wafl.com.au Team and Player of Round 17Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - 2:48 PM - by Chris Pike

IT might have been wet on Saturday for Round 17 in the WAFL, but that didn’t mean there weren’t some standout forward performances by Matt Taberner, Ben Sokol and Matthew Watson while South Fremantle's defence sparked another strong comeback from a slow start.

All four WAFL Round 17 matches took place on Saturday afternoon starting in Esperance with Subiaco making it 14 wins on the trot beating Claremont 14.10 (94) to 7.12 (54).

Swan Districts made a flying start at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to lead South Fremantle by 41 points midway through the second quarter. But from there the Bulldogs kicked 14 of the last 15 goals to win 15.13 (103) to 9.9 (63).

Peel Thunder made it five straight wins as well beating East Perth 12.7 (79) to 7.9 (51) at Leederville Oval.

East Fremantle took a step towards avoiding the wooden for 2017 recording its second win beating Perth 11.7 (73) to 8.9 (57) at East Fremantle Oval.

wafl.com.au PLAYER OF THE ROUND – MATT TABERNER (Peel Thunder)
 

The Fremantle forward couldn’t have made any stronger of a case to return to the Dockers AFL line-up following his past two WAFL performances for Peel Thunder.

The key forward kicked six goals the previous week in Peel's 30-point win over West Perth at HBF Arena, and then he delivered another starring performance in Saturday's 28-point victory against East Perth at Leederville Oval.

He kicked five goals to go with 27 possessions, 10 marks, eight hit outs and five inside-50 entries to be the major difference between the two teams on the day.

With 52 possessions, 23 marks and 11 goals the past two weeks, he couldn’t have done any more to send a message to the Dockers coaching staff that he's ready for another crack.

wafl.com.au TEAM OF THE ROUND (times named)
BACK: Steven Edwards (3), Aaron Heal (2), Jason Maskos (4)
HALF-BACK: Aaron Naughton (1), Tony Notte (4), Adam McIntosh (2)
CENTRE: Tom Ledger (2), Rory O'Brien (4), Kyal Horsley (7)
HALF-FORWARD: George Hampson (3), Matthew Watson (2), David Ellard (5)
FORWARD: Taryce Stewart (3), Matt Taberner (4), Ben Sokol (2)
RUCK: Mitch Andrews (7), Leigh Kitchin (6), Jye Bolton (6)
INTERCHANGE: Adam Cockie (2), Keifer Yu (1), Tom Cole (1), Haydn Matthews (1)

BACK POCKET – STEVEN EDWARDS (South Fremantle)
The exciting running defender is now in the best and most consistent patch of form of his career both in terms of the attack he provides South Fremantle out of the back-line, but his ability to win one-on-one contests against dangerous small forwards. His opponent kicked a couple of early goals on Saturday but he responded in a best on ground performance made up of 24 possessions, seven marks and three inside 50s.

FULL-BACK – AARON HEAL (Subiaco)
He did get to welcome back premiership teammate Declan Jackson but lost Jordan Lockyer as support in the Subiaco back six, but stood up strongly against a dangerous Claremont forward-line to help hold the Tigers to just seven goals in Esperance. Also had 19 possessions and five marks himself.

BACK POCKET – JASON MASKOS (South Fremantle)
Did a tremendous defensive job holding Todd Banfield goalless in Saturday's win over Swan Districts to continue his career-best season as a small defender. Also finished with21 disposals, four marks and four tackles to go with his defensive efforts.

HALF-BACK FLANK – AARON NAUGHTON (Peel Thunder)
The 17-year-old made his WAFL debut on Saturday on the back of an outstanding run for the WA State 18s team where he was named an All-Australian by the end of it. The next step in his development is to show that he can perform against men and he more than held his own in Saturday's win against East Perth on Saturday. The defender finished the game with 16 possessions and seven marks.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – TONY NOTTE (Swan Districts)
The 194-game versatile big man likely reads the play better than anyone else in the competition which is why he is so effective at centre half-back or as the spare man in defence. His overhead marking is also a standout and it was all on display against South Fremantle on Saturday as he finished the afternoon with 23 possessions and six marks in the wet conditions.

HALF-BACK FLANK – ADAM McINTOSH (South Fremantle)
He continues to make a terrific return in 2017 from his horror broken leg of last year. Was given the job on dangerous Swans forward Brayden Noble on Saturday and not only kept him scoreless and to only four kicks, but finished with a handy 16 disposals himself.

WING – TOM LEDGER (Claremont)
After a bit of a wakeup call earlier in the season having been dropped to the reserves, has responded in the right manner and is producing a strong patch of form that he continued Saturday in Esperance. Finished the game with 31 possessions, six inside 50s and five marks.

CENTRE – RORY O'BRIEN (Peel Thunder)
At the end of the spectrum from his teammate Naughton, the 239-game premiership winning, five-time fairest and best winner continues to show no signs of slowing down. Delivered another powerful midfield performance in the Thunder's win over the Royals with an equal season-high 33 possessions to go with six tackles.

WING – KYAL HORSLEY (Subiaco)
The inspirational skipper continues to be in outstanding form to be leading Subiaco through the middle of the ground. The Lions have now won 14 straight matches to be the dominant team in the AFL and the captain is a huge part of that. He produced another 27 possessions and two goals on Saturday in the 40-point win against Claremont in Esperance.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – GEORGE HAMPSON (East Fremantle)
He continues to show just how valuable he is to the Sharks by the difference between his team's performance when he is and isn’t there. East Fremantle simply are much harder to beat and a vastly more competitive outfit when he's healthy and on the field. Had another big say in Saturday's win against Perth with 29 possessions, five marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal.

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – MATTHEW WATSON (East Fremantle)
The former Carlton defender and occasional forward was seen as East Fremantle's great key forward hope when he arrived last year. That didn’t quite pan out and it has turned out his best football in 2017 has been in the ruck. But he is undersized and has been found on occasions too despite his strong performances around the group. However, he spent the majority of his time forward again on Saturday and delivered four goals from 13 possessions, five tackles, five inside 50s and four goals.

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – DAVID ELLARD (Swan Districts)
The co-captain started the game as a small forward and alongside Jamie Bennell, Taryce Stewart and Todd Banfield, it was a dangerous ground attack in the wet. It paid off early against South Fremantle and he kicked two goals for the game to go with 18 possessions and six tackles.

FORWARD POCKET – TARYCE STEWART (Swan Districts)
The exciting young small forward had a major say in Swans opening a 41-point advantage by early in the second quarter against South Fremantle on Saturday. He kicked three goals in that period as he thrived in the wet weather and that included a mercurial effort from deep in the pocket on boundary. Kicked three opportunist goals that highlight the bright future he has.

FORWARD POCKET – BEN SOKOL (Subiaco)
After showing patches of what he could produce as a permanent forward last year with Subiaco after crossing from South Fremantle where he couldn't quite cement a spot in the league side, he continues to be a strong and consistent performer in 2017. Kicked another four goals from 13 possessions, seven tackles and five marks on Saturday to now have 32 goals for the season.

RUCK – MITCH ANDREWS (Claremont)
The state ruckman continues to be the dominant big man in the competition and is in career-best form despite having 131 games and two premierships under his belt. Put in a strong showing once again for Claremont in Esperance against Subiaco finishing with 27 possessions, five marks and 28 hit outs.

RUCK ROVER – LEIGH KITCHIN (Subiaco)
The tough and prolific on-baller put in another outstanding performance for Subiaco in the 40-point win in Esperance against Claremont. Racked up 32 possessions while laying six tackles, driving the ball inside-50 four times and kicking a goal.

ROVER – JYE BOLTON (Claremont)
The reigning Sandover Medallist is well and truly back to his best form from last year now. Worked tirelessly in the midfield in the loss to Subiaco in Esperance on Saturday but still ended up with 31 possessions, six marks, five inside-50 entries and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – ADAM COCKIE (Subiaco)
Having had to earn his stripes and a league berth this year, is now well and truly showing his value with another hard and tenacious on-ball performance in Saturday's win in Esperance against Claremont. Finished the game with 27 disposals, 10 inside-50 entries and a goal.

INTERCHANGE – KEIFER YU (Claremont)
Has well and truly found his spot now as a rebounding defender and with his ability to run and carry the ball, and his usually pin-point kicking sills make him a standout in that role. He had a strong game again on Saturday finishing with 27 possessions and nine marks.

INTERCHANGE – TOM COLE (East Perth)
The running defender played his best game of the WAFL season despite East Perth losing to Peel on Saturday. He put in a strong showing to put his hand up for an AFL call up to the Eagles with 25 possessions.

INTERCHANGE – HAYDN MATTHEWS (Peel Thunder)
Another emerging player at the Thunder who is thriving with the opportunities he has been provided. Having made his debut in Round 7, he has maintained his place in the line-up playing 10 consecutive matches and he was tremendous in Saturday's win over East Perth finishing with 24 possessions, six tackles, five marks and five inside-50 entries.

UNLUCKY BUNCH

There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 17 but couldn’t quite squeeze into the Team of the Round, including:

East Fremantle's Cameron Eardley, Sean Henson and Dion Anthony.

Perth's Aidan Tropiano, Clint Jones and Corey Byrne.

East Perth's Luke Partington.

Peel Thunder's Jonathon Griffin, Cameron Sutcliffe and Josh Deluca.

South Fremantle's Haiden Schloithe, Tim Kelly, Shane Hockey, Josh Pullman and Cory Dell'Olio.

Swan Districts' Adam Faulkner, Corey Gault and Jesse Turner.

Claremont Haydn Busher, Bailey Banfield and Harrison McCracken.