10 Things we Learned: Van Diemen downs Demons, Peel through to GF, Colt heroes and more

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

Van Diemen’s land

Sam van Diemen was the hero as East Perth snatched a dramatic First Semi Final victory over Perth in an instant classic at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Van Diemen kicked the match-winning goal from the pocket in the dying seconds as the fifth-placed Royals kept their season alive with their second upset win as many weeks, prevailing by just two points.

East Perth’s win was even more remarkable given they were forced to make four changes due to injury with Stan Wright (hamstring), Ben Middleton (hamstring), Liam Tedesco (calf) and Tyler Lindberg (knee) all unavailable.

It means the Demons’ finals campaign is over in straight sets in a heartbreaking end to a promising season.

Co-captain Hamish Brayshaw continued his strong form for the Royals with 23 disposals, eight marks and six inside 50s, while fellow ex-Eagle Luke Foley was brilliant across half-back with a team-high 34 disposals.

Reigning Sandover medallist Charlie Constable was Perth’s best with a game-high 37 touches and a goal.

Peel off to the big dance

Peel Thunder are the first team into the Sullivan Logistics WAFL Grand Final on Sunday, September 20, after defeating Claremont by 28 points in Saturday’s Second Semi Final at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah.

The minor premiers led at every change to get the job done comfortably on their home turf.

Recruit Lachlan Tardrew led the way with 28 disposals, six tackles and a goal, while youngster Jaren Carr’s rise continued with a game-high 29 touches and seven marks.

Key forward Charlie Nicholls impressed up forward with three majors, while Tobyn Murray chipped in with two.

Livewire Zac Mainwaring was Claremont’s best in his return from concussion with three goals including two early ones to give his team a spark, with ruckman Oliver Eastland battling hard and young gun Heath Mellody impressing once again.

The Tigers get a second chance this Sunday when they face East Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium for a spot in the decider.

Axel makes his mark

Highly-rated East Perth talent Axel Walsh had an eye-catching senior debut in his team’s thrilling win over Perth.

The 203cm ruck, who is in the frame to be pre-selected by Tasmania later this year, had some big moments late as the Royals kept their season alive.

The bottom-ager became the 13th member of the WA State 18s squad to make playing senior footy this season, following in the footsteps of Lucas Robinson and Cam Maynard (South Fremantle), Heath Mellody, George Gale and Benji van Rooyen (Claremont), Harper Banfield, Garrison Kenh and Cody Lee (West Coast), Leo Steed (Swan Districts), Frazer Rickson (Subiaco) and Harvey Spawton-Guy and Koby LeCras (West Perth).

Demons Reserves out in straight sets too

Just like the seniors, Perth’s Reserves were bundled out in straight sets at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

West Perth kept their premiership hopes alive with a hard-fought 14-point win over the highly-fancied Demons in the evening fixture.

Midfielder Matt Galjaardt produced a best-on-ground performance with 34 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s and two goals.

John Coleman (27 disposals and five inside 50s) and son of a gun Jack Wooden (20 disposals, seven tackles and two goals) also found plenty of it, while Matt McKenzie and Max Connell contributed three goals apiece.

Angus Luers fought hard with the Demons with a game-high four majors.

Black Ducks through to ressies grand final

Minor premiers Swan Districts powered their way through to the WAFL Reserves grand final after a nine-point win over East Perth in Saturday’s Second Semi Final at Mineral Resources Park.

Young gun Blake Kelly starred in the midfield with 28 disposals, seven marks and a goal, while Ayden Cartwright (25 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal) was also important and big man Tom Smith impressed in the ruck.

Brody Delaney kicked a game-high three goals for the Royals, with utility Tom Medhat (14 disposals, nine marks and a goal) pushing his case for a senior recall.

The Royals get a second chance to qualify for the grand final when they take on arch rivals West Perth in Sunday’s Preliminary Final at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Sharks the team to beat in Colts

East Fremantle have underlined themselves as premiership favourites in the EGT WAFL Colts after an easy win over reigning champs Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.

The minor premiers prevailed in style by 36 points with Tasmania prospect James Artemis (20 disposals and eight tackles) continuing his hot form and AFL Under-16s All-Australian Aiden Martignago (15 disposals and one goal) kicking the sealer in just his second game.

Draft prospects – ruck Benji van Rooyen, midfielder Harper Banfield and key defender Tom Brown – were all among the Tigers’ best, while son of a gun Noah Braun missed through injury but is expected to return for this Sunday’s Preliminary Final against South Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Souths Colts stay alive

South Fremantle have bounced back from their Qualifying Final defeat to Claremont with a brilliant win over West Perth in Mandurah on Saturday.

Bottom-ager and Jack Clarke Medal fancy Chace Vanderhoek starred once again with 29 disposals and nine inside 50s, with his midfield partner in crime Jack McAuliffe (22 disposals, six inside 50s and a goal) also impressive in the win.

Byron Foster was strong in the ruck with 19 disposals and 28 hit-outs, while small forward Cooper Matera was lively in attack with three goals.

Exciting bottom-ager Campbell Creyk tried hard for the Falcons, tallying a game-high 30 touches and seven tackles.

Flynn named top Eagle

West Coast big man Matt Flynn has won his first WAFL fairest-and-best award at the club’s John Worsfold Medal count at Crown Perth on Friday night.

Flynn had a massive year for the WAFL Eagles, tallying the most hit-outs in the home-and-away season with 598 across 16 games.

The AFL-listed ruckman edged out ball magnet Fin Macrae who had a strong debut season at the club, with young midfielder-forward Tom Gross rounding out top three.

WA reaches double-digit debutants in AFLW

It’s taken just four rounds of the AFLW season for WA to reach double-figure debutants.

Former AAMI WA Football State 18s Girls co-captain Renee Morgan, State 18s MVP Carys D’Addario and late-season recruit Madison Evans were the latest West Aussies to get a taste of AFLW action last weekend.

Morgan, a classy on-baller from South Fremantle, was taken by Geelong with pick 43 in last year’s AFLW Draft following a strong year in the ATCO WAFLW and AFLW National Under-18s Championships.

She featured in Sunday’s win over Essendon at GMHBA Stadium.

D’Addario debuted in the Saints’ loss to powerhouse North Melbourne at RSEA Park on Saturday, while South Fremantle gun Madi Evans enjoyed a winning debut for Brisbane in their home clash against GWS on Saturday evening.

Evans was only picked up by the Lions in late July as a replacement player and will make her debut around six weeks later in a remarkable rise for the teenage intercept-marking defender.

The trio took the number of WAFLW products to debut in the AFLW this season to 11, following in the footsteps of East Fremantle duo Noa McNaughton (Fremantle) and Maya Louvel-Finn (St Kilda), Subiaco pair Olivia Wolmarans (Richmond) and Olivia Crane (Port Adelaide), Perth’s Fina Dethlefsen (Richmond), South Fremantle’s Natasha Entwistle (West Coast), West Perth’s Mia Russo (West Coast) and Peel Thunder’s Evie Cowcher (Geelong).

The list includes all three of WA’s co-captains from last year – Morgan, Russo and Crane.

Perth pair Isabella Shannon and Poppy Stockwell also debuted for their new AFLW debuts, West Coast and Hawthorn respectively.

It came as McNaughton kicked a stunning first goal on the run during Fremantle’s away win over Richmond on Sunday.

New Eagle wins Bulldogs’ fairest-and-best

South Fremantle star turned West Coast recruit Natasha Entwistle has claimed the Bulldogs’ WAFLW fairest-and-best award after a standout campaign.

Entwistle won the Jenna Allomes Medal for her brilliant season, averaging 21 disposals and seven tackles before getting picked up by the Eagles as an injury-replacement player.

The 19-year-old has already broken through for an AFLW debut for the Eagles since getting snapped up and played in their most recent game against Melbourne at Mineral Resources Park, finishing with nine disposals and three clearances.