10 Things we Learned: Double delight for Swans, TK the fine wine, Fin-tastic form and more

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

Double delight for Black Ducks

Swan Districts are the first team through to the ATCO WAFLW Grand Final after a heart-stopping one-point win over reigning champs Claremont in Sunday’s Second Semi Final at Steel Blue Oval.

The minor premiers prevailed in a see-sawing epic with Shaya Yarran kicking the match-winning point with a little over five minutes left on the clock.

The Black Ducks made their move in the third term with three goals on the trot after trailing by as much as 10 points early in the second half.

Former Docker Ash Sharp capped off a massive week, where she was crowned the Joanne Huggins WAFLW leading goal-kicker, with an important performance up forward.

Sharp popped with a pair of third-quarter majors.

Claremont key forward Bec Anderson, who finished second in the competition’s leading goal-kicker race, also kicked two goals.

Dhara Kerr Medal fancy Jaime Henry starred in the midfield with a team-high 23 disposals and 12 tackles, while former Swans and Eagles AFLW gun Hayley Bullas was impressive for the Tigers with 29 possessions and 11 tackles to continue her hot form.

Jaime Henry starred in the Swans’ one-point win over Claremont. Credit: Blake Parry/The Sports Photo

It capped off a big day for Swan Districts, who earlier secured their spot in the HART Sport Rogers Cup decider with a thrilling five-point win over East Fremantle.

Both teams will feature on WAFLW Grand Final day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Sunday, August 23.

Sharks down WAFLW rivals

East Fremantle edged out arch-rivals South Fremantle at The Good Grocer Park on Sunday in another cracking finals contest to keep their season alive.

The Sharks now face Claremont in Sunday’s Preliminary Final at Revo Fitness Stadium, with the winner qualifying for the Grand Final the following Sunday.

Jae Flynn was sensational for the Sharks in the four-point victory, tallying a game-high 23 disposals, laying 11 tackles and kicking a goal.

It’s season over for the Bulldogs, likewise for the Rogers Cup Tigers who went down to Subiaco in Sunday afternoon’s do-or-die First Semi Final by 10 points.

The Lions now take on the Sharks at Revo Fitness Stadium this Sunday for a spot in the Rogers Cup final against Swan Districts.

Royals back in the five

Last season’s grand finalists East Perth are back in the five after downing reigning premiers South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

The Royals prevailed by 20 points to leapfrog Sullivan Logistics Stadium co-tenants Subiaco on the ladder after the Lions fell short against West Coast.

They also managed to get ahead of Souths on percentage as well, finishing the round in fourth position.

Young gun Will Cassidy starred for East Perth with 20 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, Scott Jones was dominant in the ruck with more than 50 hit-outs and defender Jake Soutar strengthened his mature-aged draft credentials after getting invited to the WA State Combine during the week.

Only percentage separates third-placed Perth and sixth-ranked West Coast with two rounds remaining, with Subiaco one game behind in seventh as the race for finals spots heats up.

Like a fine wine

West Perth veteran Tyler Keitel produced a stunning performance to lead his team to just their second win of the season against East Fremantle at HIF Health Insurance Oval on Saturday.

Keitel booted six goals from 31 disposals as the Falcons claimed the Jayde Kinane Memorial Cup in style.

The five-time Bernie Naylor Medal winner now has a six-goal buffer atop the WAFL leading goal-kicker table, with 49 majors for the season, after Perth’s Aaron Clarke was held goalless for the second week in a row.

Draft prospect Harvey Spawton-Guy kicked two goals for the third game in a row, while midfielders Connor West and Shane Nelson were also important in the 45-point win.

Fin-tastic form

West Coast recruit Finlay Macrae continues to bang down the door for an AFL call-up.

The prolific midfielder produced another best-on-ground performance as the Eagles stayed in touch with the top five with their third win in a row.

Macrae finished with 30 disposals and nine inside 50s to lead the Eagles to a come-from-behind victory over Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium to jump to sixth on the ladder with two rounds remaining.

It was Macrae’s third 30-plus disposal game in a row as the former Collingwood player closes in on a club debut at West Coast.

Ruckman Matt Flynn was also important as West Coast came back from 16 points down at half-time to prevail by 17, while former Souths forward Caleb Datson kicked three second-half goals.

More draft prospects step up to seniors

Claremont ruck Benji van Rooyen and smooth-moving East Perth half-back Garrison Kenh were the latest State 18s representatives to make their senior WAFL debuts.

Under-18s All-Australian van Rooyen partnered up with vice-captain Oliver Eastland in the ruck as the Tigers overcame Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

The 203cm ruck finished with nine disposals, 12 hit-outs and four tackles in a promising first taste of senior action.

Kenh also enjoyed a winning debut, with the West Coast Next Generation Academy talent featuring in the Eagles’ hard-fought win over Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

He showed poise and composure off half-back, using it well in tough conditions.

A few nice moments on WAFL debut for West Coast Next Generation Academy talent Garrison Kenh. Showed great composure and used it well in tough conditions as the WAFL Eagles secured an important victory against fellow finals hopefuls Subiaco. pic.twitter.com/jOGaVJh4g6

— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) August 8, 2026

Luckless Docker returns

It was the comeback 386 days in the making.

Luckless Fremantle forward Sam Sturt returned for Peel Thunder in Saturday’s win over Perth at Mineral Resources Park after a horror run of injuries.

Sturt’s goal late in the third quarter was one of the moments of the match, with teammates getting around him after he slotted through his mid-range set shot.

The Thunder made it a dozen wins in a row with a 15-point triumph as midfielder Lachlan Tardrew went berserk with three goals and 36 disposals and ruckman Sean Darcy put his hand up for an AFL recall with a dominant performance which included 56 hit-outs, 18 disposals and a goal.

Sandover Medal fancy Jeremy Sharp returned to form with 23 disposals and two goals.

A special moment for luckless Docker Sam Sturt in his long-awaited return for Peel Thunder yesterday, kicking a goal late in the third quarter with his teammates getting around him. Sturt got through his first senior game in 386 days as the Thunder edged out Perth by 15 points. pic.twitter.com/0SqBIYpxyM

— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) August 9, 2026

Second-gamer stars

Hayden Symons stepped up with a match-winning performance for Perth in just his second EGT WAFL Colts appearance.

The 190cm forward booted a game-high six majors to lead the Demons to a 65-point win over Peel Thunder at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

The 16-year-old now has eight goals in two games in an exciting start to his Colts career.

Bottom-aged State 18s representative Fynn Tomasini also impressed for the victors with 27 disposals, seven inside 50s and two goals.

Bulldogs’ ruck star

State 18s representative Byron Foster produced a dominant performance in the ruck to help South Fremantle go a step closer to claiming the minor premiership.

Foster stuffed the stats sheet in his best-afield display with 25 disposals, 36 hit-outs, nine marks, eight inside 50s and two goals as the Bulldogs prevailed in a one-sided affair against East Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Fellow WA squad member Hudson Graham, the son of Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie, was another big performer for Souths with 22 disposals and 10 marks.

South Fremantle are percentage ahead of reigning champs Claremont atop the Colts ladder with a game in hand.

Another WAFLW talent snapped up

Perth star Isabella Shannon has been rewarded for a dominant ATCO WAFLW season with a second chance in the AFLW.

The former St Kilda midfielder was snapped up by West Coast last week as an injury replacement player.

Shannon impressed in her second season at the Demons, averaging more than 27 disposals and a goal per game as the WAFLW’s newest team came within one win of making their maiden finals campaign.

Shannon joins Perth teammate Poppy Stockwell (Hawthorn), South Fremantle pair Natasha Entwistle (West Coast), Madi Evans (Brisbane Lions) and Claremont ball magnet Juliet Kelly (Adelaide) in being added to AFLW lists as replacement players this off-season in a massive coup for the WAFLW competition.