WAFL – Round 19: Royals keep hopes alive as Lions lead the way

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Brad Stevenson kicked five goals for Subiaco. Photos by Les Everett.

WAFL Round 19

It was tight until the very end at Claremont Oval with East Perth four points in front when the final siren rang. Strong marking big men Scott Jones and Fraser McInnes were important for the Royals, Nathan Blee and Kyle Anderson were steady in defence and Ben Miller used the ball well and kicked two goals. Hayden Busher and Keifer Yu gave the Tigers plenty of drive from the back line and Liam Ryan again impressed.

East Perth 11.8 (74) Claremont 10.10 (70)

At East Fremantle Oval the home team kicked four goals to one in the last quarter against the top team but the damage had been well and truly done by three quarter time. Liam Ryan and Brad Stevenson each kicked five goals for Subiaco and Max Walters was busy. Jonathon Marsh put in a tireless performance for the Sharks and Dion Anthony kicked three goals.

Subiaco 19.8 (122) East Fremantle 9.7 (61)

Swan Districts strengthened their place in the five with a strong win at home over Peel. Thunder led by three goals during the second quarter but Swans were too good and ran away in the last quarter. Matt Riggio was outstanding for the winners along with Todd Banfield and youngster Jesse Turner. Aaron Naughton again impressed for Peel and Blair Bell kicked three goals. Goals remain an issue the the Thunder.

Swan Districts 11.6 (72) Peel 8.8 (56)

Goals are not a problem for South Fremantle. The Bulldogs kicked 20 of them at home dellrightwith Matt Parker getting four on debut in another big win over West Perth. Cory Dell’Olio (right) also kicked four goals and midfield stars Tim Kelly and Haiden Schloithe were in form. Shane Nelson was busy as usual for the Falcons, Corey Chalmers kicked four goals and Nic Rodda got three.

South Fremantle 20.6 (126) West Perth 11.13 (79).

For the second week in a row a team with the bye moved up the ladder. Perth jumped over East Fremantle to move off the bottom. The Perth derby at Joondalup next week will be vital. A win will put the Royals into the five.

The ladder: Subiaco 64; South Fremantle 52; Peel 40; Swan Districts 40; West Perth 32; East Perth 28; Claremont 24; East Fremantle 8; Perth 8.

Next week. Round 19: South Fremantle vs East Fremantle; Subiaco vs Swan Districts; West Perth vs East Perth; Perth vs Claremont.

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

Comments

  1. Les, what’s the biggest points difference between first and second at the end of a WAFL season.
    The flag is Subi’s to lose. They wouldn’t want to blow it this year. ( Or be ambushed by the Dockers… I mean, Peel.)
    Oobie. Doobie.

  2. Les Everett says

    There have been some runaway leaders in the past Tony. East Fremantle were 24 points ahead at the end of their undefeated season in 1946; Polly Farmer’s East Perth were 20 points ahead in 1959 and 24 in 1961when they lost the GF to Swans.

    A Peel ambush is still possible and South could beat anyone on their day… but everyone’s a bit daunted by the Lions.

  3. Saw my Swan Districts beat the Peel Dockers in all 3 grades at a deluged Bassendean Oval on Saturday. Jon Griffin and Danyle Pearce had a crack but the rest of the Dockers seconds looked disinterested. Harley Bennel played half the first quarter and none of the last. Jogged around and ignored the contest. Understandably didn’t want to stretch out on a slippery surface. Makes a mockery of the comp when some teams have half their team going around for practice. Ho hum.

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