WAFL Round 2 WrapTuesday, April 26, 2022 - 7:11 AM - by Chris Pike

WHAT a weekend of WAFL action it was for Round with East Fremantle storming home for their first win of 2022, Claremont winning despite being struck by COVID, West Perth winning in Mandurah and then thumping victories for South Fremantle and East Perth.

It was a fascinating second round of the 2022 WAFL season starting with the wins for the Bulldogs, Swans and Tigers on Saturday, and then the Falcons and Royals scoring wins on Sunday.

The round got underway on Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with South Fremantle overpowering the West Coast Eagles the longer the game went to record the 17.14 (116) to 6.4 (40) victory.

Zac Strom, Caleb Datson and Brandon Donaldson kicked three goals each for South Fremantle with Haiden Schloithe gathering 25 possessions, Jake Florenca 24 and Toby McQuilkin 23.

Greg Clark finished with 25 disposals for the Eagles, Josh Rotham 20 and Joey Deegan 20.

Swan Districts made a fast start at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday to lead by 26 points at half-time, but East Fremantle kicked eight goals to two from there to end up winning 13.11 (89) to 12.8 (80).

Blaine Boekhorst had a day out for the Sharks against his former team with 33 possessions and three goals. Dillon O'Reilly also kicked three goals with Kyle Bakerville racking up 33 touches, Milan Murdock 31 and Cam Eardley 25.

Jesse Palmer kicked three goals for Swans with Aidan Clarke collecting 33 touches, Jesse Turner 33, Sam Fisher 25 and Tobe Watson 23.

Claremont then managed to beat Subiaco 13.11 (89) to 11.8 (74) at Revo Fitness Stadium to be undefeated so far this season and to make the reigning premier Lions winless.

The Tigers had to make mass changes through COVID but Timm House kicked four goals and Ben Elliott three with Ryan Lim gathering 37 disposals, Ben Edwards 33 and Elliott 32.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals for Subiaco and Leigh Kitchin finished with 26 touches, Stefan Giro 26 and Lachlan Delahunty 23.

The round then continued on Sunday with West Perth starting on fire and then holding out Peel Thunder to win 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93) at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium.

Keegan Knott kicked four goals for the Falcons and Sam Rotham three with Trent Manzone amassing 26 possessions, Shane Nelson 25 and Conal Lynch 22.

Jye Amiss kicked five goals for the Thunder and Josh Treacy four with Neil Erasmus racking up 34 touches, Karl Worner 27 and Haydn Matthews 23.

The round then wrapped up on Sunday evening at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park with East Perth beating Perth 20.10 (130) to 6.13 (49).

Tom Medhat and Sebit Kuek kicked four goals apiece for the Royals with Angus Schumacher picking up 32 disposals, Kye Willcocks 28 and Harley Sparks 21.

Dakota Baldwin-Wright kicked two goals for Perth and Michael Sinclair finished with 26 possessions, Regan Clarke 24 and Brayden Ainsworth 23.

The results mean that after two rounds of the 2022 WAFL season, South Fremantle, East Perth and Claremont all hold perfect 2-0 records.

Peel Thunder, West Perth, East Fremantle and Perth have all split their first two matches while Swan Districts, Subiaco and the West Coast Eagles are yet to record a victory.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

SOUTH FREMANTLE 17.14 (116) defeated WEST COAST EAGLES 6.4 (40)

South Fremantle made it two wins from two games to start the 2022 season with a strong showing to beat the West Coast Eagles on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It was the Eagles who started well chasing their first win of the season with the game's first goal to Josh Burke but only a couple of minutes later and Mason Shaw responded for South Fremantle.

Dylan Main then put the Bulldogs in front before Cooper Nitschke responded for West Coast. South Fremantle went into quarter-time leading by six points, though, after a late goal to Manfred Kelly.

The Eagles were back within a point early in the second term with a goal to Jack Petruccelle but then South Fremantle got rolling for the rest of the first half.

Jimmy Miller kicked truly to put the home team back up by seven points before a couple of goals to Zac Strom, another to Caleb Datson and then right on the half-time siren, Shaw kicked his second and the Bulldogs were up by 35 points at the major break.

The Eagles opened up with a brief flurry to start the second half with goals to Jack Williams and Darby McCarthy. That brought them back within 24 points but it would be as close as they got the rest of the game.

Brandon Donaldson, Datson and Jarrad Doney all kicked goals in response for the Bulldogs and the home side was on top by 39 points at three quarter-time.

South Fremantle then got some real momentum and attacking flair flowing in the fourth quarter piling on six goals to nil including a second and third to Donaldson, second to Kelly, and third each to Datson and Strom.

That saw South Fremantle come away with the 17.14 (116) to 6.4 (40) victory to remain unbeaten so far in 2022 and consigning West Coast to remaining winless.

Zac Strom, Brandon Donaldson and Caleb Datson all kicked three goals apiece for South Fremantle with Manfred Kelly and Mason Shaw adding two majors each.

Haiden Schloithe gathered 25 possessions for the Bulldogs to go with seven tackles, six marks and three inside-50 entries.

Jake Florenca continued his good form with 24 disposals while Dylan Main had 19, Steely Green 16 and Jarrad Doney 15.

Down back, Toby McQuilkin was tremendous with 23 possessions and 11 marks while Chad Pearson had 21 touches and nine marks, and Trent Newton 19 disposals and 12 marks.

West Coast's goals came courtesy of Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Petruccelle, Jack Williams, Josh Burke, Cooper Nitschke and Darby McCarthy.

Greg Clark put his hand up for an AFL debut with 25 possessions and seven tackles for West Coast with Josh Rotham impressive in the back-line wit 20 possessions and nine marks.

Joey Deegan also finished 20 touches, Josh Browne 19 and Petrevski-Seton 18.
 

SWAN DISTRICTS 12.8 (80) lost to EAST FREMANTLE 13.11 (89)

Despite trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter, East Fremantle stormed home for a spirited nine-point victory against Swan Districts on Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

Swans appeared on track for their first win of the new season when leading by 20 points seven minutes into the final quarter, but the Sharks finished the better to end up winning 13.11 (89) to 12.8 (80) for their first win of 2022.

It took only eight minutes for the teams to combine for three goals already with Jesse Palmer and Tom Edwards kicking truly for Swan Districts either side of a major for East Fremantle from Dillon O'Reilly.

Elijah Hewett then extended Swans' lead to 11 points and it soon became with 17 when Jesse Turner kicked truly, but the Sharks pulled one back before quarter-time with O'Reilly kicking his second of the term.

Blaine Boekhorst kicked his second goal for East Fremantle against his former team to pull the Sharks back within five points to start the second term and then Tom Monaghan put them in front.

However, Swans responded and then dominated the rest of the first half with goals to Jesse Turner, Brayden Noble, Sam Fisher, Edwards and then Noble again to take a 26-point advantage at the half-time break.

A late goal for the Sharks to Brynn Teakle did bring them within 16 points at three quarter-time but still Swans were 20 points up six minutes into the fourth term following a goal to Palmer.

But the Sharks found something inspired chasing their first win of the season and goals to Tom Bennett, a third to Boekhorst, another to Alex Montauban and then eventually to Ryan Lester-Smith and they had grabbed the lead.

Swans immediately responded through Aidan Clarke but it was O'Reilly who kicked the winner and the Sharks won 13.11 (89) to 12.8 (80).

Blaine Boekhorst was brilliant for East Fremantle back at his former home ground with 33 possessions, 10 marks and three goals while Dillon O'Reilly kicked three goals for the Sharks, and Ryan Lester-Smith two.

Kyle Baskerville had a day out for East Fremantle collecting 39 possessions, eight tackles and seven marks while Milan Murdock had 31 disposals, Cam Eardley 25, Jonathon Marsh 21, Luke English 20, Cody Leggett 20, Tom Bennett 20 and Jarrad Jansen 20.

Brynn Teakle did well in the ruck as well for the Sharks with 19 disposals, four marks, 10 hit outs and a goal.

Jesse Palmer kicked three goals for Swan Districts, Tom Edwards two, Brayden Noble two and Jesse Turner two to go with 33 disposals, six marks, six inside 50s and four tackles.

Aidan Clarke continued his emergence in the midfield for Swans with another 33 possessions, 11 marks, six tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Sam Fisher also gathered 25 touches, Tobe Watson 23 and Jak Watson 20 while Tony Notte (20 possessions, 10 marks) and Chris Jones (20 disposals, seven marks) did well down back.
 

CLAREMONT 13.11 (89) defeated SUBIACO 11.8 (74)

Claremont might have had its team decimated from COVID but the Tigers delivered a terrific performance to beat Subiaco by 15 points at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers made it two from two to start the new season and consigned the Lions to a second straight loss with both teams the hardest hit in the new season through COVID.

It only took a couple of minutes for Subiaco to kick the first goal of the game through Stefan Giro before Timm House got things rolling for Claremont in response.

Ryan Borchet and Ben Sokol then combined for three more goals for the Lions and they were 19 points up by quarter-time.

Aaron Breman then added another for the Lions to start the second quarter to make it a 25-point advantage but Claremont was able to immediately respond starting with House's second goal of the day.

A couple to Ben Elliott had the Tigers back within eight points and by half-time scores were all square between the two teams.

Patrick Kitchener then kicked the first goal of the second half to put Claremont on top and when he added a second on three quarter-time, the Tigers' lead was out to 15 points.

House kicked another to stretch the Claremont lead to 21 points at the start the final term and the Tigers did well to hold firm from there on the way to the 13.11 (89) to 11.8 (74) victory.

Claremont had lost Jack Lewsey, Bailey Rogers, Declan Mountford, Ronin O'Connor, Lachlan Martinis, Jye Bolton, Sam Alvarez, Callan England, Anthony Davis, Max Spyvee, Alex Manuel, Declan Hardisty, Logan Guelfi and Louis Passera from their team that beat West Perth in Round 1.

However, the Tigers still delivered an impressive performance to win and Timm House stood tall to kick four goals from 17 possessions and eight marks.

Ben Elliott was brilliant with 32 possessions, nine tackles and three goals while Talon Delacey and Patrick Kitchener kicked two goals apiece.

Ryan Lim was the stand-in Claremont captain and he racked up 37 possessions with Ben Edwards compiling 33 touches, Tyron Smallwood 17, Cameron Anderson 17 and Ben Harding 17.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals from six kicks for Subiaco with Ryan Borchet and Corey Robinson adding two goals each.

Subiaco captain Leigh Kitchin gathered 26 possessions, Stefan Giro 26 (11 tackles), Lachlan Delahunty 23 (12 hit outs), Aaron Heal 19, Bailey Matera 18, Jordan Snadden 17 and Liam Hickmott 17 (13 tackles).
 

PEEL THUNDER 14.9 (93) lost to WEST PERTH 16.8 (104)

West Perth finished strongly on Sunday at Mandurah's Lane Group Stadium to record their first win of the season beating Peel Thunder by 11 points.

The Falcons had lost a tight one in Round 1 at home to Claremont and found themselves seven points down on Sunday to the Thunder late in the third term. But they kicked six of the last nine goals on the way to a 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93) victory away from home.

West Perth made a flying start and within four minutes of the game they already had goals on the board through Keegan Knott and Trent Manzone.

Luke Reilly also kicked truly to give the Falcons the opening three goals of the contest and that soon became four thanks to Tristan Hobley, and five when Knott was able to add his second.

The Falcons were far from done and after Peel got on the board through Josh Treacy, the Falcons closed the opening term with goals to Sam Rotham and a second to Hobley to lead by 35 points at the first break.

Peel got a couple of goals back to start the second term with majors to Jye Amiss and Treacy, but West Perth was back out to a 29-point lead thanks to Mitch Antonio.

However, the Thunder worked their way back into the contest leading into half-time with late first half goals to Brodie Carroll, Wade Derksen and Bailey Banfield to cut the deficit to 11 points by the main break.

Suddenly a couple of quick Peel goals to open the second half from Derksen and Sam Sturt and scores were all level. Rotham and Treacy then traded goals before another to Amiss gave the Thunder a seven-point edge.

West Perth, though, managed the last two goals of the third term through Antonio and Reilly to be on top by nine points, and that lead grew to 15 to start the last quarter with another from Knott.

West Perth then answered every challenge from Peel in the last term to come away with the 16.8 (104) to 14.9 (93) victory.

Keegan Knott delivered four goals from 12 kicks as a small forward for West Perth with Sam Rotham provided a good target in attack in the absence of Tyler Keitel with three goals. 

Mitch Antonio also kicked two goals as did Luke Reilly and Tristan Hobley, who also had 18 possessions, six marks and six tackles.

Trent Manzone helped ensure the Falcons still prevailed despite the absence of Aaron Black and Luke Meadows through the middle, amassing 26 possessions, six marks and a goal.

Shane Nelson gathered 25 disposals, Conal Lynch 22 and seven tackles, Aidan Lynch 20, Blake Wilhelm 18 and Mitch Peirce 16 to go with seven tackles.

Jye Amiss kicked five goals for Peel from seven kicks and eight marks with Josh Treacy booting four goals and Wade Derksen two.

Neil Erasmus put together an exciting performance in the midfield for the Thunder with 34 possessions, 11 marks, nine inside-50 entries and seven tackles.

Karl Worner put together a second straight impressive showing too with 27 disposals while Haydn Matthews marked his return with 23 touches and six tackles.
 

PERTH 6.13 (49) lost to EAST PERTH 20.10 (130)

East Perth has made it two from two to start the 2022 season producing a dominant performance to beat Perth by 81 points on Sunday night.

The two old rivals locked horns at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park on Sunday night to close Round 2 and East Perth kicked 14 goals to three after quarter-time to deliver the 20.10 (130) to 6.13 (49) victory.

The tone was set for the evening when East Perth got the first goal inside a minute courtesy of Hamish Brayshaw.

A couple minutes later and Harley Sparks added a second for the Royals before the Demons got on the board courtesy of Regan Clarke.

By quarter-time, East Perth had kicked six goals to three and were on top by 20 points.

It was a completely domination from the Royals the rest of the way including five goals to one in the second quarter to go into the half-time break leading by 43 points.

East Perth kicked another five goals to two in the third term to be on top by 62 points at three quarter-time, and then another four goals to nil in the last quarter and the Royals ran out 20.10 (130) to 6.13 (49) winners.

Tom Medhat was playing just his second game with East Perth having crossed from West Perth in the off-season, and he had a night out with four goals from 15 possessions and six marks.

Sebit Kuek also kicked four goals from eight kicks and five marks for East Perth with Tom Edwards-Baldwin and Nick Robertson also kicking two goals apiece. Robertson also had 18 possessions, seven marks and six inside-50 entries.

Angus Schumacher was tremendous in the midfield for East Perth amassing 32 possessions while Harley Sparks finished with 21 disposals, Angus Scott 20, Stan Wright 19, Christian Ameduri 19 and Jackson Ramsay 18.

Meanwhile down back, Kye Willcocks was outstanding for the Royals with 28 disposals and kicking the first goal of his career with Jacob Msando also impressive with 19 touches and nine marks.

Dakota Baldwin-Wright kicked two of Perth's six goals for the evening.

Perth co-captain Michael Sinclair battled valiantly down back with 26 possessions and seven marks while Regan Clarke finished with 24 disposals, six marks and a goal.

Brayden Ainsworth collected 23 touches, Austin Davis 21, Andrew Fisher 18 and Corey Byrne 16.