Round 12 WAFL Wrap UpWednesday, June 18, 2014 - 1:17 AM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL's top four teams East Perth, Swan Districts, Subiaco and East Fremantle all recorded victories in Round 12 action on Saturday to move one step closer to playing finals in 2014.

East Perth maintained top spot on the ladder with a comfortable 21.17 (143) to 12.10 (82) win over South Fremantle at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

Swan Districts remained in second position following an 11.16 (82) to 5.11 (41) victory over Peel Thunder at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Subiaco and Perth flew out to Kalgoorlie with the Lions coming away with a 14.19 (103) to 11.5 (71) win.

And East Fremantle beat reigning premier West Perth 14.5 (89) to 12.8 (80) at Joondalup's HBF Arena to score a crucial win that now moves the Sharks two games clear in fourth position of the fifth-placed Falcons.

Click here for the summary of Round 12 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
East Fremantle made the grand final in 2012 thanks to a stirring run of form in the second half of the season, but the Sharks haven’t been able to recapture that form since – until now.

East Fremantle missed the finals altogether in 2013 coming off the 2012 grand final defeat at the hands of Claremont, but the Sharks started 2014 well with three wins from the first four matches.

However, they then lost games in disappointing fashion to South Fremantle, East Perth and Swan Districts to leave their season teetering, but they have now recovered with victories over Perth, South Fremantle, Peel Thunder and West Perth.

Those results see the Sharks improve to a 7-4 record on the season with a big game to come this Saturday against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium. A win there and not only will East Fremantle be even closer to guaranteeing a finals appearance, but remains a chance of a top two spot as well.

THE BIG LOSERS
West Perth has now given itself a big task to qualify for the finals in 2014 and defend its 2013 WAFL premiership.

West Perth came into the season with high hopes of another strong campaign coming off the premiership but things haven't gone to plan so far with the Falcons now slipping to a 5-6 record following Saturday's nine-point loss at home to East Fremantle.

It has been quite the rollercoaster ride so far in 2014 for the Falcons opening with losses to East Fremantle and Claremont before a win over Perth, and then a 100-point thumping of current ladder leaders East Perth.

The Falcons then fell short of a third straight win losing to South Fremantle and Swan Districts before bouncing back with a remarkable come from behind win over Peel Thunder.

The Falcons have the bye this weekend before a Foxtel Cup semi-final next Tuesday at Patersons Stadium against Tasmania's Western Storm prior to returning to WAFL action in a must-win clash with the struggling South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Sunday June 29. 

THE SHINING LIGHTS
East Fremantle recorded its fourth straight victory on Saturday beating West Perth at HBF Arena in Joondalup by nine points to put the Sharks in a strong position to make the finals.

The Sharks did fall 20 points down early in the last quarter, but then kicked nine of the game's final 13 goals to end up recording the crucial victory despite the absence of State representatives Jamie McNamara and Steven Dodd.

East Fremantle again found a way to kick enough goals to win with Jack Perham kicking three, and two each to Rob Young and Brett Peake but it was Jayden Schofield who was the real shining light with three goals from 14 possessions and eight marks.

Brock O'Brien was prolific providing run off half-back ending the game with 34 possessions and nine marks while Tom Howlett did well down back holding Anthony Tsalikis to two final quarter goals, and Andrew Stephen was superb defensively and also by collecting 24 touches and nine marks.

Sandover Medallist Rory O'Brien also gathered 31 disposals with Sean Henson adding 25 touches, Mark McGough 23 and Danny Chartres 21.

West Perth came into the game without key players Chris Keunen, Matt Guadagnin, Marcus Adams and Andrew Krakouer, but that also presented opportunities for others.

Emerging ruckman Seva Martin again had the chance to carry the ruck in the absence of Keunen and he showed good signs up against both Rob Young and James Bristow with 42 hit outs, eight possessions and five strong marks.

Andrew Strijk was again terrific across half-back setting up play for the Falcons with another 24 possessions, seven marks and four entries inside-50.

Shane Nelson racked up another 33 possessions in the middle while Aaron Black again worked tirelessly for 25 disposals while also taking eight marks and kicking two goals.

Jordan Jones finished with 27 disposals mostly out of defence with Rohan Kerr finishing the match with 23 touches, Jay van Berlo 22, the returning and helmeted Ray Bartholomew 18 and Kody Manning 18 to go with five marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Steven Browne, Matt Johnson, Anthony Tsalikis and Nick Rodda all kicked two goals apiece for the Falcons while co-captain Luke Tedesco was tremendous in defence keeping Ryan Lester-Smith goalless after he had kicked seven goals in East Fremantle's past two games.

East Perth dominated South Fremantle from the outset on Saturday at Medibank Stadium extending its lead at every break with a 10-point quarter-time lead that became 30 by half-time, 40 by three quarter-time and 61 by the final siren.

The Royals had 83 more disposals than the Bulldogs, 57 more marks, 22 more hit outs and that was despite receiving just eight free-kicks for the day against 20 for South Fremantle. East Perth also went inside-50 on 52 occasions to 40 and had 38 scoring shots to 22.

East Perth's forward-line again had a tremendous amount of options with Josh Smith booting four goals, Simon Tunbridge four, Callum Sinclair two and Josh Hill two.

Garry Moss made his return to the league side for the first time since undergoing a knee reconstruction last year and was terrific with 17 touches, nine marks and three goals.

Freddie Clutterbuck and Steven Payne both continued their run of career-best form and kept proving how far their football has developed in 2014 with Clutterbuck finishing with 29 possessions, eight marks and four inside 50s, and Payne 27 touches, six marks and a goal.

Co-captain Brendan Lee was again superb with 37 possessions, eight marks and six inside-50 entries while Brant Colledge picked up 26 possessions, Will Maginness 26, Sinclair 21 (eight marks, 20 hit outs), Dom Sheed 20, Ashley Smith 19, Nathan Blee 19 and Adam Carter 18 against his former side.

South Fremantle did have some good contributors throughout the afternoon, though, and none were better again than captain Ryan Cook who finished with 28 possessions, six marks and four inside-50 entries.

Haiden Schloithe also continued his strong season with another 25 disposals and two goals.

Tim Kelly keeps emerging as well through the midfield finishing the game with 26 possessions, six marks, six inside-50 entries and five tackles.

Ashton Hams tried hard to set up play collecting 25 disposals with Toby Bairstow finishing with 23 possessions, Anthony Collica 22, Adam Guglielmana 20 and Jacob Martinez 18.

Dylan Ross worked hard in an under-siege back-line build up off strong East Perth forwards and finished the day with 19 possessions for South Fremantle.

James Sellar returned to the South Fremantle for just his second game since injuring his knee in Round 2, and he was solid with 12 touches, six marks, seven hit outs and a goal.

It was also a big day for Mitch Banks who made his league debut with the Bulldogs and showed some good signs in his nine possessions against the WAFL ladder-leaders.

Swan Districts and Peel Thunder didn’t play out the prettiest WAFL match of the season at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday, but in the end Swans did enough to win by 41 points to bounce back from a loss to Subiaco and maintain second position on the ladder.

Swans managed just the nine behinds in the opening quarter and kicked just 2.10 for the first half despite dominating general play. That saw scores level at the main break, but Swan Districts then kicked nine goals to two after half-time to record the solid win.

Aidan Anderson returned from time with the WA State 18s to kick three goals for Swans while Tim Geappen finished with 15 touches, seven marks and two goals before a second half hamstring injury.

Ryan Davis also booted two goals for Swan Districts.

Matt Riggio ended up with a game-high 34 possessions to go with nine marks, seven inside 50s and a goal with Justin Simpson outstanding at centre half-back with28 disposals and 13 marks.

Aaron Elari also gathered 28 touches for Swans with Blaine Boekhorst racking up 27 disposals, Jesse Manton 24, Kirk Ugle 24, Matthew Rogers 21, Adam Faulkner 20 and Matthew Jukes 19.

Matt Taberner kicked two of Peel's five goals from 17 possessions and eight marks with Scott Gumbleton showing some good signs in 10 touches, seven marks and a goal.

Jonathon Griffin continued to work hard in the ruck for the Thunder finishing with 17 possessions, nine marks and 26 hit outs.

Sam Menegola picked up a team-high 31 possessions for Peel with former skipper Brendon Jones leading the way with 29 possessions and Jacob Ballard finishing with 26 touches, Brady Grey 26, Kepler Bradley 22, Hayden Crozier 22, Matt Brown 18 and Anthony Morabito 18.

Subiaco bounced back from two straight losses last week with a terrific performance to down Swan Districts by 48 points, and now this week the Lions hosted a country fixture in Kalgoorlie against Perth and comfortably won by 32 points.

Clancy Wheeler again stepped up in the ruck finishing with 16 possessions, 11 hit outs and a goal with help from debutant Sean Bradley who contributed 16 disposals, five marks and eight hit outs.

Meanwhile up forward, George Hampson booted four goals for the Lions, Rhett Kerr two, Rhys Waters two, Chris Deluca two and Matt Boland two.

Captain Kyal Horsley racked up a game-high 29 possessions for Subiaco as well with Shaun Hildebrandt finishing with 27 disposals, Deluca 25, Hampson 20, Ryan Wade 19, Chris Phelan 17 and Charles Le Fanu 17.

It was another tough afternoon for Perth despite captain Paul Bevan kicking three goals and Mitch Leyendekkers, Cale Morton and Callum Collard adding two apiece.

Dene White picked up 23 possessions, Matt Moody 23, Jarryd Morton 22 and Gerald Ugle 20 while ruckman Christian Eyres compiled 39 hit outs against under-sized opponents.

West Perth's reserves recorded a thumping 16.13 (109) to 4.5 (29) win over East Fremantle with Corey Chalmers outstanding booting six goals from 24 possessions and nine marks.

Broderick Walton, Matt Fowler and Brayden Antonio also kicked two goals apiece for West Perth while Aidan Lynch racked up 40 possessions, Ben O'Regan 28, Antonio 25, Ben McNamara 23, James Embley 22 and Luke Meadows 19.

Brandon Ellis, Alex Kirk, Jake Schleicher and Alex Howson were East Fremantle's only goal scorers while Schleicher also had 26 possessions and Jacob Green 23.

Meanwhile, South Fremantle's reserves drew with East Perth with the Bulldogs finishing on 15.11 (101) to the Royals' 16.5 (101).

Lewis Harvey kicked four goals for the Bulldogs with Marlon Pickett responding to being dropped kicking two to go with 20 possessions and 10 marks. Kaiden Matera also booted two majors.

Jarrod Parry worked hard in the midfield for South Fremantle picking up 27 possessions while laying seven tackles with Ben Sokol finishing with 26 disposals and Josh Branchi 35 hit outs to go with nine possessions.

Matt Gordon kicked four goals for East Perth with Lewis Wilson, Daniel Allsop and Matthew Blackley kicking two each but it was Dean Cadwallader who starred with 27 possessions and two goals. Mitch Howlett also collected another 27 disposals.

Swan Districts' reserves came from behind to beat Peel Thunder as well with Brayden Duckworth booting four goals and Sean Fletcher two. Jason Daniels racked up 25 possessions, Josh Kirkup 23, Jacob Coniglio 21, Jake Nuich 21, Thomas Smirk 21 and Rudy Riddoch 20.

Laine Wilkins and Reise Wilkey kicked two goals each for Peel with Brennan Gillam, Mitch Green and Jordan Wythes all collecting 24 possessions apiece. Corey Morris also had 29 touches, Aiden Field 27 and James Hawksley 26.

Subiaco's reserves also scored a thumping 89-point win over Perth with James Garcia booting six goals, Kyle Halligan five, Ray Daniels four, Dylan Clarke three and Jordan Webster three.

Jarrhan Jacky also was impressive with 19 possessions in his second game of the year while Andrew McDougall returned and had 11 disposals and five marks.

Daniel Arangio kicked four goals for Perth and Sam Garstone two while Brent Edmonds gathered 19 possessions, Ben Power 18, Chance Bateman 17, Kurtis Chester 17 and Brennan Stack 15.