10 Things we Learned: WAFLW thrillers, champs in trouble, season over for Swans?

We take a look at the biggest talking points across the Sullivan Logistics WAFL, ATCO WAFLW and EGT WAFL Colts competitions.

Reigning champs in trouble as Dees fire again

South Fremantle’s premiership defence is hanging by a thread after their fourth loss in five games, going down to an in-form Perth by 34 points at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

The Demons made it three wins in a row including both grand finalists from last year in consecutive games to jump to third on the ladder as they loom as a darkhorse in the flag race.

Defender Charlie Dean was best-afield, with the former Collingwood player reeling in a staggering 10 marks in his 22-disposal performance.

Sharpshooter Aaron Clarke became joint-leader in the Bernie Naylor Medal with his three majors taking him to 33 for the season, equal with West Perth veteran Tyler Keitel who won it last year.

Kane Johnston and recruit Jack Kluske chimed in with two apiece, as did strong-bodied 18-year-old William Tilbee who’s putting together a fine debut season in the seniors.

The competition’s leading disposal getter and reigning Sandover Medal winner Charlie Constable had a game-high 28 disposals for the Demons, with his fellow co-captain Corey Byrne finishing with 25 in his return and Brandan Parfitt also had 25.

Perth booted seven goals to none in the third quarter to secure their first win over the Bulldogs in three years.

Subi shock in WAFLW

Subiaco handed ATCO WAFLW ladder leaders Swan Districts just their second loss of the season in a five-point thriller at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Dynamic midfield duo Lisa Steane (30 disposals) and reigning Dhara Kerr Medal winner Krstel Petrevski (25 and two goals) led the way for the Lions, while Paige Sheppard (29) also found plenty of it.

Scores were level at three-quarter time of the low-scoring affair before State 16s representative Beatrice Crane stepped up to kick the match-winning goal.

Swan Districts were left to rue their missed chances in front of goal, kicking a wasteful 3.8 for the match to Subi’s 5.1.

Thrillers aplenty in WAFLW

Three of the four WAFLW games across Round 13 were single-digit results in a thrilling weekend of women’s footy in WA.

Subiaco defeated Swan Districts by five points, fast-finishing reigning premiers Claremont edged out East Fremantle by three points and South Fremantle snatched a two-point win over Perth.

West Perth’s 14-point win over Peel Thunder in Joondalup on Sunday evening was the largest result in a round where the average margin was just six points.

The Tigers are now just percentage behind Swan Districts after coming back from 19 points down early in the third term with a three-goals-to-one second half at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Bec Anderson booted two second-half goals including the winner early in the final term, while two-time Dhara Kerr Medal winner Jayme Harken wreaked havoc in the midfield with 33 disposals.

Madison Hadley was the hero in the Bulldogs’ see-sawing win over the Demons, kicking truly with a little over a minute left in the game after Perth clawed back to snatch the lead earlier in the quarter.

Seventh heaven for Peel

Ladder leaders Peel Thunder extended their winning streak to seven, disposing of West Perth by 88 points at HIF Health Insurance Oval in Joondalup on Saturday.

Fremantle-listed midfielder Jeremy Sharp further strengthen his Sandover Medal chances with another dominant performance, booting three goals from 25 disposals, while defender Oscar McDonald was brilliant down back and Corey Tregenza stood tall up forward with three majors.

It sets up a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash against Claremont at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah this Saturday.

Both teams are 8-3 after Round 12 with the Tigers returning to form.

Sharks’ brave fightback falls short in inaugural Kai-Fella Game

East Fremantle came within a goal of a miracle come-from-behind victory over Claremont in Saturday’s inaugural Kai-Fella Game at The Good Grocer Park.

The Sharks trailed by 27 points at three-quarter time before making the most of the stiff breeze in the final term, kicking five goals to one to give the Tigers an almighty scare.

Veteran Cam Eardley put on a fantastic performance in the game dedicated to his late brother Kai, amassing 21 disposals and kicking a stunning long-range goal from 55m out in the last term to kickstart his team’s last-quarter assault.

Twin towers Jaiden Hunter (four goals) and Kieran Gowdie (three) combined for seven majors for Claremont, while co-captain Callan England (33 disposals and eight tackles) continued his hot form.

Season over for Swans?

Swan Districts’ finals hopes are all but over after a heart-breaking four-point loss to Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

The Black Ducks led by 16 points midway through the third term before the Lions piled on six goals in a row either side of three-quarter time to jump back into the top five.

The visitors had their chances to win the contest with defender-turned-forward Will Collins and Jiah Reidy both missing golden opportunities late as Subi hung on for a memorable victory.

Stefan Giro was brilliant for the victors in the midfield, versatile tall Jack Mayo (two goals) had some important moments up forward and in the ruck, while young forward Campbell Henderson grabbed everything in his path on the way to two majors and 10 marks.

Swan Districts are now three games out of the top five with a 3-8 record.

Bad kicking is bad footy

West Coast only had themselves to blame after squandering an important game against an injury-hit East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Friday night.

The Eagles led at every change but could only manage six behinds in a disappointing final quarter as the Royals came home with a wet sail by prevail by five points.

Former Brisbane Lion Darcy Craven gave East Perth the lead at the 13-minute mark of the final term before Kade Screaigh extended his side’s advantage to seven points soon after.

West Coast missed three consecutive shots late in the match to slip further away from top-five calculations.

East Perth on the other hand are just percentage behind five-placed Subiaco.

Midfielder Liam Tedesco was impressive for the Royals, stepping up in the absence of injured co-captains Hamish Brayshaw and Christian Ameduri, while young gun Tyler Lindberg made the most of his promotion to the seniors.

Draft prospect fit and firing

AAMI WA Football State 18s representative Jayden Clarke produced his best game of the season to bounce back from an injury-interrupted period.

The Perth draft prospect booted three goals from 26 disposals in a stunning performance in his team’s easy win over ladder leaders South Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

The livewire continues to build after being sidelined with a broken arm earlier in the season and looms as an important player for WA in their final two games of the AFL National Under-18s Championship.

The kids are all right

Keep an eye out for these future WAFL stars.

The AAMI WA Football State 16s Boys got their National Championships campaign off to a flying start, defeating a fast-finishing South Australia in Adelaide for the first time in more than a decade on Saturday morning.

A best-on-ground performance from East Fremantle young gun Troy Warner inspired WA to carnival-opening victory over the Croweaters.

The exciting 2028 AFL Draft prospect and WA co-captain dominated in the midfield to help with Black Swans to a 12-point win – 9.14 (68) to 9.2 (56).

The younger brother of Sydney Swans pair Chad and Corey finished with 25 disposals, four clearances and four inside 50s, setting the tone early in the engine room.

There were plenty of other contributors all over the ground with Claremont tall Sam Gooch (14 disposals, 12 hit-outs, five clearances and four inside 50s) impressive in the ruck, East Fremantle sharpshooter Jayke Taylor (pictured above) the main focal point in attack with two majors and seven marks, East Perth spearhead Nate Cass chipped in with 2.3 and Swan Districts defender Coby Jackson stood tall in the back half.

Aiden Martignago, one of nine East Fremantle players out there, was lively through the middle with 16 disposals, five tackles four clearances and a goal, with his Sharks teammates Owen Hodge (16 disposals, four marks and four inside 50s) and Aiden Wilson (16, four inside 50s and a goal) also having a big say in the contest.

The win over SA means WA have now defeated their arch-rivals in the Kia WAFL and WAFLW State Games and State 18s boys this year.

Another WAFLW talent gets snapped up

South Fremantle star Natasha Entwistle has become third ATCO WAFLW player within a month to be snapped up by an AFLW club as an injury-replacement player.

The versatile and reliable Bulldogs midfielder has signed with West Coast as a replacement for vice-captain and Claremont product Mikayla Western who’s sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

The 19-year-old utility has averaged more than 21 disposals per game this season and featured in the Kia WAFLW State Team’s breakthrough victory over the SANFL at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in May.

Entwistle joins Perth sharpshooter Poppy Stockwell (Hawthorn) and Claremont ball magnet Juliet Kelly (Adelaide) as players from the WAFLW joining AFLW clubs as injury replacements in recent weeks.