Round 23 WAFL Wrap Up

SWAN Districts shot back up into the WAFL’s top-four with a crucial win over East Fremantle on Saturday in Round 23 action with South Fremantle, Claremont and Subiaco also recording victories.

Swan Districts had to beat East Fremantle at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval to stay alive in the finals race and the black-and-whites did just that downing the Sharks 14.19 (103) to 12.8 (80).

South Fremantle won a high-scoring thriller over East Perth 22.13 (145) to 21.7 (133) at Fremantle Oval with Claremont downing Perth 15.12 (102) to 12.9 (81) at Lathlain’s Brownes Stadium and Subiaco winning over Peel Thunder 18.14 (122) to 12.5 (77) at Leederville’s Medibank Stadium.

Click here for the summary of Round 23 of the WAFL

THE BIG WINNERS
Swan Districts had slipped outside of the top-four with a 59-point loss to Claremont in Round 22, but scored an impressive win over East Fremantle on Saturday to move back up to third position.

Now Swan Districts can guarantee a finals spot and likely a home first semi-final with a win over West Perth this Saturday also at Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval.

THE BIG LOSERS
East Fremantle had shot back up to third spot on the WAFL ladder with a 73-point thumping of an undermanned West Perth leading into Saturday’s preliminary final rematch from last year with Swan Districts.

However, the Sharks were outplayed for most of the afternoon to lose by 23 points and now requiring some luck to make the finals to get the chance to replicate last year’s grand final appearance.

East Fremantle now firstly must beat minor premiers and two-time defending premiers Claremont this Saturday at East Fremantle Oval and then also need either Swan Districts to lose to West Perth, or for East Perth to be beaten by Subiaco in order to jump up into the top-four.

THE SHINING LIGHTS
Swan Districts got the jump on East Fremantle and despite the Sharks hitting the front in the second half, Swans finished the better to win by 23 points and improve to third spot on the ladder after starting the weekend fifth.

Charlie Cameron starred with five goals as he continues to make claims to be a high draft pick into the AFL later this year while retiring West Coast Eagles veteran Andrew Embley had 22 possessions and eight shots on goal, but only managed to kick 1.7.

Ryan Davis was terrific for Swan Districts with two goals from 19 touches, six tackles and five inside-entries while Tom Roach also kicked two to go with 22 possessions.

Aaron Elari racked up 27 possessions, Brett Robinson 24, Matt Riggio 23 and first-year ruckman Rory Lobb 18 to go with seven marks and 28 hit outs.

Brett Peake kicked three goals for East Fremantle from 18 possessions with Sean Henson and Michael Edwards adding two apiece.

Rory O’Brien compiled another 29 possessions for the Sharks with captain Mark McGough collecting 25 and Richard Hadley 22.

Having played the last seven reserves games, Marlon Pickett earned his league debut for South Fremantle against East Perth and he put on an incredible display finishing the afternoon at Fremantle Oval with 26 possessions, nine marks, four clearances, eight inside-50 entries and three goals.

Blaine Johnson also made his league debut and didn’t find the going quite as easy but he did manage three shots on goal for the day. He missed the first two badly but was able to get on the board in the third quarter.

Not only did Pickett kick three goals, but South Fremantle’s forward-line helped to combine for 20-plus goals for the second straight week.

Kris Miller has moved to half-forward in the second half of 2013 despite still being one of the WAFL’s most prolific ball winners in the midfield and he had a day out on Saturday kicking five goals all in the second half from 19 possessions and six inside-50 entries.

Full-forward Ben Saunders also kicked four goals for the Bulldogs from just five kicks with Paul Mugambwa starring particularly in the second half with 14 disposals, six marks, five inside-50 entries and three goals.It is the first time that that the 32-year-old 297-game veteran has kicked five goals in a match in his remarkable WAFL career over both South Fremantle and East Fremantle since making his debut back in 1999.

The Bulldogs’ back-line was also terrific led by centre half-back Dylan Ross who kept East Perth’s main big forward Brock Higgins goalless while there was plenty of drive from the defence with Adam Guglielmana finishing with 21 disposals, Craig White 18, Warrick Andreoli 17, Nick Borovac 17 and Adam Carter 17.

Third-gamer James Laurino was also outstanding in keeping West Coast’s Cale Morton to just 15 possessions and no impact in the game while kicking a terrific goal himself.