Round 17 McDonald’s WAFL Wrap Up

EAST Perth and Peel Thunder both scored crucial Round 17 WAFL victories on Saturday to now sit in fifth and fourth positions respectively with a game advantage following the wins over West Perth and East Fremantle.

Wet and windy conditions again made it difficult for attractive football to be played in the only two matches of Round 17 but the results were crucial for the Royals and Thunder.

East Perth defeated West Perth 8.7 (55) to 4.18 (42) at Medibank Stadium on the back of a five-goal to nil second quarter while Peel Thunder beat East Fremantle 10.9 (69) to 3.8 (26) at ATOM Stadium with the Sharks not scoring a goal after the seven-minute mark of the second quarter.

Following the round, Subiaco (11-4) remains on top of the ladder ahead of South Fremantle (10-4) and West Perth (10-6). Peel Thunder (8-7) improved to fourth ahead of East Perth (8-7).

East Fremantle (7-8) slipped to sixth position ahead of Perth (6-8), Claremont (4-10) and Swan Districts (2-12).

Click here for the summary of Round 17 of the WAFL

TEAM OF THE WEEK (club, times named)
BACK: Josh Cuneo (EF, 3), Eric Mackenzie (EP, 3), Josh Bootsma (PT, 1)
HALF-BACK: Luke Meadows (WP, 4), Tyler Keitel (WP, 7), Jayden Schofield (EF, 1)
CENTRE: Luke Partington (EP, 1), Andrew Haydon (PT, 2), Rohan Kerr (WP, 4)
HALF-FORWARD: Malcolm Karpany (EP, 1), Darcy Tucker (PT, 2), Josh Deluca (PT, 1)
FORWARD: Brett Milward (PT, 1), Jonathan Giles (EP, 1), Max Duffy (WP, 2)
RUCK: James Bristow (EF, 1), Shane Nelson (WP, 9), Matt De Boer (PT, 4)
INTERCHANGE: Rory O’Brien (PT, 4), Nathan Blee (EP, 3), Aidan Lynch (WP, 2), Jesse Crichton (EF, 3)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – ANDREW HAYDON
Peel Thunder has had a good blend of experienced WAFL players like Brendon Jones and Rory O’Brien, and Fremantle-listed players like Matt De Boer, Clancee Pearce, Brady Grey leading the way in the midfield over the past two seasons, but what they have been crying out for is a home grown talent to emerge.

That is exactly what South Mandurah product Andrew Haydon has done over the past three weeks and he continued his strong form on Saturday with another 21 possessions and five tackles in the terrible conditions at ATOM Stadium.

He was part of a Thunder on-ball unit alongside De Boer, Josh Deluca, O’Brien and Pearce that helped Peel get on top and go on to record the crucial 43-point victory.

Haydon has only played nine matches in his league career after making his debut in Round 4 this year but the 22-year-old is the exact type of local player the Thunder need to make sure they have a strong group of WAFL players to mix in with those from the Dockers.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
East Perth made West Perth pay in the third quarter with five goals to nil before the rain pelted down denying the Falcons any chance of a final term comeback despite them kicking two goals to cut the final margin to 13 points.

Jonathan Giles ended up having a strong game for East Perth kicking three goals to go with 14 possessions, six marks and 30 hit outs with Paul Johnson helping give the Royals the edge in the ruck with 15 disposals and 28 hit outs as well.

Simon Tunbridge also booted two goals for the Royals while Eric Mackenzie was solid again down back not only holding Michael Lourey goalless, but having 20 possessions and six marks himself.

East Perth also got good run and drive off half-back with Nathan Blee finishing with 22 possessions, Callum Hart 20, Jackson Nelson 17 and Mitch Fraser 15.