Almanac WAFL: Future prospects after a Falcon flag
It worked – 16,791 footy fans came through the gates at Leederville Oval for the WAFL grand final. The skies were clear, the game was tight and the atmosphere was great.
West Perth took the lead out to 27 points about half way through the third quarter but in warm conditions with players tiring Claremont kept coming and the margin was less than a goal with more than 10 minutes remaining.
There were pivotal Falcon moments in the last quarter – a goal saving interception by co-captain Dean Munns, an absolute screamer by Zac Guadagnin that mocked the tension and finally a smother by small forward Sasha Kernutt that kept the ball alive long enough for Mitch Dobson to soccer the sealer.
Darren Harris, sacked by Claremont two years ago made two bold selections calls – Corey Rundle, in his third league game, kicked the first two goals of the match while Joseph Hinder playing his fifth game also kicked two goals.
Calm and strong West Perth midfielder Luke Meadows won the Simpson Medal while Claremont’s Oliver Eastland played the game of his life in the ruck and almost got his team over the line.
West Perth 10.9 (69) Claremont 8.9 (57)
Debate continues over the timing and location for the WAFL grand final. Having the game after the AFL decider seems to work but this year a change in the international cricket program made Perth Stadium unavailable.
Leederville oval was the chosen venue despite the need to extensive resurfacing. All went well. As it did in 2010 when the grand final was played at Fremantle Oval.
Three of the past five grand finals have been played at Perth Stadium – all won by Subiaco and by big margins. The crowd at the 2021 grand final between Subiaco and South Fremantle was 29,879.
With the AFL draft coming up on 28-29 November you’re probably wondering if there’s anyone who’s played league footy in the WAFL this year worth considering. Richmond fans will know, of course, that Nathan Broad (Swan Districts), Liam Baker (Subiaco), Marlion Pickett (South Fremantle) and Kamdyn McIntosh (Peel) fall into this category.
Let’s go in premiership order.
West Perth: Luke Meadows was best-on-ground in the grand final and better than many who have been drafted in the past. Noah Pegoraro has size and athleticism on his side but his time may have passed too.
• Claremont’s Anthony Davis
Claremont: Ben Edwards is fast, has incredible evasive skills and wins the ball at clearances. Jack Buller’s marking was a highlight of the finals and he got better with each game a key forward. Anthony Davis is a very impressive tall defender who is good in the air and kicks well. Bailey Rogers – his absence from an AFL list remains a mystery.
East Fremantle: Milan Murdock his height (173cm) will cause spotters to baulk but his ball winning ability, especially at centre bounces, and tackling may lead to someone putting prejudices aside. Jed Hagan is a driven young player who enjoyed a good finals series. Jack Cleaver is a classy medium sized defender who also benefited from playing finals. Reuben McGuire buggered a few things up late in the season with inaccurate kicking for goal but there’s something about him and he’s 196cm tall.
• Peel speedster Ty Anderson
Peel: Ty Anderson is very fast and got hold of the ball more as the season went on.
South Fremantle: Toby McQuilkan came under notice in the 2021 grand final and continued to improve in 2022. Wins one-on-ones and kicks well.
• Elijah Hewett of Swan Districts
Young draft prospects Elijah Hewett and Darcy Jones (Swan Districts); Reuben Ginbey and Jedd Busslinger (East Perth); Jackson Broadbent (Peel) and Steely Green (South Fremantle) all got a taste of senior footy this year. The AFL needs some if not all of those names.
Les Everett will be scaling back his WAFL observations from 2023.
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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. Co-founder with Vin Maskell of scoreboardpressure.com. Founder of australianrules.com.au and the Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/abandonedcricketpitches/
Thanks Les. Your astute and balanced insights into the WAFL are a weekly highlight. I see the comp through a very one eyed Swan Districts lens (and thought East Fremantle a shoo in for the flag – go figure). All in all an excellent WAFL season on field with 6 evenly matched sides making for close games every week. Local footy continues to rage against the dying of the light.
Less WAFL coverage in 2023? Say it ain’t so. Hope you’re joining Col on a Never Ending Tour of US music festivals and finding deserted baseball fields in rural cornfields to photograph.
I see the comp as an interested footy observer from afar. I concur with PB. Will miss the weekly summaries and colourful pics. Nearly 17K at Leederville. That must have been something.