WAFL Round 6
I took in a lot of the WAFL last weekend. All of Peel and Claremont from Rushton Park via Channel Seven’s telecast – it’s good, by the way, their AFL colleagues could take note. And a bit of the East Fremantle-Subiaco game from the WACA and East Perth-West Coast at Leederville Oval.
Peel had their customary slow start but gradually gained the benefit of Lloyd Meek’s ruck dominance to take control. Amazing long-range goal-kicking from Mitch Crowden, Josh Treacy and Blair Bell helped the cause. I thought defender James Ewing was Peel’s best while Matthew Johnson again gave signs of things to come. Bailey Rogers impressed for Claremont.
Jarrad Jansen of East Fremantle.
Players seemed to take a while to get used to the short and wide WACA with the WAFL returning to the cricket venue for the first time since 1994. Jonathon Marsh was a powerful force for East Fremantle, kicking four of his team’s five first-half goals to set the scene – he finished with five. The Sharks were missing Kyle Baskerville but still had strength in the midfield with Blaine Boekhorst, Jarrad Jansen and Milan Murdock all effective. Defenders Matthew Jupp and Cam Eardley continued their good form. Leigh Kitchen stood alone for Subiaco while the Sharks partied.
It was East Perth’s turn for a percentage boost and they were well in front when I got to Leederville late in the third quarter. My arrival changed something. The Eagles dominated the rest of the quarter and slammed through three goals. They even had control for the first few minutes of the last before the home team took over scoring for 4.5 to nothing and jumping to fourth spot.
Angus Schumacher starred in the midfield and kicked a couple of goals while Hamish Brayshaw and Sebit Kuek each kicked three.
At Bassendean Swan Districts held on to beat South Fremantle in a game highlighted by the absence of Tony Notte after 194 consecutive games. Injury didn’t get him, it was COVID.
A goal after the siren by Mitch Dobson gave West Perth a six-point victory over Perth at Arena Joondalup.
The derby long weekend is coming up. South Fremantle have won the past 12 meetings of the Fremantle teams but for once the Sharks will go in with the better form.
Dobson’s presence will add spice to the Perth derby as he crossed to the bitter rival this season.
Peel 12.12 (84) Claremont 9.8 (62)
East Fremantle 13.12 (90) Subiaco 6.10 (46)
East Perth 18.10 (118) West Coast 6.4 (40)
Swan Districts 9.10 (64) South Fremantle 8.7 (55)
West Perth 7.12 (54) Perth 7.6 (48)
The ladder: East Fremantle 20; West Perth 20; Claremont 16; East Perth 12; South Fremantle 12; Peel 12; Swan Districts 12; Subiaco 8; Perth 8; West Coast 0.
Round 7: Saturday: Subiaco vs Peel; Claremont vs Perth; Swan Districts vs West Coast; Monday: West Perth vs East Perth; South Fremantle vs East Fremantle.
Eagle Mitchell Henderson under pressure.
Photos by Les Everett.
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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/
Nathan Fyfe will play for Peel on Saturday. He last played in the WAFL for Claremont in 2010.
Wishing Nathan all the best on Saturday and for his AFL comeback against Hawthorn on June 11. Unfortunately I won’t be there to see the great man as my Swan Districts play Peel that day.