high 10 tackles, while ex-Eagle Cody Burgiel was lively with two goals, eight inside 50s and 18 disposals.
Ball magnet Shane Nelson (21 touches and seven tackles) and Tyler Keitel (two goals) battled hard for the Falcons, who lost skipper Luke Meadows to an ankle injury in the second term.
Mid-season draftee’s stunning WAFL debut
West Coast’s top mid-season draft pick Tom McCarthy won’t be in the WAFL much longer if he keeps producing performances like his debut against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.
While the Eagles couldn’t break their drought against the Black Ducks, there were plenty of positives for the WAFL’s newest team including McCarthy’s first game at the club.
Just three days after getting drafted with pick No.1 in Wednesday’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, the 24-year-old showed his class and pace across half-back with 26 disposals, five marks and three inside 50s.
Fellow AFL-listed player Clay Hall was the Eagles’ best with 30 touches and two goals to go with six tackles and six marks.
Captain Jesse Turner (37 disposals, seven inside 50s and a goal) and Jye Chalcraft (27 and two goals) starred for the victors, while spearhead Leigh Kohlmann booted 3.3.
Career-high hauls for young forwards
Claremont big man Kieran Gowdie and Peel Thunder livewire Jack Delean enjoyed career-best performances on Saturday to lead their teams to important victories over Perth and Subiaco respectively.
Gowdie, 23, booted 7.1 from 15 disposals and 10 marks as the Tigers easily accounted for the Demons at Revo Fitness Stadium.
Delean, a second-year Dockers-listed talent, was the difference in a see-sawing contest against the Lions with five majors including a couple of goal-of-the-week contenders.
The 20-year-old, whose previous best haul was three goals, also kicked what proved to be the sealer at the 20-minute mark of the final term against a brave and improved Lions outfit led by Simpson medallist and former West Coast-listed midfielder Greg Clark (27 disposals, 14 tackles, six inside 50s and a goal).
Aside from Gowdie’s heroics, Sandover medallist Jye Bolton (37 disposals and six inside 50s), Bailey Rogers (34, seven inside 50s and goal) and Callan England (25 and a goal) also stood out in Claremont to a 67-point win in Jack Lewsey’s 100th game.
Sharks, Falcons win WAFLW derbies
East Fremantle and West Perth claimed WAFLW derby bragging rights on Friday night.
The Sharks prevailed in a low-scoring affair in tough conditions at The Good Grocer Park with Madison Evans (21 disposals) standing out and Eve Wilson-Sieber kicked two of the team’s three goals.
Renee Morgan was gallant in defeat for the Bulldogs, finishing with a team-high 26 touches to go with nine tackles and five inside 50s.
The Falcons’ victory was much more convincing as Hayley Bidefeld and Lexi Strachan booted two goals apiece in a 27-point triumph.
Strachan also had 24 disposals, six tackles and five inside 50s in a stellar display.
Elly Sara and Jess Verbrugge were among the Royals’ best.
Ladder leaders Subiaco and Claremont continued their unbeaten campaigns with wins over Perth and Swan Districts respectively on Saturday.
Lions star Krstel Petrevski looms as a favourite for the Dhara Kerr Medal with another dominant display, racking up 23 touches to go with eight tackles and two goals.
Eagles NGA, father-son talents impress in colts, Sharks win thriller
Subiaco spearhead Darcy Montgomery was the premier forward in the EGT WAFL Colts competition at the weekend, booting a game-high five goals in his team's big win over Peel Thunder in Mandurah on Saturday.
The 191cm forward, who's part of West Coast's Next Generation Academy, kicked 5.2 from 16 disposals and four marks to take his season tally at 14.
Dylan Young chimed in with three majors and Dylan Prance racked up 27 touches, while Drew Clarke (21 and a goal) was amng the Thunder's best.
Fellow Eagles prospect Noah Braun, the son of premiership player Michael, also stood out in Round 8 of the WAFL colts as Claremont defeated Perth by 30 points at home.
The 16-year-old had a career-high 21 disposals to go with eight marks and two goals, including a classy finish on the run.
Oscar Willis, Josh Grahame and Max Hansen-Knarhoi were also prominent for the Tigers, with Kye Horan and Nate Tomasini doing their bit for the Demons.
East Fremantle won a WA Day Derby thriller against South Fremantle by three points with Ben Wood (two goals) kicking the winner.
Kye Ormerod, Tom Grylls, Oli McManus, Harry Cox and Kaiden Summerell also stood out in the Sharks' upset win over the ladder leaders.
Cameron Maynard booted four goals in a losing cause with Jack McAuliffe, Noah Roberts and ruckman Byron Foster also impressing.
Judd Marcello starred in West Perth's WA Day victory over rivals East Perth, amassing 25 disposals and 10 tackles in a standout display.
Cooper Bewick also had 25 for the Falcons to go with a goal, Max Connell kicked three goals and Luca Boczar, State 18s squad members Harvey Spawton-Guy and Koby Lecras booted two apiece.
Marcus Cassidy had 25 touches for East Perth and Ben Crook finished with three goals.
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