Outsiders fly home in a strange WAFL round

TOP team Claremont was the only favourite to win in an unusual round in the WAFL where the losers lost great opportunities to better themselves. The round featured three away-from-home outsiders coming from well behind to win.

An upset was on the cards at Claremont Oval when Peel took the lead midway through the second quarter but then the ladder leaders took control. Tom Lee was an exciting presence in the forward line and finished with four goals, Kane Mitchell upset the Thunder and ran them off their feet, Alroy Gilligan kicked three goals and set up plenty of chances for others, Roy Walton was busy and Andrew Browne made a successful return and kicked a couple a of goals. Defender Toby Gianatti was Peel’s best player and Brendon Jones was good in the midfield despite an embarrassing wrong-way clearance at the first bounce of the last quarter. As the game got ugly for the Thunder during the third quarter Peel players were asking each other: “What are we playing for?” As the club heads towards another wooden spoon it’s a good question.

East Perth were heading for victory when they moved to a 24-point lead half way through the last quarter in their second consecutive encounter with Perth. Then something happened. The Demons kicked the last seven goals of the game. Nick Lower was an inspiration for Perth, Leon Davis kicked four goals as did Simon Donovan and the ball winning ability of Ross Young and Julian Jacobs kept their team in the game and then helped them win it. Adam Prior kicked four goals for the Royals and Garry Moss and Nick Kommer were good players in a loss that will hurt in more ways than one.

West Perth were 28 points in front of Subiaco at half time but an eight-goal third quarter by the Lions turned the game around. Subi lost the lead late in the last and then snatched the win with a goal from youngster Chris DeLuca. Callum Sinclair in the ruck was the most influential player on the ground, Blake Broadhurst kicked five goals and Jack Anthony scored four. Mark Hutchings was good for the Falcons as was the experienced Brent LeCras.

Subiaco 15.10 (100) West Perth 14.14 (98).

In the Fremantle derby the home team led at each change but a six-goal last quarter by South Fremantle turned it into a thriller that the Bulldogs won by four points. Jarrad Winter kicked three of his five goals in the last quarter, Ben Saunders kicked four goals, Jayden Woods played the game of his career and Hayden Schloithe was energetic. Mark McGough and Rory O’Brien did their jobs in the midfield for the Sharks and youngster Sam Menegola was impressive.

The ladder: Claremont 52; Swan Districts 48; East Fremantle 44; East Perth 42; West Perth 34; Subiaco 28; South Fremantle 24; Perth 24; Peel 16.

East Perth’s place in the four remains a little shaky. The Royals face Subiaco, East Fremantle and West Perth in the final three rounds. The Falcons have East Fremantle, South Fremantle and East Perth. That final round Perth derby might be an elimination final.