Round 3 WAFL Wrap UpThursday, April 10, 2014 - 12:00 AM - by Chris Pike

ROUND 3 of the 2014 WAFL season featured a fourth-gamer finishing with an eight-goal haul while the reigning premiers got off the mark, and Subiaco and East Perth recorded big wins to remain unbeaten.

The round began on Friday night under lights at Fremantle Oval with East Perth beating South Fremantle 20.8 (128) to 8.5 (53).

Then on Saturday afternoon, Subiaco beat Claremont 18.22 (130) to 6.14 (50) at East Fremantle Oval, Swan Districts defeated Peel Thunder 16.18 (114) to 11.13 (79) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and West Perth downed Perth 15.13 (103) to 13.7 (85) at Arena Joondalup.

The results leave Subiaco on top of the ladder unbeaten from the first three rounds as is the second-placed East Perth.

Just behind is Perth in third position and Swan Districts in fourth. Outside the four sits West Perth, East Fremantle, Claremont, Peel and South Fremantle.

Click here for the summary of Round 3 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
Many predicted Swan Districts to be the big sliders in 2014 with a host of key players leaving, but somebody forgot to tell the leaders remaining at Steel Blue Oval, and a strong band of youngsters coming through.

Swans opened their season leading East Perth for three quarters in Round 2 before losing by 18 points, and then after trailing Peel Thunder by 34 points early in the third quarter on Saturday, turned on some inspired and exciting football.

Swan Districts went on to kick 11 of the last 12 goals of the game to win by 35 points.

And with Justin Simpson, Matt Riggio and Ryan Davis leading the way, Adam Faulkner, Kirk Ugle, Matt Rogers, Blaine Boekhorst and Nathan Blakely standing up, and Ricky Cary a surprise packet up forward, there is plenty of excitement around Bassendean for Swan Districts looking to the rest of 2014.

THE BIG LOSERS
South Fremantle had high expectations coming into 2014 of a strong season after two tough seasons without a finals appearance since the 2011 first semi-final.

The Bulldogs finished last season strongly after losing their first seven games so had some momentum to take into pre-season, and then the signing of James Sellar, Brock Higgins, Stephen Mills, Josh Pullman, Ashton Hams, Steven Verrier and Haiden Schloithe added more hope.

However, South Fremantle lost its first two games after having chances to win against Subiaco and Perth, and then last Friday night were simply no match for East Perth's skill, size, attack on the ball and game style.

The result was a 75-point loss for South Fremantle and with James Sellar out for a month with a knee injury, Alistair Gillespie suspended and a trip to take on an inspired Swans this Saturday, it is a big job for coach Paul Hasleby to right the ship.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
East Perth dominated South Fremantle on Friday night at Fremantle Oval to end up winning by 75 points to continue its unbeaten start to the 2014 season.

While a host of West Coast-listed players were terrific, it was captain Craig Wulff who was best afield with 34 possessions, eight clearances, six marks, five inside 50s and a goal.

Fellow non-Eagles players Nathan Blee (29 possessions), Paul Johnson (21, 25 hit outs), Freddie Clutterbuck (20), Mitch Fraser (19), Steven Payne (19), Kyle Anderson (kept Ben Saunders to one goal) and Josh Smith (four goals) were all strong contributors.

As for West Coast-listed players, Sam Butler racked up 32 possessions, Dom Sheed 25 (and two goals), Adam Carter 23 (against his former side), Patrick McGinnity 22, Ashley Smith 22, Blayne Wilson 22 and Mark Hutchings 21.

Scott Lycett was also impressive up forward and in the ruck with 15 touches, 22 hit outs and two goals with Jeremy McGovern commanding in defence with 18 possessions and 10 strong marks.

Former Eagle Ashton Hams did all he could against the side he would have been playing for had he not taken the decision to retire from the AFL at the end of 2013, and the dual South Fremantle premiership player finished with 33 possessions and nine clearances.

Haiden Schloithe also worked tirelessly in the Bulldogs midfield with 28 possessions, eight clearances and a goal with captain Ryan Cook finishing with 22 disposals, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal.

Mitch Carter came in for his first league appearance of 2014 and did well off half-back with 20 disposals while fellow defenders Adam McIntosh (18 touches), Nick Borovac (13), Dylan Ross (13) and Craig White (13) did all they could while under-siege.

South Fremantle only managed to go inside-50 on 37 occasions so the forward-line was starved of opportunities, but Josh Pullman played his best game for the Bulldogs and kicked his first two goals for the club from 13 possessions and four marks.

With James Sellar out with a knee injury, former Royal Brock Higgins had a huge task coming up against Paul Johnson and Scott Lycett in the ruck, but battled manfully finishing with 15 possessions, 20 hit outs and seven inside-50 entries.

Subiaco took on Claremont at East Fremantle in the early-starting game on Saturday, and the Lions backed up wins over South Fremantle and East Fremantle with a thumping 80-point victory over the Tigers.

George Hampson was outstanding for the Lions with 28 possessions and four goals in a best on ground performance.

Chris Deluca also kicked three goals but with 10 shots on goal from his 12 kicks on the day, if he had converted more of his seven behinds he could have had a day to really remember.

Josh Deluca, Shane Yarran and Simon Moore all kicked two goals apiece for Subiaco.

Chris Phelan worked hard through the midfield for Subiaco as well with 30 possessions while Brett Mahoney racked up 24 possessions (eight inside 50s), Jason Bristow 23, Wayde Twomey 21, Lachlan Delahunty 19, Joel Latham 19 and Justin Joyce 18.

It was a tough day for Claremont coming off an impressive win over West Perth the previous week.

Jack Richardson and Jack Bradshaw booted two goals apiece for the Tigers.

Further up the field, Luke Blackwell finished the game with 28 possessions, Andrew Foster 28, Tom Ledger 26, Aaron Holt 19 and Matt Orzel 18.

Claremont's cause wasn’t helped with captain Jake Murphy also out of the match early on with a leg injury.

Centre half-forward Marcus Adams was outstanding for the Falcons after a relatively quiet start to his West Perth career in Round 1, and then an encouraging performance in Round 2 against Claremont.

He finished the game on Saturday with 15 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and three crucial goals in a superb performance.

Shane Nelson was again the best ball-winner on the ground finishing with 29 possessions and five inside-50 entries. He could have had an even great impact had it not been for his four behinds kicked.

Aaron Black also continued his outstanding start to the season with another 26 possessions, five inside 50s, four tackles and a goal.

Trent Manzone also had his best game of the season for the Falcons with 25 possessions with Rohan Kerr also racking up 23 disposals, Jay van Berlo 19, Anthony Tsalikis 18, Steven Browne 17, Matt Fowler 16 and Steve Potente 16.

As well as Adams booting three goals for West Perth, Strijk booted three and Brayden Antonio kicked two.

Ruckman Chris Keunen also had an outstanding game for the Falcons finishing with 20 possessions, 39 hot outs, four marks and three inside-50 entries.

Perth was coming off winning its first two games of the season against Claremont and South Fremantle, and did hit the front at three quarter-time, but couldn’t quite go on with it in the final quarter.

Captain Paul Bevan finished with four goals and 18 possessions for the Demons while Cale Morton, Daniel O'Sullivan and Callum Collard all kicked two goals apiece.

Dene White continued his outstanding early season form for Perth with another27 possessions and eight tackles.

Gerald Ugle was also another major ball-winner gathering 27 disposals with Jarryd Morton finishing with 26 touches, Haydn Busher 22, Cameron Manuel 21, Matthew Boyle 19 and Jarrad Irons 17.

Swan Districts looked set to suffer a sizeable loss at home to Peel on Saturday when 34 points down early in the third quarter, but the black-and-whites dominated the contest from that point to end up recording a terrific 35-point victory.

Ricky Cary was the star of the show as well with the skinny but strong-marking key forward plucking nine marks for 14 kicks and an incredible eight goals in just his fourth-game of WAFL league football.

Matthew Rogers was also outstanding up forward for Swans finishing with 18 possessions, five inside 50s, four tackles and two goals.

Adam Faulkner continued to enjoy his increased role in Swans' midfield in 2014 with another 32 possesssion, 11-mark effort while Ryan Davis was brilliant with 31 possessions, nine inside 50s, 13 marks, five tackles and a goal.

Another experienced campaigner Matt Riggio racked up 26 possessions with Justin Simpson adding 25 disposals, Aaron Elari 25, Blaine Boekhorst 22, Travis Casserly 20, Kirk Ugle 18, Graham Jetta 18 and Tony Notte 17 to go with eight marks and nine hit outs.

Peel was outstanding up until the early part of the third quarter but ran out of steam and having Sam Menegola and Matt Brown hampered by injuries certainly didn’t help.

Clancee Pearce led the way for Peel finishing with 39 possessions, 10 marks, six tackles and five inside-50 entries.

Laine Wilkins, Colin Sylvia, Eddie Dann and Matt Taberner all kicked two goals apiece as well.

Captain Brendon Jones racked up 26 possessions with Sylvia finishing with 23 touches, Josh Simpson 23, Jacob Ballard 21, Anthony Morabito 19 and Josh Mathers 18.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
East Perth's reserves also scored an impressive 56-point win over South Fremantle on Saturday with Michael Rimbas booting three goals, and Dylan Main, William Magginness, Marcus Ruggiero and Steven Wityk all adding two apiece.

Magginness also finished with 31 possessions with Tom Shanahan gathering 25, Julian Locantro 22, Callum Hart 20 and Jacob Payne 18.

Ben Sokol kicked three goals for South Fremantle with Emmanuel Collard adding two with Toby Bairstow racking up 34 possessions, James Laurino 26, Simon Panizza 25, Jarrod Parry 24, Zac Strom 22, Matt Gundry 19 and Joe Pantano 19.

West Perth went down against Perth by just nine points in a tight affair even though the Falcons managed just the two goals in the first half.

Mitch McPhee continued his good form to start the season with 21 possessions and two goals with Max Alexander also booting two majors.

Aidan Lynch also finished with 21 possessions, Shaun Marusic 20, Matthew Spencer 19, Drew Rohde 19, Jack Thrum 19 and James Embley 18.

And for Perth, Ben Power was outstanding in the ruck with 20 disposals and 29 hit outs.

Tim Hunt worked hard for 29 possessions and two goals with Michael Sinclair finishing with 27 touches, Sean Lynch 29, Joel Kalajzic 25, Daniel Arangio 21, Blake Borrett 21, Matthew Welburn 20, Scott Moore 20 and Rowan Brookes 19.

Subiaco's reserves also scored a thumping 107-point win over Claremont at East Fremantle Oval with Jordan Bestry booting five goals and Dylan Clarke four, and Darcy Boyle, Sean Bradley, Kyle Halligan and James Garcia two years.

Clancy Wheeler picked up 24 possessions, Will Fetherstonehaugh 24, Tom Smith 23, Kyal Horsley 22, Reece Blechynden 21 and Joe Scafidi 21.

Shane McAdam kicked two goals for Claremont with Ben Daniher piling up 35 possessions, Brendan Lim 25, Bernard Sneeuwjagt 23, Keifer Yu 23, Jordan McAllister 22 and Dean Blackwell 20.

Swan Districts reserves beat Peel Thunder by 20 points with former Falcon Brayden Duckworth booting four goals from 18 possessions and 11 marks.

Aaron Jetta, Braden Smith and Rodney Jetta kicked three goals each for Swans with Ruddy Riddoch adding two.

Jesse Manton was terrific with 32 possessions and two goals with Jacob Burnham picking up 27 disposals, David McKay 25, Luke Pratt 20 and Jarrad Blight 20.

Liam McKenna was clearly Peel's best on Saturday in the reserves with 34 possessions, 10 marks, six tackles and three goals.