WAFL Round 8 RecapTuesday, June 3, 2025 - 3:54 PM

The WA Day long weekend saw wet weather hit Perth and affect many WAFL games across the round.

Swan Districts won a second of their last three games, while Claremont made a statement on Saturday in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

Swan Districts 11.10 (76) v West Coast 7.7 (49)

Swan Districts have begun to turn their season around over the last few weeks and thanks to huge performances from Jesse Turner, Aidan Clarke and Jye Chalcraft they posted another big victory over a bottom two side.

Turner ran circles around the Eagles to collect 37 touches, nine marks and a goal, while Clarke fought through a second half tag to amass 29 disposals as well as six marks and five tackles.

Chalcraft finished with 27 disposals and two goals as the Swans midfield established their dominance.

Leigh Kohlmann returned to the Black Ducks’ side and booted three goals.

Clay Hall battled hard for the Eagles, finishing with 30 disposals, six marks, six tackles and two goals, whilst AFL Mid-Season number 1 draft pick Tom McCarthy looked very classy off half back, finishing with 26 disposals and five marks.

Campbell Chesser made a successful return to the football field after he last played in Round 20 last season, collecting 22 disposals to go with five marks and eight tackles.

Loch Rawlinson was also gallant in defeat.

Peel Thunder 10.7 (67) v Subiaco 8.15 (63)

Subiaco failed to hold on for their second victory of the season in Mandurah falling in the final minutes to the reigning premiers.

The Lions, who will rue kicking nine behinds in a huge second quarter effort, led at the 19 minute-mark of the final term, before Jack Delean kicked his fifth goal to retake the lead.

Peel kept their finals hopes alive on the back of great outings from Will Brodie (32 disposals), Traye Bennell (26 disposals, seven marks), and Liam Reidy (18 disposals, 46 hit outs, six tackles, one goal), while Nathan O’Driscoll is nearing an AFL return after his best game back from injury and Oscar McDonald was solid in defence.

Greg Clark did all he could for the visitors, posting 27 disposals, 14 tackles and a goal, while Liam Hickmott laid 13 tackles himself to go with 21 touches.

Jack Mayo kicked two goals from 17 possessions, 12 hit outs and seven tackles, while Taj Schofield (16 disposals, 10 tackles) was also impressive after his WA State selection.

Claremont 20.8 (128) v Perth 9.7 (61)

A battle between fourth and fifth was a contest at halftime before the Tigers booted 11 goals to 1 in the second half to overtake the Demons on the ladder.

Claremont kicked an accurate 20.8 for the afternoon, led by Kieran Gowdie who finished with a career-best seven goals from 15 disposals and 10 marks.

Gowdie put himself into Bernie Naylor Medal consideration, now sitting in fifth position,
just behind Aaron Clarke who managed two goals in this same game.

Alec Waterman, Riley Disisto and Oliver Eastland, who also won 40 hit outs, all kicked multiple majors for the home side too.

The Tigers big three midfielders in Bailey Rogers, Jye Bolton and Callan England flexed their muscles, combing to collect 99 disposals, while Rogers and England each chipped in with a goal.

Mitchell Barron laid 14 tackles from 16 disposals for the Tigers.

Perth midfielders Charlie Constable and Brandon Parfitt continue to rack up the ball, amassing 64 disposals and laying 23 tackles between them, whilst Constable also kicked two goals.

South Fremantle 10.21 (81) v East Fremantle 4.3 (27)

The Fremantle Derby was never particularly close and if not for some terribly inaccurate goalkicking the margin could have been somewhat embarrassing for the Sharks as South Fremantle won their seventh game in eight matches to go a game clear on top of the WAFL ladder.

The Bulldogs kicked 10.21 in wet conditions as their big names – Isiah Winder (30 disposals, six marks, one goal), Matthew Parker (29 disposals) and Tom Blechynden (27 disposals, 14 tackles) all stood out.

Jaxon Artemis impressed again in his second game of League football, while Zach Strom booted four goals to lead South Fremantle to a comfortable victory.

Hamish Free won 53 hit outs in a dominant display.

Kyle Baskerville, Cameron Eardley, Harrison Marsh and Milan Murdock were among the usual best for East Fremantle, but the Sharks could only manage four goals on Monday afternoon, the loss dropping them to third on the ladder.

East Perth 12.11 (83) v West Perth 5.8 (38)

A Hamish Brayshaw-less Royals outfit was far too strong for West Perth after quarter time, East Perth climbing to second on the table after a 45-point win in torrential rain.

The downpour didn’t seem to inhibit the skills of the two clubs , East Perth simply too good for the seventh placed Falcons.

Liam Tedesco (26 disposals, six marks, one goal) was outstanding all day, as were Tom North (30 disposals, 10 tackles) and Scott Jones, who won 57 hit outs.

Angus Scott and Zachary Raykos won plenty of the football, whilst Sam van Diemen took full advantage to kick four goals in the wet.

Sebit Kuek, Coby Burgiel and Mitchell Schofield all booted two goals and Jordyn Baker and Jacob Msando impressed down back.

Tyler Keitel managed two goals for the visiting side, while Corey Rundle led the way for the Falcons with 27 disposals and nine tackles.