WAFL Story Lines: Top Dogs, sharp-shooting Sam, flawless Claremont, three of a kind and moreTuesday, September 9, 2025 - 9:03 PM - by Jordan McArdle

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

Top Dogs book grand final spot in style

Minor premiers South Fremantle are the first team through to the Sullivan Logistics WAFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium on September 21 after a dominant Second Semi-Final victory over East Perth.

The Bulldogs looked on from opening bounce coming off a week off in the first round of finals and were a class above the Royals in the 59-point win – 12.7 (79) to 3.2 (20) – at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

After a four-goals-to-one first half, Souths turned it on in the premiership quarter to put the game to bed by three-quarter time to double their advantage as recruit Trey Ruscoe ran riot on the way to a game-high five majors and ruckman Hamish Free chimed in with two third-quarter goals.

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Jake Florenca was outstanding in the midfield, racking up 31 disposals to go with eight tackles and a stunning third-quarter goal on the run, with fellow on-baller Isiah Winder (30) also prolific in the engine-room.

Ruscoe was the main man up forward and Free had to the better of East Perth man mountain Scott Jones in the ruck, with his work around the ground and ability to drift forward particularly impressive.

Souths’ back six barely put a foot wrong, led by 150-gamer and skipper Chad Pearson and the ever-reliable Noah Strom.

Claremont’s flawless day

Claremont won their EGT WAFL Colts, Reserves and League semi-final clashes in a perfect day on their home turf.

The Tigers bounced back from a tough Qualifying Final loss to earn a chance at redemption against East Perth in this Sunday’s WAFL Preliminary Final at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The Tigers won a one-sided First Semi-Final clash at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday by 39 points – 12.10 (82) to 6.7 (43) – to end Perth’s hopes of a premiership fairytale in front of 4217 fans on a wet and wild afternoon.

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It capped off a massive day for Claremont with their EGT WAFL Colts side also sealing their Preliminary Final spot with an easy win over West Perth, while the reserves booked a Grand Final spot with a big victory over Swan Districts.

Classy forward Alec Waterman was the hero with a game-high four majors including the opener of the contest and the sealer at the five-minute mark of the final term.

Sharpshooting Sam

Claremont young gun Sam van Rooyen continued his remarkable accuracy in front of the sticks to help his team book a grand final berth in style.

Van Rooyen booted 5.0 and has now kicked 18 consecutive goals without a minor score after bags of nine and four to finish the home-and-away season on the way to a competition-high 39.

The ladder-leading Tigers powered home in the second half to prevail by 50 points in Sunday’s Second Semi-Final at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Former Adelaide Crow Ronin O’Connor starred in the midfield with 25 disposals, nine tackles and a goal to push his case for a senior recall, with fellow gun Lachlan Martinis (21 disposals, nine inside 50s and a goal) also impressing.

Sam, a former Dockers train-on and younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob, isn't the only van Rooyen sibling in action during WAFL finals with his younger brother, a bottom-aged draft prospect named Benji, impressing in the ruck for Claremont colts.

Three of a kind

Three Banfield brothers featured in Claremont’s trio of wins over the weekend and will now turn their attention to Preliminary Final day on Sunday.

EGT WAFL Colts duo Charlie, 18, and his younger brother Harper, 16, impressed in the Tigers’ First Semi-Final win over West Perth.

Charlie had a team-high 25 disposals to go with six clearances and six tackles, while Harper chipped in with 21 touches, six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal.

The eldest sibling, 20-year-old Bailey Banfield, is starting to find his feet in the seniors and played an important role in Claremont’s victory over Perth.

Charlie is a West Coast father-son prospect for this year’s AFL Draft, while Harper is a bottom-ager who won Scotch College’s PSA fairest-and-best award as a Year 11.

Bottom-aged Dockers prospect stars

Highly-rated 2026 AFL Draft prospect Lucas Robinson put his name in lights in South Fremantle’s powerful EGT WAFL Colts victory over arch-rivals East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

Robinson racked up 35 disposals, 12 tackles, seven clearances and six inside 50s in a monster performance as he shapes up as one of WA’s top prospects for next year.

The Fremantle NGA talent will also feature in the upcoming Marsh AFL National Futures grand final curtain-raiser at the MCG.

Defender Lucas Cattalini, who made the EGT WAFL Colts Team of the Year, continued his stellar season as the Bulldogs qualified for the colts decider at Optus Stadium on Sunday, September 21.

The Sharks get a second chance against Claremont in Sunday’s colts Preliminary Final at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in what's going to be a blockbuster clash.