WAFL Story Lines: WAFLW upsets, Sandover fancies, returning young gunsMonday, July 14, 2025 - 5:37 PM - by Jordan McArdle

We take a look at the biggest story lines across the WAFL and WAFLW competitions in our weekly column.

Ex-Docker’sSandover hopes heading North

Former Fremantle-listed talent Tom North is putting together a serious case to win the Sandover Medal.

The prolific East Perth midfielder continued his career-best season with another dominant performance, leading his team to a massive win over Perth with 32 disposals, six clearances and two goals.

He’s averaging 29.2 disposals per game, 11 more than his 2024 season average.

Fellow Tom – key forward Tom Medhat – was outstanding in attack, taking a staggering 12 marks and booting four goals in the statement 80-point thrashing of fellow finals aspirant Perth to celebrate Angus Scott's 100th game in style at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

Young guns return

A host of WA under-18s talent featured across the Sullivan Logistics WAFL and EGT Colts competition over the weekend after the team’s AFL National U18 Championship campaign finished.

West Perth pair Jacob Farrow and Sam Swadling, among the Black Swans’ best across the carnival, were rewarded with their senior debut in Saturday night’s win over West Coast at HIF Health Insurance Oval in Joondalup.

Farrow had 14 disposals, four marks and four tackles across half-back, while Swadling kicked a goal from a dozen disposals.

Fellow youngster Matt Galjaardt (15 disposals, four clearances and a goal) also debuted for the Falcons, who overcame a Tim Kelly-inspired Eagles to prevail by 29 points.

Midfielder and mature-aged draft prospect Kane Bevan continues to bang down the draft door with a best-afield performance, amassing a game-high 33 possessions and three goals.

In the colts, South Fremantle’s State 18s midfield trio Lucas Robinson, Toby Whan and Fred Rodriguez helped the ladder leaders continue their winning ways against a brave Swan Districts outfit at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday morning.

Fresh off his AFL National Under-18s Championship debut, bottom-ager Robinson racked up 34 disposals, six inside 50s, five clearances and a goal, with Whan (27, nine clearances and a goal) and Rodriguez (21, eight inside 50s and a goal) also prominent.

WA under-18s leadership group member Blake Kelly (27 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and a goal) was excellent in his return for Swan Districts.

Luke Hallett (19 and eight clearances) was among the best for East Perth who went down to Perth, booted by the return of Dale Sutherland (29 disposals, nine rebound 50s and six tackles).

Upsets aplenty in WAFLW

East Fremantle and Swan Districts caused upsets over Claremont and South Fremantle respectively, while Perth secured just the second win in their history in an action-packed Round 15 of WAFLW.

The Sharks handed premiership fancies Claremont only the second loss off their dominant season to go within percentage of the top-four.

South Fremantle’s loss to the Black Ducks, after knocking off top-two outfits Subiaco and Claremont in consecutive weeks, mean both Fremantle rivals have 8-6 records with just 2.21 per cent separating them.

It came as the Demons enjoyed their first win under caretaker coach Rob Wiley, who’s taken the reins with Jessica Sedunary returning to Adelaide and prepare for the exciting arrival of her first child.

Isabella Shannon was brilliant for the victors with a whopping 37 disposals, nine inside 50s, nine marks and a goal in the 23-point triumph over Peel Thunder.

Swan Districts knocked off the in-form Souths in a thriller with Jaime Henry more than doubling the next disposal getter on the ground with 39 touches to go with eight tackles and six inside 50s.

The Sharks were well serviced by Amber Kinnane 15 disposals and two goals), Natasha Entwistle (21 disposals and nine marks) and Mylee Leitch in their 12-point win over the Tigers in a low-scoring Friday night affair at The Good Grocer Park.

Souths continue winning ways

Ladder leaders South Fremantle extended their winning streak to eight with a hard-fought win over Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

Matthew Parker (23 disposals, five clearances and two goals) was again among the best to strengthen his Sandover Medal credentials, with Isiah Winder, Tom Blechynden, Jake Florenca and captain Chad Pearson also having a big impact.

The Black Ducks, powered by Jesse Turner and Jye Chalcraft who combined for 77 disposals and 12 clearances, didn’t go away to give their highly-fancied opponents a serious scare.