WAFL Round 20: Fast starts splutter out

WAFL Round 20…

ShaneHockey

South Fremantle’s Shane Hockey looks for options in the derby. Photos by Les Everett.

 

Now that was a strange WAFL round. Perth led Claremont by five points at quarter time and lost by 99. West Perth led East Perth by eight points at quarter time and lost by 84. East Fremantle led South Fremantle by 18 points midway through the first quarter and lost by 45 and Swan Districts were just four points down at quarter time before going down by 29 to Subiaco. The wash up is that East Perth have moved into the top five at the expense of West Perth.

SteveEdwardssmall

Steven Edwards gets a shepherd from Tim Kelly as Shark Ambrose Ryan closes in.

The young Sharks showed some cheek in the high scoring derby at Fremantle Oval but in the end couldn’t overcome the power of ruckman Brock Higgins and his midfield brigade of Tim Kelly, Haiden Schloithe, Shane Hockey, Dylan Main and Ryan Cook. Mason Shaw kicked four goals for the Bulldogs, Steven Edwards provided good run from defence and Matt Parker, who kicked two goals, looks a likely prospect. Matthew Watson kicked four goals for East Fremantle, George Hampson used the ball well, Jonathon Marsh stood up in the midfield and Jayden Schofield was good in defence. East Fremantle’s relatively modest loss was enough to get them off the bottom of the ladder.

South Fremantle 22.9 (141) East Fremantle 15.6 (96)

 

East Perth turned it on at Arena Joondalup – their second goal, late in the first quarter, was the first of 15 goals in a row. No one saw that coming. Patrick McGinnity led from the front for the Royals, who had 13 goal scorers. Nathan Vardy impressed in his WAFL debut, Nathan Blee continued his good form, Callum Hart was also strong in defence, Scott Jones was the best ruckman on the ground and Sharrod Wellingham was influential in the midfield. Aidan Lynch battled it out for West Perth and Shane Nelson worked himself into the game after being well held early.

East Perth 21.13 (139) 8.7 (55)

 

Claremont kicked 17 goals to one after quarter time against the hapless Perth at Lathlain Park to keep their finals hopes alive. Jye Bolton was at his Sandover best, Beau Maister kicked 5.6, Hayden Busher was in control if ever the Demons ventured forward while Alex Manuel and CJ Oakley each kicked three goals. Curtis Chester kicked three of Perth’s five goals.

Claremont 20.13 (133) Perth 5.4 (34)

AdamCockiesmall.jpgSubiaco keep winning. But while the final margin over Swan Districts was comfortable this win took a bit of work. Swan actually outscored the Lions in the second half in an encouraging performance. Liam Ryan starred again with five goals, Adam Cockie (above) was a powerhouse in the midfield and ruckman Lachlan Delahunty had a big influence on the result. Kirk Ugle and Corey Gault were good for Swan Districts.

Subiaco 11.17 (83) Swan Districts 8.6 (54)

 

Ladder: Subiaco 68; South Fremantle 56; Peel 40; Swan Districts 40; East Perth 32; West Perth 32; Claremont 28; East Fremantle 8; Perth 8.

Round 21: East Perth vs Swan Districts; Peel vs Perth; Claremont vs South Fremantle; West Perth vs East Fremantle.

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

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