Round 5 WAFL ResultsSunday, April 19, 2015 - 1:53 PM - by Chris Pike

IT WAS a time for statements in Round 5 of the WAFL on Saturday with Subiaco, East Fremantle and Peel Thunder all sending a message that they mean business with big road victories while Perth finally broke its losing run.

It wasn’t a day for the home teams on Saturday with all four away sides recording victories and it was the reigning premiers and losing preliminary finalists from last year who perhaps sent the biggest message with big wins over opponents who had been in good form so far this year.

Reigning premiers Subiaco hammered South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval winning 24.13 (157) to 10.8 (68) while East Fremantle proved too good for Swan Districts winning 16.7 (103) to 10.12 (72) at Steel Blue Oval.

Peel Thunder then also won its third straight match to move into second position on the ladder beating East Perth 9.16 (70) to 7.5 (47) at Medibank Stadium and then Perth won the battle of winless teams downing Claremont 11.9 (75) to 10.6 (66) at the Claremont Showground.

Peel Thunder spoiled the East Perth celebrations of co-captain Craig Wulff's 250th WAFL match with a 23-point victory that sees the Mandurah-based team record a third straight victory.

Despite East Perth having 82 more possessions, 55 more marks and seven more inside-50 entries than Peel, the Royals only managed 12 scoring shots for the day and lost by 23 points.

Leroy Jetta kicked two goals for Peel with Jacob Ballard racking up 29 possessions, Tendai Mzungu 27, Brendon Jones 27, Connor Blakely 23, Ed Langdon 21 and Gerald Ugle 21. Jonathon Griffin was also good in the ruck for the Thunder with 17 touches and 32 hit outs.

Brant Colledge continued to put his hand up for West Coast with another superb display for East Perth with 38 possessions, 13 marks and two goals.

Brendan Lee also racked up 28 disposals for the Royals, Callum Hart 26, Steven Payne 25, Kane Lucas 24, Alec Waterman 23, Nathan Blee 23, Freddie Clutterbuck 23, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls 21 and Callum Sinclair 20 in his first game of 2015.

East Fremantle came into its clash at Bassendean off big losses to Subiaco and Peel, and a narrow win over the winless Claremont while Swan Districts had beaten South Fremantle impressively last week, but the Sharks dominated the contest to end up winning by 31 points at Steel Blue Oval.

George Hampson was outstanding in his return from injury for East Fremantle with the Subiaco premiership player kicking five goals after a particularly dominant first half.

Bradd Dalziell also kicked two goals for the Sharks as did Brandon Ellis while Liam Anthony racked up 30 possessions, Brock O'Brien 25, Jamie McNamara 25, Cameron Eardley 25, Rory O'Brien 23, Rob Young 21, Boston Williamson 20 and Sean Henson 20.

Rudy Riddoch kicked four goals for Swan Districts with Ryan Davis and Ricky Cary booting two apiece.

Davis also picked up an equal team-high 23 possessions for Swans with Adam Faulkner also having it 23 times, Matt Riggio 20, Tim Geappen 18 and Jarrad Blight 17.

Subiaco and South Fremantle were fighting over top spot on the WAFL ladder at Fremantle Oval and played out an exciting first quarter with four goals apiece, but it was all the Lions from there.

Subiaco kicked 20 goals to six over the final three quarters to improve to a 4-1 record on the season and to sit a game clear on top of the ladder, but the reigning premiers certainly showed that the gap between them and the Bulldogs is significant.

Subiaco's forward-line was unstoppable but the lack of pressure on Lions bringing the ball inside-50 was a large reason for that.

Nonetheless, the forwards took full advantage with Brad Stevenson kicking six goals having never previously kicked more than three in match and after not kicking a single goal in 13 matches of 2014 when he was a key part of the premiership winning team as a defender.

Shane Yarran returned from suspension for the Lions as well and kicked six goals to now give him 19 in four matches this season. Rhys Waters also heated up in the second kicking four goals.

Brett Robinson racked up 30 possessions for Subiaco, Chris Phelan 30, Leith Kitchin 22, Brett Mahoney 22, Hayden Kennedy 21, Simon Moore 21 and Scott Hancock 20.

Subiaco's back-line led by Darren Rumble was also outstanding with help from Aaron Heal, Scott Worthington, Wayde Twomey and Charlie Le Fanu.

Ben Saunders kicked three goals from nine shots on goal with his nine kicks for South Fremantle while Cory Dell'Olio chipped in with two majors.

Ashton Hams gathered 29 possessions for the Bulldogs, Brendan Verrier 26, Tim Kelly 22, Jarrod Parry 22 and Brock Higgins finished with 43 hit outs.

Claremont and Perth entered Saturday's first clash at the Showground for 2015 both desperate to get their first wins of the new season, and in the end it was the Demons that won a tight yet untidy affair by nine points.

It was Perth's first victory since Round 7 last year with the Demons having lost the last 14 games of 2014 and then the first four of 2015. Meanwhile, Claremont now remains winless in the first four matches of 2015 after ending 2014 winning its last six.

Brett Wolfenden played his best game since joining Perth this season with the Swan Districts premiership player finishing with 21 possessions and three goals. Brennan Stack and Michael Florio also kicked two goals apiece for the Demons.

Aidan Tropiano picked up 25 possessions for Perth, Dene White 25, Jared Bell 23 and Jacob Payne 22 but it was Liam McKenna who led the way of them all with 34 disposals and 11 marks.

Jack Bradshaw kicked four goals from 22 possessions and 10 marks for Claremont with Darcy Cameron playing his first league game of the season and booting two majors. Shane McAdam also kicked two goals from three kicks.

Ryan Neates gathered 25 possessions for the Tigers, Tom Ledger 24, Oliver Tate 22, Keifer Yu 19 and Maximilian Bentley 19.

ROUND 5 WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
East Perth 7.5 (47) lost to Peel Thunder 9.16 (70)
South Fremantle 10.8 (68) lost to Subiaco 24.13 (157)
Swan Districts 10.12 (72) lost to East Fremantle 16.7 (103)
Claremont 10.6 (66) lost to Perth 11.9 (75)

RESERVES
East Perth 14.9 (93) defeated Peel Thunder 8.9 (57)
South Fremantle 16.11 (107) defeated Subiaco 11.7 (73)
Swan Districts 11.14 (80) defeated East Fremantle 10.14 (74)
Claremont 13.10 (88) defeated Perth 13.8 (86)

COLTS
East Perth 9.8 (62) lost to Peel Thunder 12.10 (82)
South Fremantle 14.11 (95) defeated Subiaco 5.7 (37)
Swan Districts 12.4 (76) defeated East Fremantle 9.10 (64)
Claremont 7.10 (52) defeated Perth 6.9 (45)