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NAIDOC Round WAFL Wrap UpWednesday, July 9, 2014 - 9:07 AM - by Chris Pike

THE WAFL celebrated the league's Indigenous roots, heritage and current prosperity on Saturday afternoon with all eight clubs wearing specially designed jumpers for the occasion with Claremont, East Fremantle, East Perth and Swan Districts recording victories.

The results on Saturday afternoon saw Claremont beat South Fremantle 12.13 (85) to 9.9 (63) at the Claremont Showground, East Fremantle down Perth 14.18 (102) to 14.8 (92) at East Fremantle Oval, East Perth thrash Peel Thunder 16.13 (109) to 6.10 (46) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium and Swan Districts down West Perth 16.9 (105) to 11.10 (76) at Joondalup's HBF Arena.

At the end of Round 15, East Perth (11-2) sits on top of the WAFL ladder just percentage ahead of Swan Districts (11-3) with Subiaco (9-4) and East Fremantle (9-4) making up the top four positions.

West Perth (6-7) remains in fifth position followed by Claremont (5-8), Perth (3-10), South Fremantle (3-10) and Peel Thunder (2-11).

Click here for the summary of Round 15 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
Claremont might be out of the finals race after a dismal start to the 2014 season, but the Tigers are now putting together a strong run of form that shows that it might very well have only taken half a season for new coach Michael Broadbridge to rebuild the Tigers into a strong outfit.

Claremont had won the last four minor premierships for three grand final appearances and two flags, but a host of those star players had moved on by the time the 2014 season started with Broadbridge taking over as coach from Marc Webb.

The result was five poor performances in Claremont's opening seven matches of the season in heavy defeats to Perth, Subiaco, East Fremantle, South Fremantle and East Perth, but since then the Tigers have put together some impressive form.

Claremont has now managed to beat the second-placed Swan Districts and third-placed Subiaco along with Saturday's win over South Fremantle in between competitive losses to Swans, East Perth and West Perth.

Claremont is too far back to be a finals contender, but the Tigers now have every reason to go into each game for the rest of 2014 expecting to win and then be a force again in 2015. 

THE BIG LOSERS
West Perth now sits in fifth position with a 6-7 record following Saturday's 29-point loss to Swan Districts with the Falcons now with one last chance to keep their season alive at home to Subiaco this Saturday.

The reigning premiers are currently three games out of the four and another loss to the third-placed Subiaco will spell the end of their final hopes ahead of clashes against East Perth, East Fremantle and Swan Districts.

In between, the Falcons will take on Williamstown in the Foxtel Cup grand final on Tuesday July 22 at Simonds Stadium and quite the furore has erupted over the fixturing of their game that weekend against East Perth.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
Swan Districts were coming off a flat performance for the first time this season against Claremont at home the previous week, but there were no signs of that on Saturday at HBF Arena with the black-and-whites putting in a commanding performance to beat West Perth by 29 points.

The win was crucial to maintain Swans' hold on second position on the ladder too and again it was forward match-winners Ryan Davis and Tim Geappen who were instrumental.

Davis booted five goals for Swans from 13 possessions and five marks while Geappen bounced back from being held possessionless in the entire first half by Dan Hunt to kick three goals from 10 touches and five marks after half-time.

Ricky Cary, Matthew Jukes and Matthew Rogers kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with Rogers also finishing with 24 possessions and eight marks.

Nathan Blakely had a strong game in the ruck for Swan Districts 12 touches and 21 hit outs while Aaron Elari racked up 31 possessions, Blaine Boekhorst 20 and Adam Faulkner 19.

The defence of Swan Districts was again outstanding as well led by Justin Simpson who ended up with 27 possessions and 11 marks, Graham Jetta 20 and Kirk Ugle 19.

Aaron Black and Shane Nelson were again prolific ball winners all afternoon for West Perth with Black finishing with 35 possessions, 12 marks and a goal, and Nelson 32 disposals and a goal.

Andrew Strijk was terrific off half-back with 22 possessions while Jordan Jones worked hard in the back-line with 22 disposals while limiting the influence of Ryan Davis after half-time.

Experienced key defender Dan Hunt had a strong game particularly in the first half holding Tim Geappen possessionless and Hunt finished the match with 16 possessions and eight marks.

Matt Johnson worked hard across half-forward for the Falcons with 23 possessions, nine inside-50 entries and two goals with Rodda also booting two majors.

Jay van Berlo picked up 21 possessions as well to go with six marks, five inside 50s and a goal with Rohan Kerr gathering 19 disposals and Matt Guadagnin 17 and five tackles.

Claremont responded to being challenged by South Fremantle in the third quarter to have its lead cut to just a point by three quarter-time to go on and boot four majors to one in the final term to win by 22 points.

Jack Bradshaw continues to emerge as one of the best forwards in the WAFL with five goals for the Tigers from 18 possessions and nine marks.

Luke Blackwell led the way in the midfield with 32 possessions, 10 marks, four tackles, four inside-50 entries and a goal while Ryan Neates racked up 26 disposals, Ben Daniher 24, Andrew Foster 22, Matt Orzel 22, Corey Yeo 21 and Matthew Davies 20.

Mark Seaby was also terrific in the ruck for Claremont with 19 possessions, eight marks and 24 hit outs.

Alistair Gillespie played his first league game of the season for South Fremantle after he took part in all 20 matches of 2013 and worked hard for 17 possessions, six inside-50 entries and four marks.

Lewis Harvey played his first league game since Round 23, 2012 and just his second with the Bulldogs and provided some bite with two goals from 12 touches and six marks.

Jacob Martinez returned after being dropped the previous week and celebrated NAIDOC Round with a strong showing with 23 possessions, 10 marks and seven inside-50 entries.

Fellow Indigenous younger Tim Kelly was outstanding as well for the Bulldogs with 26 touches, seven marks and seven inside 50s.

Steven Verrier had a good game for South Fremantle with 26 possessions with Brendan Verrier ending up with 24 disposals, Haiden Schloithe 21, Jarrod Parry 19 and Anthony Collica 18. Collica and Schloithe kicked two goals apiece as well.

Big men Brock Higgins and James Sellar also had good showings with Higgins finishing with 20 touches, 16 hit outs, six marks and a goal, and Sellar 20 disposals and seven marks.

Toby Bairstow collected 14 possessions in his 100th WAFL match for South Fremantle as he booked his name on to the No. 4 locker at Fremantle Oval.

East Fremantle won its sixth straight match on Saturday but it wasn’t without a fight from a Perth team who suffered its seventh consecutive defeat in the process.

Perth started well to lead by nine points at quarter-time before East Fremantle had opened up a 19-point advantage at the last change. The Demons were able to get within three points in the final term, but the Sharks steadied to win by 10 points.

Sean Henson had a strong game for East Fremantle with three goals, 22 possessions, nine marks and five inside-50 entries.

Sandover Medallist Rory O'Brien was outstanding as well with 32 disposals and two goals with Brett Peake and Boston Williamson also kicking two goals apiece.

Bradd Dalziell was terrific with 35 possessions as well with Cameron Eardley racking up 29 touches, Andrew Stephen 26, Scott Hancock 26, Tim Bristow 21, Ryan Lester-Smith 20 and Jayden Schofield 18 to go with 12 marks, six inside 50s and a goal.

Aidan Tropiano made his first league appearance with Perth after previously playing 33 with East Fremantle and he put in a strong showing in the midfield for the Demons with 26 possessions and a goal.

Dene White also worked hard in the Demons' midfield with 31 possessions while Joel Leeson gathered 26 disposals, Matt Moody 23, Matthew Boyle 19 and Jarryd Morton 19.

Mitch Morton and Paul Bevan kicked two goals each for the Demons as well.

East Perth recorded a comprehensive 63-point win over Peel Thunder at Medibank Stadium with Josh Smith kicking four goals from 15 possessions and seven marks.

Mitch Howlett, Dom Sheed, Steven Wityk and Ashley Smith all kicked two goals apiece for East Perth.

Craig Wulff racked up 27 possessions, Steven Payne 27, Nathan Blee 26, Brendan Lee 26, Sheed 25, Mitchell Fraser 23, Freddie Clutterbuck 22, Brant Colledge 22, Josh Hill 21, Ashley Smith 20, Brett Dobson 19 and Blayne Wilson 18.

Laine Wilkins bounced back from kicking four behinds the previous week for Peel against Subiaco by booting three goals from six kicks on Saturday against East Perth.

Sam Menegola has been playing stopping roles and doing them well at times this season, but he showed that he can win plenty of his own ball on Saturday finishing with a game-high 32 possessions, seven marks and three inside-50 entries.

Tom Sheridan also racked up 28 disposals for the Thunder with Jacob Ballard finishing with 24 touches, Matt de Boer 23, Brendon Jones 21 and Kepler Bradley 18.

PUSHING FOR A SPOT
West Perth's reserves got off to a flying start against Swan Districts at HBF Arena with five goals to one in the opening quarter, but Swans then outscored the Falcons 13 goals to four from that point to end up winning by 23 points.

Dylan Nelson kicked six goals for Swan Districts in his first match in the reserves up from the colts while Nelson Ansey, Brayden Duckworth and Tyson Hodge all booted two goals apiece.

Ethan Hughes finished with 26 possessions, Albert Dean 26, David McKay 24, Nathan Broad 23 and Josh Kirkup 21.

Brayden Antonio was outstanding for West Perth with 29 possessions and two goals with Aidan Lynch finishing with 26 disposals, Trent Manzone 23, James Embley 22, Kris Shannon 21 and Tim Sutherland 37 hit outs in the ruck.

East Fremantle's reserves kicked five goals to two in the final quarter but Perth held on for a thrilling one-point victory.

Ben Power and Chad Sandilands kicked two goals each for Perth with Michael Florio racking up 26 possessions, Matthew Hunt 25, Cameron Manuel 23, Kieran Hug 19 and Campbell Hunter 18.

Brandon Ellis, Dion Anthony and Richard Bourne each kicked two goals for East Fremantle with Michael Edwards gathering 23 possessions, Jake Schleicher 21, Mitch Boyle 20, Tyler Chalwell 20, Louis Cronan 20 and Anthony 19.

South Fremantle's reserves fought back hard in the second half against Claremont but ended up going down to the Tigers by two points in the finish.

Jackson Starcevich kicked two goals for Claremont with Tom Ledger picking up 31 possessions, Keifer Yu 28, Henry Roberts 26, Aaron Holt 23, Tom Willett 23, Steven Edwards 20 and Ben Higgs 20. 

Josh Pullman, Kaiden Matera and Emmanuel Collard all kicked two goals apiece for the Bulldogs with Shaun Bewick gathering 25 possessions, Braden Fimmano 23, Ben Sokol 23, Mitch Carter 22, Jayden D'Vauz 20 and Matthew Gundry 20.

East Perth's reserves beat Peel by 45 points with Job MacShane booting three goals, and Dylan Main, Lewis Wilson and Dean Cadwallader two apiece.

Tom Shanahan picked up 24 possessions for the Royals, Julian Ameduri 23, Cadwallader 22, Julian Locantro 18 and Beau Chatley 18.

Jesse Hockings kicked two goals for the Thunder with Liam McKenna racking up 31 disposals, Corey Morris 24 and Jordan Wythes 22.