Round 20 WAFL Wrap UpTuesday, August 6, 2013 - 11:27 AM - by Chris Pike

EAST Fremantle scored a crucial Round 20 WAFL victory to shoot up to third position on the ladder while East Perth slipped down to sixth with a loss to Claremont.

The Round 20 WAFL results saw Claremont beat East Perth 19.13 (127) to 14.15 (99) at Claremont Oval, East Fremantle downed Perth 16.12 (108) to 12.8 (80) at East Fremantle Oval, South Fremantle beat Subiaco 16.10 (106) to 14.14 (98) at Medibank Stadium and West Perth downed Peel Thunder 17.12 (114) to 9.11 (65) at Arena Joondalup.

Click here for the summary of Round 20 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
East Fremantle needed to beat Perth on Saturday at East Fremantle Oval to remain a chance of playing finals football in 2013, and the Sharks finished strongly to end up with a 28-point victory.

The result moved the Sharks up into third position on the WAFL ladder with a 9-8 record to be ahead on percentage of Swan Districts, Perth and East Perth who all hold 9-7 records but East Fremantle has the bye this weekend and could fall back to as low as sixth.

East Fremantle then finishes the season with three tough matches against West Perth, Swan Districts and Claremont.

THE BIG LOSERS
Perth has had a terrific season on and off the field building a culture that is sure to set the club in good stead for the future, but playing finals for the first time since 1997 is now going to be a big ask.

The Demons have slipped outside of the top-four for just the second time this season after the loss to East Fremantle but with games to finish against West Perth, East Perth, Claremont and South Fremantle, Perth will need to win three of those if it wants to play finals football.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
Claremont returned to somewhere near its best form beating East Perth by 28 points in a high-quality affair at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers got off to a fast start with five goals to one in the opening quarter, but the Royals weren’t done with yet and managed to hit the front during the second half. However, the Tigers finished the stronger with the last five goals of the game.

Luke Blackwell continued his outstanding form for the Tigers since returning from injury finishing with 36 possessions, 10 marks and six entries inside the forward 50. Jake Murphy also kept up his brilliant season with another 34 disposals and a goal.

Patrick McGinnity ensured he remains a chance to get a West Coast call up with 26 possessions and three goals with Andrew Foster picking up 22 disposals and two goals, Ian Richardson 21 touches and three goals, Andrew Browne 21 possessions, Ryan Neates 18 and Alex Silvagni 18.

Nick Winmar was outstanding with 19 possessions and three goals as well with Chad Jones and Paul Medhurst adding two goals apiece.

Josh Smith kicked four goals for East Perth with West Coast's Cale Morton adding three majors and Dean Cadwallader and Craig Wulff kicked two apiece.

Brendan Lee was again prolific for the Royals with another 27 possessions, four tackles and four inside-50 entries with Adam Selwood picking up 26 disposals, Matt Rosa 22, Steven Payne 21, Wulff 19, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls 18, Morton 17 and Aaron Sweet 17.

East Fremantle needed to beat Perth on Saturday to remain a finals chance and after a slow start, did so ending up winning by 28 points.

The Sharks had to find some new avenues to goal with leading goalkicker Ryan Lester-Smith out of the side and West Coast's Brad Dick stepped up to kick three majors with Daniel Kerr adding three from the midfield and Brett Peake and Mitch Boyle booting two apiece.

Rory O'Brien continued his outstanding season for East Fremantle with another prolific performance in the midfield finishing with 32 possessions and six inside-50 entries. Kerr was also outstanding for the Sharks with 35 disposals and seven inside 50s to go with his three goals.

Perth started strongly with five goals to three in the first quarter against East Fremantle but couldn’t keep it up despite the best efforts of captain Paul Bevan who finished with 23 possessions, seven marks and three goals.

Matt Tedesco, Simon Tunbridge, Kyle Reimers and Joel Leeson all kicked two goals apiece as well for the Demons.

Julian Jacobs worked hard in the midfield with 28 possessions, seven inside 50s and five tackles with Alistair Smith returning to the side to pick up 27 disposals as well.

Brett Hodge finished the afternoon with 25 possessions, Leeson 23, Michael Florio 20, Dene White 19 and Jackson Sketcher 18.

Mitchell Lleyendekkers worked hard in the ruck after Christian Eyres went off injured with 13 possessions, 31 hit outs and five marks.

It has been a season of blooding plenty of youth at South Fremantle and another debutant got his chance against Subiaco with James Laurino playing his first league game and he did a tremendous job running with the Lions' State wingman Jarrod Kayler-Thomson and limiting him to just 15 possessions.

Fellow youngsters Jacob Martinez (26 possessions, seven marks, five tackles), Tim Kelly (21 disposals) and Brendan Verrier (16 disposals, one goal) all continued their impressive form through the middle as well.

Up forward, South Fremantle's forward-line was outstanding led last year's Bernie Naylor Medal winner Ben Saunders kicking six goals.

Even though the majority of them were from him being on the end of good work to get the ball to him in the goal square, he still finished with the six majors to show just how much he has been missed this season having broken his collarbone twice.

Veteran Kris Miller has settled across half-forward rather than on the ball late in the season and he was tremendous in that role setting up a handful of goals while kicking three himself to go with his 20 possessions and four entries inside the forward 50.

Paul Mugambwa also kicked three goals for the Bulldogs from just the five kicks for the afternoon.

Ruckman Sean Tighe worked tirelessly up against both Aidan Parker and Andrew McDougall from Subiaco, and finished with 23 possessions and 25 hit outs.

Bulldogs captain Ryan Cook was outstanding with 30 possessions with Haiden Schloithe picking up 28 touches and Mitch Banner 22.

Subiaco's youngsters in the forward-line were dangerous with Charles Le Fanu booting three goals with Michael Wood and Kyle Halligan adding two majors apiece. Brad Stevenson provided a good target with 16 possessions and 10 marks while kicking just 1.4.

George Hampson collected 26 possessions to go with five inside-50 entries and a goal. Abe Davey had 21 touches while trying to limit the influence of Miller with Ray Daniels lively across half-forward with 18 possessions and seven marks.

Chris Phelan also had 19 disposals in the midfield to go with six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal while Aidan Parker and Andrew McDougall worked hard swapping roles up forward and in the ruck.

Matt Fowler equalled his career-best haul of four goals in the league side when he booted four majors on Saturday for the Falcons from 15 possessions and eight marks.

Anthony Tsalikis also proved to be a strong forward target finishing with 20 possessions, eight marks and three goals while Josh Mellington also kicked three goals and captain Jason Salecic two from 17 disposals.

The West Perth midfield got on top of Peel's as well led by Shane Nelson who racked up 24 first half possessions before finishing the game with 32 to go with six tackles and a goal.

Aaron Black also racked up 28 possessions for the Falcons to go with five tackles and three inside-50 entries.

Andrew Strijk collected 26 disposals, Rohan Kerr 24, Steve Potente 23, Jordan Jones 20, Marc Crisp 20, Ray Bartholomew 18 and Matt Guadagnin 17.

Brad Holmes and Viv Michie kicked two goals apiece for Peel Thunder with Michie also gathering 24 possessions along the way.

Marlon Motlop worked hard for 28 possessions, five inside 50s and a goal with captain Brendon Jones gathering 25 disposals while laying seven tackles.

Matt Orzel also collected 25 touches, Liam McKenna 23, Hayden Crozier 22, Paul Bower 21, Brennan Gillam 21, Matt Brown 20 and James Hawksley 18.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
Claremont's reserves beat East Perth comfortably by 62 points with Hayden Yarran booting six goals and Ethan Panizza two.

Hugo Breakey gathered 25 possessions, Ben Taylor 19, Luke Salomone 19, Liam Smith 17 and Trinity Handley 16 in his second game back from injury.

Chris Warrell kicked four goals for the Royals with Mitchell Howlett gathering 22 possessions, Tom Shanahan 21 and Ashley Boyes 19.

East Fremantle's reserves won a thriller over Perth by three points with Cameron Symonds booting five goals for the Sharks with Alex Howson adding two.

Kieran King picked up 22 possessions, James Saville 21 and Tom Hooker 21.

Cameron Manuel kicked two goals for Perth as did Ryan Gray with Michael Mather racking up 29 possessions, Joel Kalajzic 27, Kane Ransted 26, Kieran Hug 22, Brad Fry 20 and Matthew Hunt 20.

South Fremantle's reserves also scored a thumping 18.14 (122) to 3.8 (26) win over Subiaco with Kaiden Matera booting four goals, Simon Panizza two, Marlon Pickett two, Zac Strom two and Myles Bolger two.

Alex Grima racked up 31 possessions to go with 11 inside 50s for the Bulldogs with Toby Bairstow collecting 28 disposals, Jarrod Parry 25 and Jarrad Winter 25 to go with five tackles and a goal.

Ryan Herring, Chris Wrigley and Christian Bottechia kicked Subiaco's only three goals for the reserves clash with Matt Bogensperger picking up 25 possessions, Ryan Wade 25 and Simon Moore 24.

The West Perth reserves scored another comfortable 58-point victory over Peel as well with Drew Rohde, Broderick Walton, Max Alexander and Cameron Branch all kicking two goals apiece.

Branch picked up 26 possessions to go with his two majors with Rohde also picking up 22 disposals and Walton 21.

Ben McNamara picked up 27 disposals for the Falcons with Sam Money finishing with 25 and Jack Thrum 21.

Aiden Field picked up 28 possessions for Peel with Corey Morris gathering 25 touches, Jacob Goodrick 18 and Corey Fish 18.