Round 19 WAFL Wrap UpTuesday, August 5, 2014 - 10:30 AM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 19 of the 2014 WAFL season was a fascinating one with top spot now being split by only 0.02 of a per cent while suddenly three teams are again in the race for fourth spot with just four weeks left now until the finals.

Subiaco beat East Perth 15.7 (97) to 10.9 (69) in the battle of the top teams and the Medibank Stadium co-tenants.

West Perth defeated Swan Districts 14.9 (93) to 5.7 (37) at Joondalup's HBF Arena, South Fremantle thrashed East Fremantle 16.12 (108) to 9.11 (65) at the newly named ATOM Stadium and Peel Thunder got off the bottom of the ladder beating Perth 21.14 (140) to 12.3 (75) at Lathlain Park.

The weekend's results mean that East Perth (13-3) is narrowly still on top of the ladder ahead of Subiaco (13-4). Swan Districts (12-5) is still safe in third but East Fremantle (10-7) now vulnerable in fourth ahead of West Perth (7-9) and Claremont (7-9).

South Fremantle (5-11), Peel Thunder (4-12) and Perth (3-14) then round out the ladder after 19 rounds.

Click here for the summary of Round 19 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
West Perth had struggled in losses to Swan Districts, Subiaco, East Perth and Williamstown in the Foxtel Cup grand final over the past month, but put in a dominant showing on Saturday to beat Swan Districts by 56 points. 

The win, combined with East Fremantle's loss to South Fremantle, means that West Perth revived some life back into its 2014 season.

THE BIG LOSERS
East Fremantle had a chance to lock away a finals berth for 2014 and keep its hopes alive of finishing in third and earning a home first semi-final alive with a win over the lowly South Fremantle on Saturday.

However, the Sharks lost at home to the Bulldogs for the fourth straight time and the 43-point defeat means that they now need to find a way to at least win one of their remaining games against the Falcons, Swans and Lions or face the prospect of missing out on playing finals at all for 2014.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
Medibank Stadium hosted the top-of-the-table clash between East Perth and Subiaco on Saturday with the Lions being in control of the contest virtually all day to end up winning by 28 points.

That meant that Subiaco only missed out on replacing East Perth on top of the ladder by 0.02 of a per cent but with the two co-tenants of the Leederville venue, they do appear set to finish in the top two and first or second will make no difference come the end of the home and away season.

The Lions have now won five straight matches to have just about locked away a top two finish and that's with key big men Frank Stockley and Lachlan Delahunty still to return between now and the start of the finals.

They have also now beaten East Perth twice this season ahead of the likely second semi-final meeting with a grand final berth up for grabs.

Bernie Naylor Medal leader Matt Boland kicked three goals for Subiaco with George Hampson and captain Kyal Horsley booting two apiece. Horsley also gathered a game-high 27 possessions to go with seven tackles and seven inside-50 entries.

Chris Phelan continued his strong season for the Lions with 23 disposals and a goal with Shaun Hildebrandt gathering 23 touches, Jason Bristow 21, Rhys Waters 21, Brett Mahoney 21, Hampson 18 and Simon Moore 17.

Josh Smith kicked three goals for East Perth with Garry Moss and Will Maginness each kicking two majors.

East Perth's big men pairing Callum Sinclair and Paul Johnson both worked hard with Sinclair finishing with 24 possessions, 10 marks, 34 hit outs and a goal, and Johnson 18 disposals, seven marks and 24 hit outs.

Steven Payne also gathered 26 possessions for the Royals, Brendan Lee 21, Craig Wulff 21, Brant Colledge 20 and Nathan Blee 20.

With 438 possessions to share around, West Perth had some big ball winners on the day led by Shane Nelson and Aaron Black who had 44 disposals each with Nelson taking 10 marks, and Black 14. Both kicked a goal as well.

Rohan Kerr was also outstanding finishing with 39 possessions, 16 marks and a goal while Laine Rasmussen moved into the midfield and kicked two first quarter goals, his only two of the season, and finished with 21 disposals.

Meanwhile, down back co-captain Luke Tedesco racked up 29 possessions and took 16 marks.

West Perth's other co-captain Jay van Berlo also had 24 possessions, Ray Bartholomew 18 and Brayden Antonio 18.

The Falcons' defence was also terrific with Luke Meadows, Dan Hunt and Marcus Adams all keeping Ryan Davis, Tim Geappen and Ricky Cary quiet respectively.

Up forward, Kris Shannon booted three goals and Anthony Tsalikis two.

Matthew Rogers kicked two of Swan Districts' five goals for the day to go with 22 possessions while Aaron Elari racked up 25 disposals, Blaine Boekhorst 23, Tony Notte 23 (10 marks, seven inside 50s), Jarrad Blight 22 and Kirk Ugle 21. Alex Howard also was solid in defence.

Ben Saunders again made the most of his chances in attack for South Fremantle kicking four goals from seven kicks to keep himself right in contention to win the Bernie Naylor Medal as the WAFL's leading goalkicker for the second time in three years since joining the Bulldogs.

Anthony Collica also had a terrific game for South Fremantle with three goals from 20 possessions and 13 marks.

Ben Sokol contributed two goals as well as did debutant Jarrod Pickett with the 17-year-old who is expected to be a high draft pick later this year kicking a goal with his first kick in league football to go with his two majors and 10 possessions and five marks for the day.

Ashton Hams continued his dominant form against East Fremantle racking up a game-high 33 possessions and nine marks while Tim Kelly also had 30 disposals, Toby Bairstow 30, James Sellar 25, Jarrod Parry 24, Jacob Martinez 23, Haiden Schloithe 23, Brendan Verrier 22 and Shaun Bewick 19.

Brock Higgins continued his strong season for South Fremantle in the ruck with another 18 possessions, five marks, four tackles, three inside-50 entries and 21 hit outs.

Jack Perham did well in East Fremantle's forward-line finishing the afternoon with 20 possessions, 11 marks and three goals.

Ryan Lester-Smith and Rob Young both kicked two goals apiece for the Sharks.

Sandover Medallist Rory O'Brien gathered 26 possessions, his younger brother Brock 26, Jayden Schofield 21, Mark McGough 20, Scott Hancock 19, Tim Bristow 19, Danny Chartres 18, Cameron Eardley 18 and Tom Howlett 17 to go with eight marks.

Peel Thunder started slowly against Perth at Lathlain Park on Saturday trailing at quarter-time, but they kicked 18 goals to eight from that point on, including six goals to one in the final quarter, to end up winning by 65 points to move off the bottom of the ladder at the expense of the Demons.

Several Peel players turned in their best performances of the season including Max Duffy with 25 possessions, nine marks and three goals, Michael Wood 25 disposals, six marks and five goals, and Hayden Crozier 30 touches, eight marks and two goals.

Anthony Morabito responded to being dropped by Fremantle to collect 31 possessions and 11 marks while Colin Sylvia also played well with 23 disposals and two goals despite injuring a hamstring that now means he will spend some time on the sidelines.

Brendon Jones also finished with 29 possessions and two goals with Jacob Ballard collecting 28 disposals, Sam Menegola 23, Matt Brown 21, Eddie Dann 20 and Matt Taberner 20 to go with nine marks and two goals.

Mark Deaves kicked four goals from five kicks for Perth with Daniel O'Sullivan and Matthew Moody adding two goals apiece.

Aidan Tropiano gathered 27 possessions and laid 10 tackles for the Demons with Gerald Ugle finishing with 25 disposals, Chance Bateman 20, Dene White 20, Cameron Manuel 20, O'Sullivan 19, Michael Sinclair 19, Matthew Hunt 18 and Rowan Brookes 18.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
Subiaco's reserves beat East Perth on Saturday at Medibank Stadium by 74 points with Dylan Clarke kicking four goals, Darcy Boyle three, Kyle Halligan three and Justin Joyce two.

Joyce also picked up 28 possessions, Luke Norriss 26, Craig Hoskins 26, Matt Bogensperger 25 and Joel Ashman 20.

Steven Wityk kicked two goals for East Perth with Julian Locantro gathering 24 possessions, Tom Shanahan 23, Dylan Main 20 and Jackson Slater 19 to go with 10 marks.

West Perth's reserves also recorded a terrific 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) win over Swan Districts.

Corey Chalmers kicked three goals to go with 25 possessions for the Falcons with Drew Rohde and Jesse Kirwen kicking two goals each.

Aidan Lynch racked up 30 possessions, Jack Thrum 24, Sam Money 21 and the returning Steve Potente 16.

Braden Smith and Tyson Hodge kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with David McKay picking up 23 possessions, Brandon Jetta 23, Jesse Manton 21, Jacob Burnham 20, Jason Daniels 19 and Nathan Broad 19.

East Fremantle kicked six goals to nil in the first quarter to set up an eventual 62-point reserves win over South Fremantle on Saturday.

Louis Cronan and Michael Edwards kicked three goals each for East Fremantle while Dion Anthony starred with five majors and Brandon Ellis added two.

James Depane racked up 27 possessions, Jake Schleicher 26, Boston Williamson 25, Edwards 23, James Bayliss 22, Miles Franklin 22, Jacob Green 21, Tyler Chalwell 21 and Josh Cuneo 20.

Braden Fimmano, Emmanuel Collard and Josh Pullman all kicked two goals apiece for South Fremantle while Pullman also contributed 23 possessions, 10 marks and five inside 50s.

Lewis Harvey responded to being dropped after three games in the league team by picking up 31 possessions for the Bulldogs with Jacob Dragovich finishing with 24 disposals, Adam McIntosh 23, Mitch Carter 23, Tim Stewart 20 and Jayden D'Vauz 19.

Perth's reserves recorded a seven-point victory over Peel with Sam Garstone kicking three goals, Brennan Stack two, Brent Edmonds two and Daniel Arangio two.

Hayden Tanner racked up 25 possessions, Edmonds 23, Clem Smith 22, Garstone 20, Mitchell Browne 19 and Sean Lynch 18.

James Hawksley finished with 28 possessions and two goals for Peel with Sam Barndon also kicking two majors. Corey Morris picked up 25 disposals, Aiden Field 23, Mitch Green 23, Kelvin Lawrence 21 and Cruize Garlett 20.