SOUTH Fremantle, Swan Districts, Perth and East Perth all recorded impressive victories in Round 6 WAFL action on Saturday while West Perth also won in the Foxtel Cup against Ainslie.
South Fremantle scored a big win over Peel at Bendigo Bank Stadium winning 23.17 (155) to 12.10 (82).
Perth came from behind to beat Subiaco 10.16 (76) to 11.7 (73) at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium, East Perth held on to beat East Fremantle 14.9 (93) to 13.11 (89) at East Fremantle Oval and Swan Districts downed Claremont 11.10 (76) to 9.16 (70) at Claremont Oval.
West Perth has advanced in the Foxtel Cup to book in a quarter-final clash with VFL club Werribee after beating the ACT's Ainslie 13.12 (90) to 7.6 (48) at Sydney's Blacktown on Saturday morning.
First-year forward Darcy Barden kicked three goals for the Falcons with Jay van Berlo outstanding with 30 possessions and two goals. Veterans Brent LeCras and Ray Bartholomew, West Coast's Andrew Strijk and youngster Ben Nelson were others to impress for the Falcons.
Click here for the summary of Round 6 of the WAFL
THE BIG WINNERS
Perth needed a win over the unbeaten Subiaco on Saturday at home to avoid slipping to a 1-5 start that would have perhaps been too much to recover from.
It took the Demons until the 18-minute mark of the last quarter to hit the front for the first time, but when they did they stayed there to win by three points and suddenly 2-4 looks a lot better.
Perth has two games to go against Swan Districts and East Fremantle before a Round 9 bye so the potential is there to get back to a 4-4 record with the likes of Jarrod Kayler-Thomson, Daniel O'Sullivan, Rob de Jongh and Chris Vidot to return before too long to give them a further boost.
THE BIG LOSERS
Peel Thunder had every reason to be feeling confident heading into Saturday's clash at home with South Fremantle, but the end result of a 73-point defeat to the Bulldogs was disappointing.
Peel had shown good signs in losses to Subiaco, East Fremantle and Perth to start the season, and then got over the line in impressive fashion last week against Swan Districts.
With South Fremantle having just won one game from its first four as well, the Thunder should have liked their chances for Saturday's game, but things didn’t go to plan and now Peel will look to bounce back this Saturday against West Perth at Arena Joondalup.
THE SHINING LIGHTS
South Fremantle struck its best form of the season to beat Peel by 73 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
Andrew McCarrey went forward to play a starring role kicking five goals with seventh-gamer John Sgherza kicking four and Ben Saunders also added another four. Alex Grima booted three as did Paul Mugambwa and Jarrad Winter added two.
Kris Miller picked up 32 possessions, Toby Bairstow 26, Shaun Bewick 23, Adam Guglielmana 22, Jayden Woods 20 and debutant Jordan Wilson-King 20.
Sean Tighe played his best game of the season with 20 possessions, 27 hit outs and six entries inside-50.
Peel couldn’t keep its momentum going from last week's win over Swan Districts, but Brad Holmes did all he could up forward with five goals. Eddie Dann and Jamason Daniels also kicked two each.
Pat Travers continued his tremendous form racking up 26 possessions with Chris Luff coming in for his first game of the season to have 22. Kristin Thornton gathered 21 disposals, Jesse Crichton 20, David Johnston 20, Tom Sheridan 18 and Blayne Wilson 17.
Perth scored a crucial win over Subiaco on Saturday and it was a young forward who stepped up big time. Eighth-gamer Simon Donovan booted four goals and proved to be the match-winner in the last quarter.
Captain Ross Young was outstanding with 37 possessions, 11 marks and four entries inside-50. Sam Butler was also terrific with 33 disposals, eight marks, nine inside 50s and a goal. Leon Davis played his best game of the season as well with 30 possessions.
Matt Tedesco picked up 28 touches, Nick Lower 26, Drew Robinson 24, Ben Noakes 20 and Paul Bevan 17. Tim Noakes came in for his first game and was lively up forward kicking two goals as well.
Youngster George Hampson was terrific for Subiaco with 33 possessions, six marks and four inside-50 entries.
Fremantle's Antoni Grover was outstanding in defence not only picking up 25 possessions and taking seven marks, but also keeping Perth's leading goal kicker from last season Matt Moody goalless.
Brant Chambers was a strong target up forward kicking four goals with Blake Broadhurst and Rhett Kerr kicking two each.
Captain Aidan Parker had 24 possessions, Jason Bristow 20, Kane Bloxsidge 20 and Rhys Waters 17.
East Perth held on to beat East Fremantle in a tremendous performance to win a second straight game either side of last week's bye.
Garry Moss was outstanding with 32 possessions and 10 inside-50 entries. Craig Wulff had 25 disposals, Aaron Sweet 24, Freddie Clutterbuck 23 and Nick Kommer 20.
Brett Eades and Josh Smith kicked four goals each for the Royals, Adam Prior three and captain Michael Swan two.
East Fremantle captain Mark McGough continued his outstanding start to the season with 32 possessions, five marks, seven inside-50s and a goal.
Rory O'Brien had 29 possessions, Sean Henson 19, Jacob Brennan 18, Brad Sheppard 18 and 50-gamer Andrew Stephen 17.
Rob Young was a good target up forward with 22 possessions, five marks and five goals. He also had 18 hit outs. Max Duffy also kicked two goals.
Swan Districts beat Claremont in a thriller on Saturday at Claremont Oval with captain Josh Roberts collecting 28 possessions, taking six marks, driving the ball inside-50 four times and kicking a goal. Matt Riggio had 26 disposals, Marlon Motlop 25, Shaun Hildebrandt 24 and Graham Jetta 21.
Ashley Hansen, Tony Notte and Michael Walters all kicked two goals apiece.
Ian Richardson kicked three goals for Claremont while also picking up 24 possessions.
Kane Mitchell gathered 28 disposals, Paul Medhurst 22, Byron Schammer 21, 150-gamer Trinity Handley 21, Alroy Gilligan 19, Jake Murphy 18, Luke Blackwell 18 and Tom Swift 17.
PUSHING FOR A SPOT
South Fremantle's reserves also had an impressive 43-point win over Peel with Ryan Murphy responding to being dropped with 25 possessions, 10 marks, 14 hit outs and three goals. Jordan Carlino also kicked three goals with Jarrod Parry, Matthew Jones and Lewis Harvey two each.
Rhett Mason kicked two goals for Peel as did Bryce Thornton. Dean Beswick picked up 18 possessions, Travis Obal 18 and Rob Beswick 16.
Perth's reserves beat Subiaco by 81 points with Matthew Rogers kicking five goals, Michael Edwards four, Robert Davis two, Reese Richardson two and Brennan Stack two. Michael Mather picked up 34 possessions, Rogers 31, Edwards 22, Liam Smith 22 and Aaron Elari 21.
Alliston Pickett and Kyal Cranley kicked two goals each for Subiaco with Justin Joyce gathering 18 possessions, Michael Genovese 18 and Myles Smythe 17.
Claremont's reserves beat Swan Districts by 26 points with Anton Hamp booting three goals and Keegan Knott two. Thomas Taylor had 19 possessions, Tom Willett 18 and Brad Nisbett 16 to go with 10 tackles.
Braden Smith kicked two goals for Swan Districts with Adam Faulkner gathering 19 disposals, Will Shea 16 and Brett van Groningen 16.
East Fremantle's reserves thumped East Perth by 113 points with Luke Foster kicking four goals, Russell Gabriel three along with James Depane while Godfrey Curley, Tim Viney and Kurt Tropiano booted two apiece.
Arthur Bennell kicked two of East Perth's four goals. Cameron Grover picked up 26 possessions and seven marks. Boston Williamson had 17 touches, Julian Locantro 17, Shaquille McKenzie 14 and Ryan Maldenis 14.
