Round 13 WAFL Results

CLAREMONT, West Perth and East Perth all moved clear with WAFL wins during Round 13 while Swan Districts also closed in on a top-four spot as well with a second straight victory.

Claremont continued to hold a four-win lead at the top of the ladder after beating Peel Thunder 15.12 (102) to 7.7 (49) at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

The Tigers set up the win with the only six goals of the first quarter and even though it was a relatively even contest from there, Claremont still recorded a comfortable 53-point victory.

Jack Bradshaw and Chad Jones kicked three goals apiece for Claremont with Ian Richardson adding two.

Matthew Davies racked up 28 possessions with Sam Fong, Patrick McGinnity and Ben Daniher all having 24 disposals apiece. Jake Murphy also gathered 23 possessions, Andrew Browne 21 and Tom Taylor 21 while Mark Seaby dominated the ruck with 20 touches and 48 hit outs.

James Hawksley kicked three goals for Peel with Matt Taberner and Matt Orzel adding two apiece.

Captain Brendon Jones collected 34 possessions, Marlon Motlop 30, Paul Bower 29, Viv Michie 26, Tanner Smith 23 (and 13 marks) and Tom Sheridan 21.

Swan Districts won its second straight game to improve to a 5-5 record to be knocking on the door of the top-four with a 20.10 (130) to 12.11 (83) victory over Subiaco at Leederville’s Medibank Stadium.

Swans booted 14 goals to four through the second and third quarters to open up a 72-point lead by three quarter-time and end up winning by 53 after Subiaco kicked six last quarter goals to two.

Swan Districts spearhead Tim Geappen played what could have been the best game of his 119-match career with 31 possessions, 14 marks and six goals. Ryan Davis and Dayle Garlett added two goals apiece, and Murray Newman and Tony Notte two.

Wayde Twomey also picked up 31 possessions, Kyle Hams 29, Shaun Hildebrandt 28, Matt Riggio 28 and Fremantle’s Lachie Neale 23.

Mark Nicoski kicked three goals for Subiaco and Michael Wood two with George Hampson racking up 34 possessions, Jason Bristow 25, Brett Mahoney 22 and Rhett Kerr 20. Exciting young ruckman David Madut had 39 hit outs.

Then on Sunday, West Perth had a late scare but held on to beat East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval 12.11 (83) to 10.9 (69) to move a game and percentage clear in second position on the ladder.

East Perth moved up to third position with a 15.11 (101) to 12.11 (83) win over Perth at Lathlain’s Brownes Stadium. Perth has slipped to fourth with its loss to the Royals while East Fremantle went from fourth down to sixth with its defeat at the hands of the Falcons.

West Perth returned to East Fremantle Oval for the second time in six weeks and came away with the four points once again with Sunday’s 14-point win.

The Falcons controlled the contest virtually all day having gone on a run of three straight goals either side of quarter-time to open up a 24-point advantage.

Their lead then extended to 38 points early in the third quarter after early second half goals to Nick Rodda and Matt Fowler.

East Fremantle did show signs of fighting back with the last two goals of the third term, but the Falcons steadied to start the last with Andrew Strijk goaling inside 30 seconds.

East Fremantle kept coming, though, with the game’s next four goals to all of a sudden close to within eight points with only a couple of minutes remaining.

That was the closest the Sharks had been since early in the last quarter, but West Perth steadied with Trent Manzone running into an open goal to secure the 14-point win for the Falcons.

Jay van Berlo worked tirelessly all day for West Perth finishing with 36 possessions to go with eight clearances. Matt Guadagnin also picked up 31 disposals, Shane Nelson 23 and Mark Hutchings 22 after having just six to half-time.

West Perth’s back-line was outstanding led by Michael Pettigrew completely shutting down East Fremantle big man Rob Young and keeping him to just two disposals. Andrew Strijk (27 possessions), Luke Tedesco (21) and Dan Hunt (16) provided plenty of drive out of defence as well.

Shaun Marusic, Marc Crisp, Matt Johnson, Nick Rodda and Matt Fowler all kicked two goals apiece up forward for West Perth.

West Coast midfielder Bradd Dalziell was a tireless worker for East Fremantle for all four quarters finishing with 32 possessions, nine clearances and three goals.

The Sharks’ back-line was well-served by Andrew Stephen (27 disposals, 12 marks and seven tackles) and Tom Howlett (23 touches, nine marks) while Scott Hancock did a good defensive role on Hutchings in the first half and then Guadagnin in the second.

Rory O’Brien gathered 29 possessions for the Sharks and Mark McGough 25 with Max Duffy chipping in for two goals.

Meanwhile, at Brownes Stadium East Perth kicked five third quarter goals to one to set up its eventual 18-point win over Perth to move up into third position on the ladder.

It was a tight affair all afternoon with the Demons leading by seven points at quarter-time and 12 at half-time, but then the Royals turned things around with five goals to one in the third term to suddenly lead by 17 points at the last change.

The Demons stormed back into the contest, though, and got to within five points during the last quarter until East Perth steadied with crucial goals to Dean Cadwallader and Michael Swan to come away with the crucial 18-point victory.

Josh Smith led the way for East Perth with five goals from 19 possessions and five marks with fellow big man Scott Lycett also terrific with 15 touches, eight marks, 25 hit outs and two goals.