Round 20 WAFL Wrap UpTuesday, August 12, 2014 - 10:10 AM - by Chris Pike

THE seventh and eighth-placed teams produced the best contest of Round 20 of the WAFL on Saturday with Jarrod Pickett winning the game for South Fremantle over Peel Thunder with Claremont, East Fremantle and East Perth also recording wins of various importance.

East Fremantle all but secured a finals appearance with a 9.11 (65) to 7.6 (48) win over West Perth at Joondalup's HBF Arena while Claremont beat Perth 17.8 (110) to 10.13 (73) at the Claremont Showground, East Perth defeated Swan Districts 14.22 (106) to 11.5 (71) in Bunbury and South Fremantle scored a stunning 13.17 (95) to 14.10 (94) victory over Peel at Fremantle Oval.

East Perth (14-3), Subiaco (13-4) and Swan Districts (12-6) remain secure in the top three spots on the ladder with three rounds of the 2014 season remaining with East Fremantle (11-7) safe in fourth.

Outside the top four are Claremont (8-9), West Perth (7-10), South Fremantle (6-11), Peel Thunder (4-13) and Perth (3-15). 

Click here for the summary of Round 20 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS

Of all four winners on Saturday afternoon, East Fremantle could very well have been the least impressive but what mattered was that the Sharks got the four points.

East Fremantle came into its clash with West Perth following losses to Claremont and South Fremantle while West Perth was still a chance of playing final if it beat the Sharks.

However, East Fremantle was in control of the contest virtually from the outset to now sit three games clear in fourth position.

The Sharks can 100 per cent lock away a finals position with a win in their final two games against Swan Districts and Subiaco, but it's highly unlikely they can miss out anyway with Claremont needing to annihilate Subiaco, West Perth and East Perth in its last three games to be any chance.

THE BIG LOSERS
Swan Districts was the story of the WAFL season in the first half of the year but the black-and-whites have now lost their last two matches, three of their last four and four of their last six.

That means that Swans are locked in a battle for third position with East Fremantle to determine who hosts the first semi-final but at least the black-and-whites did enough in the first half of the season to lock away a finals berth despite their recent form slump.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
East Fremantle simply needed to win on Saturday against West Perth and it was lucky it didn’t matter how they won, because it was a scrappy affair in perfect weather conditions but the Sharks won the low-scoring and scrappy contest by 17 points to all but secure a finals position.

Brett Peake might not be the most obvious key forward target in the WAFL and his goals might not actually come from him being used as a target, but he is continuing to be effective and on Saturday he kicked five goals form 10 kicks in a match-winning display with goals hard to come by.

Boston Williamson was East Fremantle's only other multiple goalscorer ending up with two from his 13 possessions.

East Fremantle might have been without Bradd Dalziell, but regained Jamie McNamara and he was outstanding with 31 possessions on return from a knee injury.

Rory O'Brien also racked up 28 possessions, Mark McGough 28, Cameron Eardley 21, Sean Henson 20 and Scott Hancock 20.

East Fremantle's defence held up strongly led by Sam Read (18 possessions), Tom Howlett (19), Andrew Stephen (18) and Brock O'Brien (18).

After starting the game in defence again for West Perth, Marcus Adams was moved forward to good effect finishing the game with 19 possessions, five marks and two goals.

Brayden Antonio was also a prolific ball winner for the Falcons ending the game with 24 possessions.

Aaron Black (30 possessions, six inside 50s, four tackles), Shane Nelson (28 disposals, seven tackles, five inside 50s) and Rohan Kerr (27 possessions) were once again the leading ball winners for the Falcons as they have been most weeks throughout the 2014 season.

Co-captain Jay van Berlo also gathered 23 possessions on the day while premiership player Steve Potente made a successful return to the league side from a knee injury with 20 possessions, eight marks and five tackles.

Veteran midfielder Matt Guadagnin also finished with 20 possessions while experienced key defender Dan Hunt had 19 disposals and Jordan Jones 18.

East Perth dominated its clash with Swan Districts in Bunbury ending up with 41 more possessions, 18 more hit outs and 20 extra scoring shots, so all signs pointed to the Royals' perhaps deserving to win by more than the final 35-point margin from the top-placed side against the one in third spot.

Josh Smith took advantage of playing Swan Districts minus its captain and full-back Tallan Ames, and had eight shots on goal from 14 possessions and eight marks, but managed to just kick the three majors from his opportunities.

Will Maginness was East Perth's only other multiple goalscorer for the day also booting three.

East Perth's co-captains were again prolific as well and vying for best on ground honours with Brendan Lee finishing with 31 possessions, five inside 50s and four tackles, and Craig Wulff with 27 disposals, six marks, four inside 50s and a goal.

Jacob Brennan also gathered 24 possessions for the Royals, Dean Cadwallader 22, Brant Colledge 22, Mitch Howlett 22 and Mitchell Fraser 21.

Swan Districts was without Tallan Ames, Tim Geappen, Matt Riggio, Matthew Jukes, Adam Faulkner and Blaine Boekhorst for various reasons, and struggled to stick with East Perth as the afternoon wore on.

In the end, Ricky Cary, Aidan Anderson and Matthew Rogers kicked two goals apiece for Swans.

Graham Jetta finished with 27 possessions, Justin Simpson 26, Aaron Elari 25, Kirk Ugle 21, Jarrad Blight 19, Ryan Davis 19 and emerging key defender Alex Howard 19 to go with 11 marks.

South Fremantle was behind virtually all day against Peel at Fremantle Oval including by 28 points during the second quarter and still by 17 midway through the last when Josh Bootsma goaled in his first league appearance for the Thunder.

However, quick goals from there to Jacob Martinez and then Jarrod Pickett, after a soaring pack mark, brought South Fremantle within just six points before Josh Pullman missed a set shot that could have levelled scores.

Shortly after, though, he was left all alone in the goal square and kicked his second goal of the day to put South Fremantle in front.

The game had plenty more twists left, though, despite more than 25 minutes having elapsed on the time clock.

Another South Fremantle product, Tom Vandeleur, came up huge for Peel to put his adopted team back in front and that appeared to be the sealer as the clock went beyond the 30-minute mark.

Nobody told the 17-year-old second-gamer Pickett that, though, and the expected high draft pick took a chest mark deep in the forward pocket right in front of the members' stand at Fremantle Oval.

Showing enormous poise, he calmly checksided the ball right through the middle of the goals to give South Fremantle the stunning 13.17 (95) to 14.10 (94) victory to set off wild celebrations and to break the hearts of the Thunder players and coaching staff.

On top of Pickett's two goals in the final 10 minutes for South Fremantle, Pullman, Martinez and Haiden Schloithe all kicked two majors apiece as well.

Tim Kelly continued his outstanding form in the midfield for the Bulldogs with 29 possessions, eight marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal.

Brendan Verrier also gathered 22 disposals while kicking a goal and Toby Bairstow compiled 22 touches, James Sellar 21 and Ashton Hams 20.

Jarrod Parry had a good duel with returning Fremantle forward Michael Walters for Peel with Parry finishing the game with 17 possessions and six marks.

Brock Higgins had to battle against two AFL ruckmen in Jonathon Griffin and Jack Hannath, but was terrific for South Fremantle with 20 possessions, eight marks, six tackles, four inside 50s and 22 hit outs.

In many ways it was one of Peel's better performances of the season and that went along with several players putting in strong showings including Kristin Thornton (20 possessions, two goals), Matt Brown (17 touches, two goals) and Tom Vandeleur (12 disposals, one goal).

Claremont continued its terrific form ending up with a 37-point win over Perth at the Showground on Saturday but the Tigers had to fight back from an eight-point half-time deficit.

Claremont managed to do that emphatically with a nine-goal third quarter and by kicking 13 goals to five after half-time against the bottom-placed Demons.

Dual premiership veteran Trinity Handley kicked three goals from 19 possessions, 12 marks and five inside-50 entries for Claremont with Mark Seaby outstanding in the ruck and up forward with 19 disposals, 10 marks, 40 hit outs and three goals.

Captain Jake Murphy also kicked three goals for the Tigers to go with 21 possessions while Jack Bradshaw and Mitch McGovern adding two majors each.

Ryan Neates racked up 37 possessions for Claremont, Tom Ledger 31, Luke Blackwell 29, Matthew Davies 27, Tom Taylor 24, Corey Yeo 21, Ben Daniher 20, Andrew Foster 18 and Matt Orzel 18.

Despite still being without important and quality players Paul Bevan, Cale Morton, Mitch Morton, Jarryd Morton, Jarrod Irons, Joel Leeson, Brett Hodge, Brennan Stack, Michael Florio, Mitch Leyendekkers, Haydn Busher and Nick Kane, Perth put in a strong first half.

Each of those players would have been penned in as being starting 18 players for Perth at the start of the season, but still the Demons put in a good effort for a half before being overwhelmed by Claremont after half-time.

Dene White racked up 35 possessions for the Demons to go with five tackles, four marks and four inside-50 entries.

Aidan Tropiano continued to show just what a terrific mid-season pick up he is for Perth with another 27 possessions in the midfield to go with nine tackles and seven inside 50s.

Joel Kalajzic is one Perth youngster benefiting from increased opportunities and he had 24 touches against the Tigers while Michael Sinclair gathered 23 possessions, Cameron Manuel 23, Clem Smith 18, Rowan Brookes 17, Kieran Hug 17 and Matthew Hunt 17.

Callum Collard was the lone shining light up forward in the absence of Mitch Morton, Busher, Bevan and Stack kicking four goals from 11 kicks, five marks and four tackles.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
West Perth's reserves scored a thumping 17.11 (113) to 10.7 (67) after keeping East Fremantle scoreless in the first quarter and to just two goals for the first half.

Drew Rohde kicked four goals for West Perth to go with 21 possessions with Jesse Kirwen booting three majors, Kaidyn Fullgrabe two and Corey Chalmers two.

Jack Thrum racked up 24 possessions for the Falcons, Trent Manzone 23, Ben McNamara 23, Aidan Lynch 22, James Embley 20 and Stephen Healy 18.

Brandon Ellis kicked three goals for East Fremantle with Dion Anthony and Jarryd Lindsay adding two apiece.
Swan Districts reserves scored a 66-point win over East Perth when they played at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday.

Brayden Duckworth kicked four goals for Swans with Jason Daniels adding three, Rudy Riddoch three and Matthew Jukes three.

Matt Riggio finished with 32 possessions and two goals and Blaine Boekhorst 29 disposals and two goals with Ethan Hughes gathering 29 touches, David McKay 22, Travis Casserly 21, Jai Menegola 19 and Roderick Manton 18.

Kristian Caporn kicked three goals for East Perth with Agid Gardoud and Lewis Wilson kicking two goals each. Marty Zambotto picked up 21 possessions, Jacob Payne 19, Julian Ameduri 19, Tom Shanahan 18 and Jackson Slater 17.

South Fremantle's reserves also held on for a 10.19 (79) to 11.6 (72) victory over Peel even if the final quarter did run beyond the 28 minutes it is meant to go.

John Sgherza has had a horror run of injuries this season for the Bulldogs but showed his quality on Saturday with four goals from 14 possessions and six marks.

Adam Guglielmana also made his return from a hamstring injury and played well finishing with 24 possessions, seven tackles and two inside-50 entries.

Mitch Carter racked up 31 disposals for South Fremantle's reserves, Adam McIntosh 29, Tim Stewart 28, Jarrod Garlett 23, Simon Panizza 19, Emmanuel Collard 19, Kaiden Matera 19, Marlon Pickett 18 and Jayden D'Vauz 18.

Sam Barndon kicked three goals for Peel with Jackson Cosgrove booting two while Corey Morris racked up 27 possessions, Jordan Wythes 24, Aiden Field 23, Toby Gianatti 18 and Craig Moller 18 to go with six marks and 29 hit outs.

Claremont's reserves beat Perth by 38 points with Jackson Starcevich kicking four goals, Sam Fong three, Shane McAdam three and Jack Richardson two.

Matthew Goyder racked up 25 possessions, Keifer Yu 24, Fong 23, Henry Roberts 23, Isaac Baum 21, Ben Taylor 21 and John Williams 20.

Daniel Arangio kicked four goals for Perth with Matthew White adding two and Haydn Busher two as well. Bradley Fry finished with 22 possessions, Brent Edmonds 21 and Sean Lynch 20.