Dayle Garlett marks strongly in front of the 6,000-strong crowd at Bassendean. Photo by Les Everett.
THE trend that started in the AFL finals on Saturday continued in the WAFL on Sunday with the away teams getting the job done.
At Bassendean there was nothing in it for the first three quarters. East Perth kicked seven goals in the third but their 13-point lead at the last change didn’t look enough. Swan Districts were kicking with a howling breeze and a big home crowd behind them in the last quarter.
As it turned out the Royals took complete control in the last quarter and only late goals by Swans made the margin respectable.
Jamie Cripps kicked five goals for East Perth, Brendan Lee and Adam Selwood were strong in the midfield, Ryan Maldenis played probably his best league game continually getting in the way of forward moves by Swans. Scott Lycett kicked four goals and fellow ruckman Paul Johnson was very influential in the vital last quarter. Michael Swan kicked two important goals, Aaron Sweet was good in defence and Arthur Bennell’s pace was useful in attack.
Tallan Ames held Josh Smith to just one goal in what could have been a matching-winning effort for Swan Districts, Andrew Embley looked like tearing the game apart with four first half goals but he was less influential in the second and finished with five, Tony Notte marked brilliantly and finished the season in career best from, Graham Jetta set things up nicely from defence and Dayle Garlett kicked three goals.
East Perth 18.14 (122) Swan Districts 15.4 (94)
At Claremont Oval West Perth won their first final since the 2003 grand final and they made it hard for themselves.
The Falcons were on top for most of the day but kicked poorly for goal and, in the end, just got home.
Mark Hutchings was outstanding in the midfield for West Perth, Marc Crisp kicked four goals and Matt Guadagnin was in great form.
Nick Winmar continued his good late season form for the Tigers, Matthew Davies was strong and Ian Richardson kicked three goals.
The Tigers have now lost two games in a row.
West Perth 11.21 (87) Claremont 12.11 (83)
It’s back to Claremont Oval on Sunday for the preliminary final Claremont vs East Perth.
About Les Everett
A Footy Almanac veteran, Les Everett is the author of Gravel Rash: 100 Years of Goldfields Football and Fremantle Dockers: An Illustrated History. He is the footyalmanac.com WAFL correspondent and uses the money he makes from that role to pay for his expensive websites australianrules.com.au and talkingfrankie.com and fund the extravagant Vin Maskell at scoreboardpressure.com
I ventured out to Bassendean on Sunday afternoon. I searched in vain for a man in purple on the Success Hill train platform. I still want to hear “go Selwood you little beauty” emerge from the Everett larynx.
It was an entertaining game. Swans had the leg speed outside. and your Royals had the strength inside. I thought your poor kicking for goal kept us in it in the first half, but your late goals on 3Q time were a killer.
I don’t claim to be a WAFL expert, but with Johnson and Lycett rucking and strong bodies in the midfield, East Perth must be a chance to knock off the premiers in the prelim.
The highlight for me was the hundreds of kids and parents involved in kick-to-kick on the grounds at all the breaks. And all the fans gathered around the teams at the 3Q time break. Though the coaches don’t rant these days like SANFL in the 70’s. Sitting on the grass mound at Basso on a sunny day. What’s not to like even when your team loses.
Cheers – you must be “full to pussy’s bow” down at Villa Everett this week.
Bassendean is my favourite WAFL ground. I bunkered down in the middle of a family group behind the goals at the scoreboard end… knew Mr PeterB wouldn’t find me there.
I had to laugh in the last quarter when EP’s Maldenis ducked into a tackle and got pinged for holding the ball. A Selwood couldn’t believe it and attempted to explain the rules to the umpire.
We’re taking it one final at a time.
Saw the game late on ABC 2 and loved people lounging in the grass… Oh, and the mighty Royals winning!