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Round 9 WAFL Wrap UpTuesday, May 20, 2014 - 1:45 AM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts has replaced Subiaco on top of the WAFL, Peel Thunder has its first win in almost 12 months, the reigning premiers West Perth are back on track and East Fremantle got back to winning after Round 9 action heading into the State game break.

Swan Districts won its seventh straight match to now sit clear on top of the WAFL after a 11.17 (83) to 8.9 (57) win over Claremont at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Peel Thunder got its first win since Round 10 last year beating South Fremantle 11.13 (79) to 7.13 (55) at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium while West Perth downed Subiaco 14.12 (96) to 13.8 (86) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium and East Fremantle defeated Perth 13.12 (90) to 12.9 (81) at Lathlain Park.

The results leave Swan Districts (7-1) clear on top of the ladder ahead of Subiaco (6-2), East Perth (6-2) and West Perth (4-4). Outside the four are East Fremantle (4-4), Perth (3-5), South Fremantle (3-5), Claremont (2-6) and Peel Thunder (1-7).

The WAFL now takes a break for this Saturday's State match against the NEAFL at Blacktown in Sydney.

Click here for the summary of Round 9 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
Peel Thunder might not have won a game yet this season and not one since Round 10 last year with that span stretching 18 matches, but the boys from Mandurah hadn’t been far away.

The Thunder had been a chance to win each and every game so far in 2014 most notably in Round 3 against Swan Districts when leading by 34 points early in the third quarter before losing by 35 points and having no rotations left on the bench in the second half.

Peel then led West Perth in Round 8 by 42 points at half-time but ended up losing by a point in heartbreaking fashion.

However, Peel was starting to click and the youngest group in the competition by some margin put in a terrific performance on Saturday to beat South Fremantle by 24 points. The Thunder were also challenged in the last term with the Bulldogs closing to within a goal, but Peel steadied to then kick the last three majors.

Peel might have had 14 Fremantle-listed players on Saturday, but of those 14 only Jonathon Griffin, Kepler Bradley, Clancee Pearce and Colin Sylvia have played much AFL football at all. The rest are very much in their infancy as players at league level let alone the AFL.

THE BIG LOSERS
Perth was hoping for big things coming into 2014 having spent most of 2013 in the top-four before a fadeout late in the season.

Being able to maintain the majority of the group along with the recruitment of Cale and Mitch Morton, return of Gerald Ugle and with key position pair Chris Billings and Haydn Busher back up and running, the Demons were buoyant coming into the season.

And then Perth thrashed Claremont in Round 1, came back from 44 points down to beat South Fremantle in Round 2 and things started well. However, losses to West Perth, Swan Districts and East Perth stopped that momentum before the Demons got back to winning against Peel.

But since then Perth has lost to Subiaco and now East Fremantle to be sitting on a 3-5 record with plenty of work to do following the State game break to remain in finals contention starting with a standalone Saturday May 31 clash with the league-leading Swan Districts at Lathlain Park.

The Demons then take on the third-placed East Perth and second-placed Subiaco so they will need to pull out at least one, possibly two and perfectly three upset wins after the break or the season could very much be over by Round 12.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
With Dan Hunt and Shaun Marusic holding down the key defensive posts, Nick Rodda was able to stay forward for the second straight week for West Perth and the premiership teenager had a good game with four goals from 13 possessions and six marks.

Centre half-forward Marcus Adams also booted three goals for the Falcons with Steve Potente adding two majors.

 

Aaron Black racked up a game-high 29 possessions to ensure that the WA selectors didn’t forget about him after he put in a tremendous performance in last year's win over Victoria in Northam.

Andrew Strijk also picked up 22 possessions for West Perth with Rohan Kerr adding 22 disposals and seven inside-50 entries, and Shane Nelson 21 touches.

Co-captain Jay van Berlo worked hard for 15 possessions and 10 tackles.

The ruck battle was a fascinating one with West Perth's Chris Keunen up against former Falcon Frank Stockley. Keunen finished with 13 possessions, 41 hit outs, three inside 50s and a goal while Stockley had 13 disposals, 49 hit outs and three inside-50 entries.

Matt Boland kicked five goals for Subiaco from five kicks with Shane Yarran, Kyle Halligan and Will Fetherstonhaugh all booting two majors each as well.

Captain Kyal Horsley worked hard for 25 possessions and 10 tackles with Jason Bristow racking up 24 disposals while also laying eight tackles.

 

Wayde Twomey gathered 23 touches for the Lions while George Hampson had 22 possessions, Chris Phelan 22, Lachlan Delahunty 21 (13 hit outs, six inside 50s) and Joel Latham 17.

Former captain Brendon Jones again led the way for Peel as he so often does with another 27 possessions, seven marks and five inside-50 entries. Hayden Crozier also worked hard for 27 disposals, seven marks and six inside 50s.

Brady Grey and Sam Menegola were both given big jobs by coach Cam Shepherd and did them well with Grey keeping Ashton Hams relatively quiet with 20 possessions while kicking two goals himself. Menegola had 18 touches and a goal while keeping Schloithe to 20 disposals and a goal.

Colin Sylvia kicked three important goals with Matt Brown adding two to go with his 19 possessions and six marks. Michael Apeness also kicked two goals for the Thunder.

Kepler Bradley worked hard in defence for 20 possessions, James Flaherty held Josh Pullman goalless and Eddie Dann provided some good run with 19 disposals.

Jacob Ballard also racked up 25 possessions for Peel with Cruize Garlett having it 18 times and Kristin Thornton 17.

Wingman Shaun Bewick was outstanding all day for South Fremantle at Bendigo Bank Stadium finishing with a game-high 31 possessions to go with six marks and four inside-50 entries.

Adam Guglielmana continued his form as one of the very best small defenders in the competition with another 27 possessions while captain Ryan Cook racked up another 26 disposals, Brendan Verrier 26, Steven Verrier 25, Tim Kelly 22 and Toby Bairstow 21.

Ben Saunders threatened to tear the game apart kicking three goals in just over 10 minutes to start the game, but he didn’t kick another goal the rest of the afternoon despite five more gettable shots.

Down back, Dylan Ross was outstanding for South Fremantle yet again and not only did he hold Matt Taberner goalless after he booted five the previous week for Peel, but he finished with 19 possessions and 10 marks.

Kris Miller also came into the South Fremantle team after continued strong form in the reserves with the champion midfielder playing the 302nd WAFL game of his career, and 149th with South Fremantle.

He was rotated heavily and finished with 15 possessions, four marks and two inside-50 entries.

It was far from the standout contest that the West Perth-Subiaco game was, but all that mattered between Perth and East Fremantle was the four points with both desperate to the return to the winner's list.

It was the Sharks who prevailed thanks to a three goal to one final quarter with Bradd Dalziell the major difference between the two sides with his class seeing him finish with 34 possessions and two goals.

Rory O'Brien collected 27 possessions, Mark McGough 24, Tim Bristow 24, Cameron Eardley 19, Jamie McNamara 18 and James Bristow 18.

Andrew Stephen was again rock solid for East Fremantle in defence with 17 possessions and seven marks as he celebrated his 100th WAFL match.

Rob Young did well when in the ruck and forward for East Fremantle with 15 possessions, six marks, 20 hit outs and two goals with James Bristow providing him with good support with 18 disposals, five marks, 11 hit outs, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Brett Peake also kicked four goals from just 10 kicks for the Sharks.

Mitch Morton might have only had nine kicks for the day for Perth, he managed to kick five goals with while Joel Leeson also booted two majors from 23 possessions and nine marks.

Cale Morton also had a good day for the Demons with 31 possessions, seven marks and seven entries inside the forward 50.

Dene White gathered another 22 possessions, Gerald Ugle 21, Michael Sinclair 20, Michael Florio 20 and Matthew Hunt 18.

Swan Districts wasn’t able to blow Claremont away like Perth, Subiaco, East Fremantle, South Fremantle and East Perth has this year, but the black-and-whites were still not troubled on the way to a 26-point win over the Tigers at home on Saturday.

Ricky Cary kicked three goals from eight kicks and six marks for Swan Districts with Tim Geappen and Matthew Jukes adding two goals apiece.

Aaron Elari racked up a game-high 28 possessions while Justin Simpson was outstanding at centre half-back with another 27 disposals and 14 marks to continue his standout season.

Kirk Ugle also racked up 25 disposals for the black-and-whites with Matt Riggio adding 20 touches and Blaine Boekhorst and Jesse Manton 17 each.

Tony Notte geared up for Saturday's State game with 18 possessions, 11 marks, nine hit outs and eight entries inside the forward 50.

Luke Blackwell once again led the way for Claremont picking up 25 possessions while Ryan Neates gathered 21 disposals, Tom Taylor 21, Tom Ledger 20, Jake Murphy 18 and youngster Steven Edwards 17.

Mark Seaby finished with 14 possessions, nine marks, 18 hit outs and a goal while Mitch Andrews also had 27 hit outs.

Brenden Abbott was terrific as a target up forward with 14 possessions, five marks and four goals. Matt Orzel also booted two majors. 

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
West Perth's reserves also recorded a strong 20-point win over Subiaco to have now won five on the trot.

Cameron Branch and Matt Fowler kicked two goals apiece for the Falcons with Trent Manzone racking up 36 

possessions, Brayden Antonio 25, Aidan Lynch 22, Luke Meadows 22, James Embley 18 and Drew Rohde 18.

Dylan Clarke kicked two goals for Subiaco with Craig Hoskins racking up 28 possessions, Joe Scafidi 25, Matt Bogensperger 25 and Darcy Boyle 20.

Peel's reserves also got its first win of the season beating South Fremantle 11.14 (80) to 6.15 (51).

Reise Wilkey kicked four goals for Peel with Michael Wood adding two while Brennan Gillam racked up 33 possessions, Kelvin Lawrence 29, Aiden Field 26, Toby Gianatti 25, Corey Morris 23 and Matthew Rubery 22.

Emmanuel Collard and Kaiden Matera kicked two goals each for South Fremantle with Jason Maskos picking up 27 possessions, Joe Pantano 27, Ben Sokol 26, Traye Bennell 25, Lewis Harvey 23, Bailey Matera 23, Anthony Collica 21 and Marty Walley 20.

East Fremantle's reserves beat Perth by 54 points with Richard Bourne kicking four goals, Boston Williamson two, Michael Edwards two and Jack Fletcher two.

Jake Schleicher racked up 32 possessions for the Sharks, Aidan Tropiano 32, Edwards 26, Tom Hooker 24, Tyler Chalwell 22 and Williamson 22.

Mark Deaves kicked three goals for Perth with Joel Kalajzic collecting 25 possessions, Sean Lynch 23, Scott Moore 19 and Matthew Welburn 18.

Claremont's reserves beat Swan Districts by 36 points with Shane McAdam kicking four goals, Ben Higgs three, Mitchell McGovern three, Ben Daniher two, Keegan Knott two and Jayden Brooks two. Henry Roberts racked up 27 possessions for the Tigers.

Tom Smirk kicked three goals for Swan Districts with Brayden Duckworth adding two while Kurt Tanner gathered 21 possessions, David McKay 20, Jacob Coniglio 19, Anthony Stephens 18 and Rudy Riddoch 18.