SWAN Districts shot back up into the WAFL's top-four with a crucial win over East Fremantle on Saturday in Round 23 action with South Fremantle, Claremont and Subiaco also recording victories.
Swan Districts had to beat East Fremantle at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval to stay alive in the finals race and the black-and-whites did just that downing the Sharks 14.19 (103) to 12.8 (80).
South Fremantle won a high-scoring thriller over East Perth 22.13 (145) to 21.7 (133) at Fremantle Oval with Claremont downing Perth 15.12 (102) to 12.9 (81) at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium and Subiaco winning over Peel Thunder 18.14 (122) to 12.5 (77) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.
Click here for the summary of Round 23 of the WAFL
THE BIG WINNERS
Swan Districts had slipped outside of the top-four with a 59-point loss to Claremont in Round 22, but scored an impressive win over East Fremantle on Saturday to move back up to third position.
Now Swan Districts can guarantee a finals spot and likely a home first semi-final with a win over West Perth this Saturday also at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.
THE BIG LOSERS
East Fremantle had shot back up to third spot on the WAFL ladder with a 73-point thumping of an undermanned West Perth leading into Saturday's preliminary final rematch from last year with Swan Districts.
However, the Sharks were outplayed for most of the afternoon to lose by 23 points and now requiring some luck to make the finals to get the chance to replicate last year's grand final appearance.
East Fremantle now firstly must beat minor premiers and two-time defending premiers Claremont this Saturday at East Fremantle Oval and then also need either Swan Districts to lose to West Perth, or for East Perth to be beaten by Subiaco in order to jump up into the top-four.
THE SHINING LIGHTS
Swan Districts got the jump on East Fremantle and despite the Sharks hitting the front in the second half, Swans finished the better to win by 23 points and improve to third spot on the ladder after starting the weekend fifth.
Charlie Cameron starred with five goals as he continues to make claims to be a high draft pick into the AFL later this year while retiring West Coast Eagles veteran Andrew Embley had 22 possessions and eight shots on goal, but only managed to kick 1.7.
Ryan Davis was terrific for Swan Districts with two goals from 19 touches, six tackles and five inside-entries while Tom Roach also kicked two to go with 22 possessions.
Aaron Elari racked up 27 possessions, Brett Robinson 24, Matt Riggio 23 and first-year ruckman Rory Lobb 18 to go with seven marks and 28 hit outs.
Brett Peake kicked three goals for East Fremantle from 18 possessions with Sean Henson and Michael Edwards adding two apiece.
Rory O'Brien compiled another 29 possessions for the Sharks with captain Mark McGough collecting 25 and Richard Hadley 22.
Having played the last seven reserves games, Marlon Pickett earned his league debut for South Fremantle against East Perth and he put on an incredible display finishing the afternoon at Fremantle Oval with 26 possessions, nine marks, four clearances, eight inside-50 entries and three goals.
Blaine Johnson also made his league debut and didn’t find the going quite as easy but he did manage three shots on goal for the day. He missed the first two badly but was able to get on the board in the third quarter.
Not only did Pickett kick three goals, but South Fremantle's forward-line helped to combine for 20-plus goals for the second straight week.
Full-forward Ben Saunders also kicked four goals for the Bulldogs from just five kicks with Paul Mugambwa starring particularly in the second half with 14 disposals, six marks, five inside-50 entries and three goals.It is the first time that that the 32-year-old 297-game veteran has kicked five goals in a match in his remarkable WAFL career over both South Fremantle and East Fremantle since making his debut back in 1999.
The Bulldogs' back-line was also terrific led by centre half-back Dylan Ross who kept East Perth's main big forward Brock Higgins goalless while there was plenty of drive from the defence with Adam Guglielmana finishing with 21 disposals, Craig White 18, Warrick Andreoli 17, Nick Borovac 17 and Adam Carter 17.
Third-gamer James Laurino was also outstanding in keeping West Coast's Cale Morton to just 15 possessions and no impact in the game while kicking a terrific goal himself.
Mitch Banner picked up another 27 possessions to go with seven inside 50s and five clearances for the Bulldogs with Haiden Schloithe terrific with 25 touches, five tackles, seven clearances, seven inside 50s and two goals.
Captain Ryan Cook picked up 24 possessions, Tim Kelly 21 and ruckman Sean Tighe 20 to go with 30 hit outs, six clearances and four inside 50s in a good battle with East Perth's Paul Johnson.
Retiring West Coast veteran Adam Selwood spent most of his afternoon forward for East Perth and kicked five goals with small forward Arthur Bennell coming back into the team and booting four goals for the Royals who were without the league's leading goalkicker Josh Smith.
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Aaron Sweet, Michael Swan and Dean Cadwallader all kicked two goals apiece for East Perth as well while co-captain Brendan Lee racked up 31 possessions to go with a massive 13 clearances, seven inside-50 entries and a goal.
Mat Seal also collected 28 possessions to go with seven clearances, six inside 50s and a goal while Craig Wulff had 22 disposals, Steven Payne 20 and ruckman Paul Johnson 17 to go with 52 hit outs and nine clearances.
Perth started strongly against Claremont at home on Saturday, but the Tigers eventually got on top and won by 21 points with Jake Murphy outstanding finishing with 24 possessions, six tackles, five inside 50s and four goals.
Chad Jones also kicked three goals from 16 touches and 10 marks with Bradshaw booting two majors from 20 disposals and In Richardson adding two goals also.
Luke Blackwell continued his remarkable form since returning from injury with another 33 possessions with Ryan Neates racking up 25 touches, Sam Fong 23, Blake Anderson 20 and key defender James Thomson 18.
The loss for Perth ended whatever slim hopes the Demons still had of playing finals, but without doubt it has been a vastly improved season for a number of reasons that should set the club up to have a culture that can produce success in the future.
Brennan Stack was a good target in attack with four goals from 16 possessions and seven marks with captain Paul Bevan and West Coast's Simon Tunbridge booting two goals apiece.
Subiaco trailed Peel at quarter-time, but controlled the contest from there to secure the 45-point that snapped the Lions' eight-game losing run and ensured the Thunder ended their 2013 campaign with 11 straight losses.Fraser McInnes might not have kicked a goal but worked hard from centre half-forward to finish with 19 disposals, nine marks and six inside-50 entries.
Andrew McDougall was outstanding in the ruck for Subiaco and when resting forward finishing with 24 possessions, eight marks, 21 hit outs, seven inside-50 entries and two goals.
Captain Aidan Parker was also terrific for the Lions with 15 touches, 22 hit outs and three goals while his fellow premiership veteran Darren Rumble was as resolute as ever in the back-line.
Rhys Waters also kicked three goals for Subiaco with Tristan Gum, Alliston Pickett, Brad Stevenson and Charles Le Fanu all kicking two goals each.
George Hampson racked up 29 possessions for the Lions, Brett Mahoney 27, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson 22, Scott Worthington 19 and Joey Daye 19.
Matt Orzel kicked three goals for Peel with Kristin Thornton and Brad Holmes kicking two each while inspirational captain Brendon Jones racked up 22 possessions in what is the last of his tremendous 178-game WAFL career.
Jesse Crichton also collected 29 possessions for the Thunder, Marlon Motlop 28, Laine Wilkins 18 and Paul Bower 18.
PUSHING FOR A SPOT
Swan Districts' reserves also beat East Fremantle by 32 points with Ricky Cary booting seven goals and Michael Bennell four with Adam Faulkner racking up 26 possessions, Simon Parry 23, Kane Goodwin 23 and Matthew Jukes 22.
Tom Bowey kicked two goals for East Fremantle with Tyler Chalwell finishing with 21 possessions, seven marks and 17 hit outs.
South Fremantle's reserves also beat East Perth by 29 points with Kaiden Matera kicking six goals and Ben Sokol four with Toby Bairstow gathering 30 possessions, Alex Grima 24, Mitch Carter 22, Jarrad Winter 21, Jarrad Parry 18, Reece Adams 17 and Shaun Bewick 16 in his second game back from injury.
Chris Warrell and Lewis Wilson kicked two goals apiece for East Perth with Rowan Brookes and Matt Gordon adding two each while Mitch Howlett racked up 25 possessions and Ashley Boyes 20.
Perth's reserves scored a thumping 77-point win over Claremont with Mark Deaves kicking six goals, Simon Donovan four and Aaron Dow two.
Jackson Sketcher was dropped back having played 17 straight league games and racked up a massive 40 possessions for the Demons to go with seven marks, seven inside 50s, six tackles and a goal.
Kieran Hug also had 25 disposals for Perth, Michael Mather 22, Haydn Busher 21 and Joel Kalajzic 20.
Nick Gajewski and Sam Lamont kicked two goals each for Claremont with Jack Richardson picking up 24 possessions and Brendon Lim 20.
Subiaco's reserves scored a massive 22.18 (150) to 4.10 (34) win over Peel with Nick Hay booting six goals for the Lions, James Garcia four, Kyle Halligan three and Chris Pocklington two. Ryan Wade racked up 32 possessions.
Shane Yarran kicked two goals for Peel with Josh Mathers collecting 23 possessions, Jeff Carter 22 and Brendan Tingey 21.