Round 12 WAFL ResultsSaturday, June 14, 2014 - 6:35 PM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL'S top three teams all recorded solid wins over sides near the bottom but it was East Fremantle who were the big winners in Round 12 action on Saturday beating West Perth to move two games clear in fourth position.

As expected, top-of-the-table East Perth accounted for South Fremantle 21.17 (143) to 12.10 (82) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium, Subiaco beat Perth 14.19 (103) to 11.5 (71) in Kalgoorlie and Swan Districts defeated Peel Thunder 11.16 (82) to 5.11 (41) at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Then the game with plenty riding on it took place at Arena Joondalup with the winner to be in fourth position and in the end East Fremantle beat West Perth 14.5 (89) to 12.8 (80).

That means that East Fremantle improves to a 7-4 record and to now be two games clear in fourth position of the fifth-placed reigning premiers West Perth.

East Perth remains percentage clear on top of the ladder on 9-2 ahead of the also 9-2 Swan Districts with Subiaco on an 8-3 record in third.

At Arena Joondalup, West Perth opened up a game-high 20-point lead early in the third quarter, but from that point on East Fremantle kicked nine of the game's last 13 goals to end up winning by nine points.

Jayden Schofield continued his career resurgence for East Fremantle playing perhaps his best game for the club with three goals from 14 possessions and eight marks.

East Fremantle had a host of other star performers with Bradd Dalziell returning to the side with 36 touches while Brock O'Brien racked up 34 possessions from half-back.

Sandover Medallist Rory O'Brien had another 31 touches while Sean Henson played likely his best game since he was prolific in 2012 with 25 disposals and a goal.

East Fremantle's back-line held up well without Steven Dodd with Tom Howlett keeping Anthony Tsalikis to two final quarter goals while Andrew Stephen held it together and had 24 touches and nine marks.

Jack Perham also kicked three goals up forward with Rob Young fighting through a broken nose to kick two.

West Perth came into the game without Chris Keunen, Matt Guadagnin, Marcus Adams and Andrew Krakouer, but still had their chances to avoid seeing their finals hopes take a hit.

Seva Martin again worked hard in the ruck in the absence of Keunen with 42 hit outs and five strong marks while Steven Browne, Tsalikis, Matt Johnson and Nick Rodda kicked two goals each.

Co-captain Luke Tedesco was terrific down back holding Ryan Lester-Smith goalless after he had kicked seven goals the past two weeks while Andrew Strijk again provided enormous drive with 24 possessions with Jordan Jones also racking up 27.

Aaron Black and Shane Nelson again led the way through the middle for the Falcons with 33 and 25 possessions respectively with Black also kicking two goals.

Ray Bartholomew made a strong return after missing three weeks with a fractured cheekbone with 18 possessions.

Swan Districts and Peel Thunder played out a bizarre first half at Bendigo Bank Stadium with the black-and-whites kicking just nine first quarter behinds and 2.10 for the entire first half despite dominating play.

That meant that Swans only managed to be level with the Thunder at half-time but things started to click better in front of goal for Swan Districts in the second half kicking nine goals to just two from Peel to end up comfortably winning by 41 points.

Aidan Anderson returned to the Swans' line-up after time with the WA State 18s and he kicked three goals with Ryan Davis adding two.

Matt Riggio continued his tremendous season in the midfield for Swans with another 34 possessions while Aaron Elari racked up 28 disposals, Justin Simpson 28, Blaine Boekhorst 27, Kirk Ugle 24, Jesse Manton 24, Matthew Rogers 21 and Adam Faulkner 20.

Matt Taberner kicked two of Peel's five goals for the day with Sam Menegola racking up 31 possessions, Brendon Jones 29, Brady Grey 26, Jacob Ballard 26, Hayden Crozier 22, Kepler Bradley 22 and Jonathon Griffin 17 to go with nine marks and 26 hit outs.

Tim Geappen was playing well for Swans with 15 touches, seven marks and two goals before coming off with a hamstring injury.

East Perth controlled its clash at home to South Fremantle from the outset extending its lead at every change to eventually win by 61 points backing up a 75-point win over the Bulldogs back in Round 3 under lights at Fremantle Oval.

The Royals led comfortably by 10 points at quarter-time, by 30 at half-time, 40 at three quarter-time and then it blew out to 61 by the final siren.

Garry Moss made an outstanding return for East Perth in his first game since rupturing his ACL in Round 11 last year and undergoing a knee reconstruction. The classy left-footer finished with 17 possessions and three goals.

East Perth had plenty of other avenues to goal as well with Josh Smith booting four majors, Simon Tunbridge four, Josh Hill two and Callum Sinclair two to go with 21 possessions, eight marks and 20 hit outs.

Co-captain Craig Wulff also returned from a finger injury and was outstanding with 27 possessions, 12 marks and two goals.

Fellow skipper Brendan Lee was prolific with 37 disposals for the Royals with Freddie Clutterbuck racking up another 29 touches, Steven Payne 27, Will Magginness 26, Brant Colledge 26 and Dom Sheed 20.

Ben Saunders, Josh Pullman, Craig White and Haiden Schloithe all kicked two goals each for South Fremantle while Schloithe also picked up 25 possessions.

Captain Ryan Cook picked up 28 touches, Tim Kelly 26, Ashton Hams 25, Toby Bairstow 23, Anthony Collica 22 and Adam Guglielmana 20.

Subiaco and Perth made the trip to Kalgoorlie to play on Saturday and the Lions kept in touch for a top two position with a comfortable 32-point victory over a Demons team that has still won only once since beginning 2014 with wins over Claremont and South Fremantle.

The Lions were without big men Frank Stockley and Lachlan Delahunty, but Clancy Wheeler again did well as a makeshift ruckman with 16 touches, 11  hit outs and a goal while Sean Bradley made his debut to help him out and had 16 disposals, five marks and eight hit outs.

George Hampson kicked four goals for Subiaco from 20 possessions while Rhett Kerr, Rhys Waters, Chris Deluca and Matt Boland kicked two goals apiece.

Lions skipper Kyal Horsley racked up 29 possessions with Shaun Hildebrandt finishing with 27 touches, Deluca 25 and Ryan Wade 19.

Perth captain Paul Bevan booted three goals with Mitch Leyendekkers, Cale Morton and Callum Collard adding two apiece.

Matt Moody picked up 23 possessions for the Demons, Dene White 23, Jarryd Morton 22 and Gerald Ugle 20.

Ruckman Christian Eyres had 39 hit outs but had limited impact around the ground. 

ROUND 12 WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
West Perth 12.8 (80) lost to East Fremantle 14.5 (89)
Peel Thunder 5.11 (41) lost to Swan Districts 11.16 (82)
Subiaco 14.19 (103) defeated Perth 11.5 (71)
East Perth 21.17 (143) defeated South Fremantle 12.10 (82)

RESERVES
West Perth 16.13 (109) defeated East Fremantle 4.5 (29)
Peel Thunder 7.14 (56) lost to Swan Districts 10.11 (71)
East Perth 16.5 (101) drew with South Fremantle 15.11 (101)

COLTS
West Perth 8.12 (60) defeated East Fremantle 6.5 (41)
Peel Thunder 7.5 (47) lost to Swan Districts 12.8 (80)
East Perth 9.5 (59) lost to South Fremantle 11.8 (74)