Round 21 WAFL Results

EAST Perth took another step towards the WAFL’s minor premiership for 2014 with a big win in Saturday’s Round 21 action while the second-placed Subiaco lost as did the third-placed Swan Districts with Claremont and South Fremantle continuing their good recent form as well.

All four Round 21 WAFL matches took place on Saturday afternoon with East Perth thumping Perth 28.14 (182) to 14.6 (90) at Lathlain Park, Claremont beating Subiaco 11.11 (77) to 9.15 (69) at Leederville’s Medibank Stadium and South Fremantle downing Swan Districts 18.7 (115) to 9.15 (69) at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval.

The only game not featuring a finals bound side took place at Mandurah’s Bendigo Bank Stadium with West Perth ending up beating Peel Thunder 9.14 (68) to 8.11 (59).

East Perth all but secured the minor premiership for 2014 with a thumping 92-point win over Perth on Saturday with the Royals now two games and percentage ahead of the second-placed Subiaco.

However, the Royals actually gain no advantage whatsoever by finishing first with the Lions also guaranteed of finishing second and the two teams are co-tenants at Medibank Stadium.

Perth was able to put in a competitive first half showing against East Perth on Saturday trailing by just seven points at quarter-time and then 28 by half-time, but the Royals kicked up another gear with 16 goals to six in the second half to end up winning by 92 points.

Josh Smith booted a season-best six goals for East Perth while co-captain Brendan Lee booted three to go with his 23 possessions in his 100th match for the Royals. Fellow skipper Craig Wulff also kicked three goals from 23 disposals.

Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls also kicked three goals for East Perth with Mitch Howlett booting two goals, Tom Shanahan two and Brant Colledge two.

Steven Payne racked 35 possessions for the Royals, Adam Carter 29, Howlett 24, Colledge 22, Mitch Fraser 20 and Freddie Clutterbuck 18.

Callum Collard kicked another four goals for Perth in the Demons’ 13 successive loss this season. Nick Kane and Paul Bevan also kicked two apiece.

Aidan Tropiano led the way in the middle with 24 possessions and eight tackles for Perth with Bevan gathering 23 disposals, Mitchell Browne 21 and Dene White 20.

Claremont might still need a miracle to make the finals needing to win its last two games against West Perth and East Perth by more than 100 points each and hope that East Fremantle loses heavily to Swan Districts and Subiaco, but the Tigers continued their terrific form on Saturday.

Subiaco came into the contest fresh off the bye and coming off a six-game winning streak including beating East Perth for the second time this season, but Claremont was in control all afternoon and held on to win by eight points in the finish.

Jack Bradshaw kicked four goals for Claremont with Trinity Handley and Jackson Starcevich booting two apiece.

Luke Blackwell racked up 30 possessions for the Tigers, Matthew Davies 28, Ryan Neates 25, Ben Daniher 24, Tom Ledger 22, Tom Taylor 22, Corey Yeo 21, Jake Murphy 20 and Handley 19 to go with 11 marks.

Rhys Waters kicked three goals for Subiaco with George Hampson adding two while Kyal Horsley collected 23 possessions, Joel Latham 21, Wayde Twomey 19, Chris Phelan 19, Justin Joyce 19 and Jason Bristow 18.

South Fremantle won its third straight match and ended a nine-game losing run to Swan Districts with a dominant 46-point win over the third-placed Swans who continued a poor run of form that has now seen them lose three matches in-a-row.

Josh Pullman booted five goals for South Fremantle up against his former side with Ben Saunders adding four majors, Craig White two and Jacob Martinez two.

Ashton Hams racked up 43 possessions to go with 12 marks and eight inside 50s for the Bulldogs with Anthony Collica gathering 27 disposals, Toby Bairstow 26, Brendan Verrier 24, Haiden Schloithe 23, James Sellar 22, Tim Kelly 21, Shaun Bewick 19, Jarrod Parry 19 and the return Adam Guglielmana 19.

Ryan Davis did all he could for Swan Districts kicking five goals with Matthew Rogers adding two.

Adam Faulkner finished with 29 possessions for the black-and-whites, Blaine Boekhorst 27, Aaron Elari 25, Tim Geappen 23 (13 marks, one goal) and Justin Simpson 19.