10 Things We Learned: Crazy WA Day Derby results, miraculous comebacks, WAFLW thrillers and more

We take a look at what happened across the Sullivan Logistics WAFL, ATCO WAFLW and EGT WAFL Colts competitions in a wet and wild weekend of WA Day Weekend action.

Derby droughts over

East Fremantle won their first WA Day Derby in a decade, while West Perth prevailed for the first time this season in a crazy afternoon of derby results.

The injury-hit Sharks provided the first upset of the day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, dominating after half-time to finish 34-point victors over the reigning champs who have now lost back-to-back games.

Young gun Jack Cleaver was best-on-ground for a second game in a row, racking up 37 disposals and kicking two goals including a beauty from the pocket to take home the Derby Medal, while human highlight reel Oskar Smartt (three goals) was back to his brilliant best and tall Griffin Vladich also contributed three majors.

There weren’t too many contributors for the Bulldogs on a tough day at the office, with milestone man Noah Strom switching to the forward line in the final term for three consolation goals.

At Joondalup’s HIF Health Insurance Oval, West Perth hung on for their first win of 2026 in a thrilling four-point triumph.

The Falcons sung their song with gusto post-match after reigning Bernie Naylor Medal winner Tyler Keitel kicked the match-winner in what was the only goal of a tense final term.

Ben Middleton had the chance to win it for East Perth after the siren but his set shot from 50m out only registered a behind.

Former West Coast midfielder Connor West was the standout for the Falcons with 37 disposals and a goal to will his team over the line.

Comeback for the ages

Swan Districts got their season back on track with a miraculous come-from-behind victory over Perth at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday to cap off a special day for the club.

Trailing by 39 points after conceding the first six goals of the match and managing just 1.4 for the half, the Black Ducks looked down and out at half-time.

But coach Andrew Pruyn moved the magnets around to find a spark in the midfield and got exact that from speedster Jackson ‘Mouse’ McLachlan and first-round draft prospect Leo Steed, who helped turn the game in the home side’s favour.

McLachlan finished with 25 disposals and a goal, while Steed racked up 14 second-half touches as Swan Districts kicked seven goals to none in the final term of their inaugural Big Freeze clash to turn a 30-point three-quarter time deficit into an 11-point win.

Debutant Blake Kelly (20 disposals and a goal) looked right at home at senior level, while his older brother Luke kicked an absolute beauty from the pocket late in the last term to seal a famous victory.

Workhorse skipper Jesse Turner (30 disposals, eight marks and four inside 50s) was also instrumental in the victory,

Pre-game, WA football legend Bryan Cousins bravely shared his battle with motor neurone disease as some well-known personalities took the icy plunge to raise money and awareness against MND.

More than $13,000 was raised on the day in a fantastic effort by Swan Districts Football Club.

Comeback for the ages at Steel Blue Oval yesterday, with Swan Districts kicking seven goals to none in the final term to turn a 30-point three-quarter time deficit into an 11-point victory over Perth. Special day for the club which hosted their inaugural Big Freeze and raised… pic.twitter.com/O1XUayOoDt

— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) May 31, 2026

Oh so close

Juliet Kelly won’t be in the WAFLW much longer with performances like this.

The prolific Claremont midfielder nearly broke her own ATCO WAFLW record in Sunday’s big win over Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Kelly finished with a whopping 47 disposals, one shy of her record-breaking performance in Round 8 of last season.

Her astonishing stat line included 11 inside 50s, eight clearances and three score assists.

The Tigers are arguably the form team of the competition right now, having beaten the previously-undefeated Swan Districts last round before a 23-point win over the Demons.

Friday night WAFLW thrillers

Round 9 of the ATCO WAFLW competition started with a pair of absolute thrillers on Friday night, with five points to combined margin across two games.

Summer Yarran was the hero for premiership fancies Swan Districts, kicking the match-winning goal late in the final term of the four-point victory.

Four were four changes in the last quarter-and-a-bit of the see-sawing content, with Subiaco’s charge led by star midfield duo Krstel Petrevski and Paige Sheppard who had 35 disposals apiece and returning former AFLW champion Dana Hooker who contributed in her highly-anticipated return.

On-ballers Jaime Henry (19 disposals and nine tackles) and Naomi Baker (18, seven tackles and a goal) were among the best for Swan Districts.

At The Good Grocer Park, East Fremantle prevailed over their wayward arch-rivals by a solitary point – 5.3 (33) to 4.8 (32).

The Sharks, who have been one of the surprise packets of the competition this season, led by as much as 18 points in the third quarter before South Fremantle came home with a wet sail to make a game of it with Annalie Polimeno kicking two final-quarter goals.

But the home side held on for a heart-stopping one-point victory.

Souths’ streak over

South Fremantle’s EGT WAFL Colts winning streak has finally come to an end at the hands of arch-rivals East Fremantle in the final game of Round 8 on Monday evening.

After watching their seniors shock the Bulldogs, the young Sharks repeated the dose in the Colts in what was a memorable 12-point victory.

Last season’s State 16s MVP James Artemis and former WA under-16s co-captain Hunter Hearn made valuable contributions, while sharpshooter and State 18s squad member Ben Wood booted an equal game-high three goals.

The Eagles have found a couple

West Coast have found a couple of beauties in Mid-Season draftees Marcus Herbert and Oliver Francou.

Both were among the best in the Eagles’ WAFL loss to Peel Thunder on Sunday afternoon, just five days after getting drafted.

Herbert had 23 disposals (including 10 in the opening term), three inside 50s and three tackles.

Herbert’s run out of the middle in the final term caught the eye. Francou’s defensive pressure and work rate were outstanding, with his crunching tackle on Scott Tuia in the centre late in the third a real highlight in his 19-disposal, seven-tackle debut.

However, their performances couldn’t lift West Coast to a win, with Peel Thunder recovering from a slow start to prevail by 22 points.

Captain Jack Sears was brilliant for the victors, kicking three goals and having a hand in several others in tough conditions.

Recruit and fellow Kia WAFL State Team representative Lachlan Tardrew was also influential for the Thunder, collecting a game-high 31 disposals through the midfield.

Fremantle-listed ruckman Sean Darcy had a successful return from a calf injury, having an impact in the ruck and around the ground, while Bailey Banfield stood tall down back and Jaeger O’Meara impressed in the middle.

West Coast have found a couple of beauties in Mid-Season draftees Marcus Herbert and Oliver Francou. Both were among the best in the Eagles’ WAFL loss to Peel Thunder this afternoon. Herbert had 23 disposals (including 10 in the opening term), three inside 50s and three tackles.… pic.twitter.com/w8cLbxhXQ4

— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) May 31, 2026

Creyk one to watch for 2027 draft

Bottom-ager Campbell Creyk announced himself as a player to watch for the 2027 AFL Draft with dominant Derby performance in West Perth’s thrashing of East Perth at HIF Health Insurance Oval on WA Day.

Creyk, who will feature for the AAMI WA Football State 18s Boys in the upcoming AFL National Under-18s Championship, put up a staggering 40 disposals to go with a a goal in an eye-catching display for the Falcons.

Luca Boczar also continued his hot form, fresh off winning the EGT Brights Lights last round, racking up 36 touches and a goal for the second week in a row.

Tigers leave it late

Ladder leaders Claremont hung onto a three-point win over Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday after kicking the final two goals of the match.

Young Lion Keiren Douglas had the chance to be the hero in the dying stages of the thrilling contest but missed his shot, handing the Tigers a tight victory.

It came after Sam van Rooyen and Zac Mainwaring kicked consecutive goals within three minutes to turn around a deficit midway through the final term.

The usual suspects of co-captains Bailey Rogers (33 disposals and a goal) and Callan England (29) and vice-captain Oliver Eastland (23 disposals and 43 hit-outs) starred for the Tigers, while Kieran Gowdie was the main man up forward with three majors.

Cooper is no dud

Swan Districts young gun Cooper Dudfield produced one of the best individual goal-kicking performances of the year in the EGT WAFL Colts on Saturday.

The 195cm key forward booted 7.2 to go with 18 disposals and seven marks as the Black Ducks easily accounted for Perth by 54 points at Steel Blue Oval.

Dudfield now has 20 majors in seven matches, four clear of Peel Thunder tall Trent Robertson on 16.

Van Rooyen tunes up for National Champs in style

Claremont draft prospect Benji van Rooyen tuned up for the AFL National Under-18s Championship in style with a best-on-ground performance in the EGT WAFL Colts on Saturday.

Van Rooyen, who’s part of the AAMI WA Football State 18s leadership group and is one of the State’s top prospect, starred in the ruck for the reigning champs as they prevailed over Subiaco by 13 points at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob finished with 20 disposals, 27 hit-outs and six marks in a dominant display for the Tigers.

It will be his last appearance for Claremont until after the National Champs, with WA to play one more trial game for their carnival opener against South Australia at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, June 13.