WAFL Story Lines: Debutants, Whan-derful performances, one-point WAFLW thrillers, Bernie Naylor Medal race and moreMonday, August 11, 2025 - 5:46 PM - by Jordan McArdle

We take a look at the biggest story lines across the WAFL and WAFLW competitions in our weekly column.

One-point thrillers as WAFLW finals kick off

The 2025 WAFLW finals campaign kicked off with a bang on Sunday with a pair of one-point thrillers.

Claremont booked their place in a remarkable fourth grand final in a row with a stunning come-from-behind extra-time victory over Subiaco at Revo Fitness Stadium.

An after-the-siren goal from a free-kick from Megan Green forced the game into extra time, where the Tigers kicked the only score in the form of a behind.

Subiaco had a couple of goal attempts in the last 30 seconds but both went across the face of goal.

The Lions get a second chance against Swan Districts in Sunday’s preliminary final at Sullivan Logistics Stadium after the Black Ducks also came from behind to win by a point.

Swan Districts hadn’t kicked a goal across the first three quarters of their first semi-final clash against East Fremantle before storming home from 12 points down at three-quarter time to win.

Demons’ drought over as top talent makes senior debut

Perth are officially locked in for finals after knocking off reigning premiers Peel Thunder at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah on Saturday.

The Demons will feature in finals for just the second time since 1998 in a remarkable result for first-year coach Mark Stone.

Blake Schlensog continued his hot form with a game-high five majors, while fellow ex-Geelong players Brandan Parfitt and Charlie Constable who combined for 72 disposals, 15 inside 50s and two goals.

It came as highly-rated draft prospect Koby Evans made his senior debut for the Demons after just one game back from injury in the EGT WAFL Colts.

The West Coast Next Generation Academy product tallied nine disposals in his first taste of senior action in just his second game back from a several months on the sidelines with a lower-back issue.

Evans and East Fremantle winger Luke Carrello became the latest members of the WA under-18s squad to debut in the Sullivan Logistics Stadium after Jacob Farrow, Sam Swadling, Lochlain Carpenter (West Perth), Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle), Will York (Peel Thunder), Hudson Walker (Subiaco), Tylah Williams and Charlie Banfield (West Coast), taking the total to 10 with several others in the mix to break through in the coming weeks.

Simply Whan-derful

South Fremantle draft propsect Toby Whan produced one of the greatest individual performances of the season in his team’s EGT WAFL Colts win over East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

Whan booted four goals from a staggering 41 disposals, racking up 234 Champion Data points, as the ladder-leading Bulldogs prevailed by 43 points.

The Fremantle Next Generation Academy member is averaging 29.3 disposals in the colts this season to go with 10 majors in nine appearances.

It comes as Whan’s midfield partner in crime Fred Rodriguez earned a promotion to South Fremantle’s reserves side.

The State 18s captain had 11 disposals and five tackles in the Bulldogs’ narrow win.

Subi upset ends West Perth’s finals hopes

Subiaco had produced a stunning upset over West Perth to extinguish their finals hopes at HIF Health Insurance Oval on Saturday.

The Lions prevailed by just two points for just their fourth win of the season with goalsneak Richard Bartlett kicking three second-half goals including two in the final term.

It came as East Fremantle sealed their spot in the five with a hard-fought win over West Coast.

Milan Murdock starred for the Sharks with a season-high 42 disposals to go with 11 tackles, eight clearances and a goal.

Mitch Zadow (23 disposals, 10 marks and two goals) and former Brisbane Lion Tom Joyce (31 disposals and a goal) also stood out, while Luke Carrello impressed on debut with 21 disposals and six marks.

Hunter on the hunt for Bernie Naylor Medal

Gun Claremont recruit Jaiden Hunter is making a late charge for the Bernie Naylor Medal with back-to-back four-goal hauls.

The former Essendon-listed forward has kicked 14 goals in his last four games, taking his season tally to 37 in 12 appearances.

He’s still six behind four-time winner and West Perth veteran Tyler Keitel’s 43 with two rounds remaining, with South Fremantle spearhead Trey Ruscoe in second spot on 40.

Hunter’s efforts are all the more impressive given he’s played three less games than Ruscoe and four less than Keitel due to a broken finger.

The Tigers went one-and-a-half games clear of East Perth in second spot after defeating Swan Districts by 38 points at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.

The Royals went down to minor premiers South Fremantle by 47, with Perth now one game and percentage behind them.