WA Football

THE WAFL website will be publishing columns from players throughout the 2013 season taking a look at what it takes on and off the field to be a successful WAFL player and also build a life outside the game. This week it's former East Perth and current Perth defender Nick Kane.

For many young footballers between the ages of 16 and 22 their life revolves around the game. So much of their time and effort goes into football yet unfortunately one important aspect is often forgotten - injury prevention and management.

This age group is at the ideal time in their development to start working on some injury prevention strategies. Lack of early identification and education in regards to body awareness and functional control in these development years can lead to serious long-term injuries during the prime of ones career.

IT WAS a big Round 7 for former AFL stars in the WAFL with West Coast premiership ruckman Mark Seaby, Fremantle and Collingwood veteran Paul Medhurst, Collingwood Anzac Day Medallist Mark McGough and Sydney premiership midfielder Paul Bevan putting in big performances for their teams.

The round began back on Anzac Day with three games across Perth starting with the Demons continuing their terrific start to the season with a 19.16 (130) to 11.13 (79) win over East Perth at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium.

Swan Districts then beat West Perth at Arena Joondalup 15.8 (98) to 9.16 (70) and at Fremantle Oval, East Fremantle was too good for the winless South Fremantle winning 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54) at Fremantle Oval.

The action then concluded on Saturday with Claremont winning a hard fought battle over Peel 14.11 (95) to 11.12 (78) at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium.

THE West Australian Football League recorded its second round of more than 10,000 in attendance with strong support at the ANZAC Round for Legacy WA.

A total of 11,456 fans attended the four games played during the round, which included three games on ANZAC Day and one on Saturday, April 27, proudly supported by Legacy WA.

It was the second time this season that attendance has exceeded 10,000 for a round after 10,709 attended games over the Easter weekend in Round 3.

CLAREMONT finished off Round 7 of the WAFL on Saturday afternoon with a hard fought 17-point win over a gutsy Peel Thunder at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium.

The round began back on Anzac Day started with Perth beating East Perth 19.16 (130) to 11.13 (79) at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium in front of over 2500 people. Then at Arena Joondalup, 2695 fans watched Swan Districts kick the last six goals of the game to beat West Perth 15.8 (98) to 9.16 (70).

The final fixture was the first Fremantle derby of 2013 and 5120 people attended Fremantle Oval to watch East Fremantle kick the last five goals of the game to beat South Fremantle 12.11 (83) to 7.12 (54).

Then on Saturday in Mandurah, three late third quarter goals had Peel right back in the contest, but goals to AFL-experienced pair Mark Seaby and Paul Medhurst iced Claremont's eventual 14.11 (95) to 11.12 (78) victory to keep the Tigers unbeaten.

PEEL faces a big ask in the only WAFL game on Saturday afternoon to finish off Round 7 action against the unbeaten two-time reigning premiers Claremont, but the Thunder are coming off their first win of the season and are at home at Bendigo Bank Stadium. 

Claremont has won the last two WAFL premierships and is yet to lose this season after so far beating South Fremantle, Swan Districts, East Perth, Subiaco and West Perth to remain on top of the ladder.

Peel was competitive in the early rounds but lost to Perth, East Perth, East Fremantle and West Perth but last Sunday at home in the wet the Thunder put in a tremendous performance to beat Swan Districts by 14 points.