10 Things we Learned: Impressed debutants, WAFLW finals race heats up and more

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

Another Banfield makes his mark

AFL Draft prospect Harper Banfield followed a family tradition by donning the blue and gold of West Coast for his senior WAFL debut against West Perth at HIF Health Insurance Oval on Saturday evening.

The Eagles father-son prospect, whose dad Drew won two premierships for the club, impressed in his first taste of senior football.

One year after his older brother Charlie made his debut for West Coast’s WAFL side, the State 18s representative tallied 20 disposals and four inside 50s to be named his team’s best player in the hard-fought 12-point win over the Falcons.

The 17-year-old is looking to join Charlie, who was snapped up by St Kilda last year despite West Coast having priority access, in the AFL later this year.

Top-10 pick Cooper Duff-Tytler pressed his case for a recall after booting four goals in his return from injury, while at the other end five-time Bernie Naylor Medal winner Tyler Keitel kicked six and teenage debutant Harvey Spawton-Guy boosted his draft stocks with a lively two-goal display.

Young gun Harvey Spawton-Guy kicked two goals on debut for the Falcons. Credit: Belinda Taylor

And a Braun as well

Another West Coast father-son prospect starred in the EGT WAFL Colts with Noah Braun impressing for reigning champs Claremont.

Braun booted two goals from 27 disposals to go with five inside 50s, five tackles and four marks as the Tigers got the job done against East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

The son of 2006 West Coast premiership star Michael is coming off a strong finish to the AFL National Under-18s Championships, where he played the final two games of the carnival.

Sam Gallagher (26 disposals) was another big performer for the victors, while Cooper Edwards did the damage up forward with four majors.

Swans seal minor premiership in WAFLW

Swan Districts wrapped up the WAFLW minor premiership race ahead of Claremont after easily defeating Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

The Black Ducks are now one game and 46.6 per cent ahead of the Tigers with one round remaining in the home-and-away season as they look to go one better than their heartbreaking one-point grand final loss last season.

Red-hot Dhara Kerr Medal favourite Jaime Henry racked up a game-high 33 disposals to go with nine tackles, while Taylah Edwards (four goals) and Summer Yarran (three) combined for seven majors in the 74-point win.

Souths end Subi’s WAFLW finals hopes

Subiaco’s faith finals flame has been officially extinguished after their late-season ATCO WAFLW winning streak came to a halt at the hands of South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

Recruit Kiana Lee continued her hot start as a Bulldogs player, booting a game-high four goals, while Madison Hadley chipped in with three in the 13-point win.

Souths kicked four goals to one in the final term to overcome an 11-point three-quarter time deficit.

Midfield trio Krstel Petrevski, Lisa Steane and Paige Sheppard all starred for the Lions but couldn’t drag their team over the line for a fourth win in a row.

Peel machine keeps rolling

Peel Thunder made it 10 wins in a row at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday, overcoming a brave Subiaco outfit by seven points to go a step closer to clinching the minor premiership.

Subi spearhead Ryan Borchet’s fourth major just under 19 minutes into the final term cut the margin back to six points before the Thunder hung on with skipper Jack Sears taking a crucial mark intercept mark late in the game in his return from a finger injury.

Doig medallist Sean Darcy (23 disposals and 39 hit-outs) pressed his case for a Dockers recall with a starring role in the ruck, while youngster Jaren Carr’s (25 disposals) rise continued and first-year Freo player Tobyn Murray (17 disposals and two goals) had his best game since getting drafted.

Captain Greg Clark led from the front for the Lions, amassing 20 disposals and laying a whopping 14 tackles.

Sean Darcy had a big game for the Thunder. Credit: Shazza J Photography

Claremont back on track

Claremont survived a third-quarter scare from East Perth for an important victory at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers conceded four quick goals in the third term before steadying to jump to second spot and keep their top-two hopes alive.

Three teams have 9-5 records – Claremont, Perth and South Fremantle – with four rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.

East Perth’s loss sees them outside of the top-five on percentage as the race for finals spots heats up.

Speedster Sam Alvarez continued his breakout season for the Tigers with 30 disposals, two goals and eight marks, while Sandover Medal winner Bailey Rogers (26 disposals and a goal) also stood up in the absence of injured co-captain Callan England in the midfield and Oliver Eastland (16 disposals and 32 hit-outs) won the ruck battle against Scott Jones.

Another WAFLW talent snapped up

South Fremantle teenager Madi Evans has become the latest ATCO WAFLW talent snapped up by an AFLW club.

The 19-year-old has signed with AFLW powerhouse Brisbane Lions as an injury replacement player.

The talented intercept-marking defender is enjoying a career-best WAFLW season after crossing from East Fremantle to South Fremantle during the off-season, averaging 15.2 disposals and 3.5 marks per game.

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

House party as Demons stun Sharks

Perth stayed in touch with the top-four with an upset victory over East Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

The Demons prevailed by 30 points in a statement performance to be just half a game away from the fourth-placed Sharks with one round to go.

Natalie House starred for the victors, outscoring East Freo on her own with 3.5 to go with 16 disposals and five marks.

AFLW Draft prospect Mia Carlshausen, who was recently named in the Under-18s All-Australian Team, kicked two crucial goals in her lively 14-disposal game.

Perth take on minor premiers Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday, while East Fremantle host West Perth at The Good Grocer Park at the same time in a blockbuster final day of the home-and-away season.

State 16s co-captain Keene as for Colts action

AFL National Under-16s Championship-winning co-captain Jai Keene impressed in his EGT WAFL Colts debut for Peel Thunder at the weekend.

The talented utility was named among the Thunder’s best in their narrow loss to Subiaco in Mandurah, tallying 14 disposals and taking eight marks in an eye-catching display.

The Lions left it late to snatch a hard-fought win over Peel, kicking two goals to none in the final term after scores were level at three-quarter time.

Fellow State 16s representative Zinzan Clark kicked a goal in his debut for Subiaco, while gun duo Benji Beck and Sam O’Brien combined for 52 disposals, 25 tackles and 12 marks and Thatcher Simmons’ (18 disposals and two goals) brilliant season continued.

Under-18s All-Australian shines in Reserves debut

Claremont AFL Draft prospect Benji van Rooyen is closing in on a senior WAFL debut after a strong reserves debut against East Perth on Saturday.

The recently-announced Under-18s All-Australian kicked two goals to go with 12 disposals and 12 hit-outs to be named among the Tigers’ best players.

The younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob played a mix of key forward and ruck.

At the other end, Tom Medhat responded to his axing from the seniors with a dominant five-goal performance to lead the Royals to victory, while former Eagle Coby Burgiel had 29 and a goal to push his case for a senior return.