Round 8 McDonald’s WAFL Results

EAST Fremantle pulled off the shock of the WAFL season on Saturday not just by beating Subiaco but by doing so by 80 points while South Fremantle stormed home to beat Claremont and West Perth and Perth scored strong victories.

Subiaco had won its last 11 matches and not lost since Round 20 last year, but that all changed dramatically on Saturday at Medibank Stadium with East Fremantle delivering an 18.12 (120) to 6.4 (40) victory.

West Perth won a third straight match defeating Peel Thunder 8.10 (58) to 5.11 (41) with South Fremantle coming back from trailing by 25 points early in the last quarter to beat Claremont 12.13 (85) to 12.5 (77) at the Claremont Showground.

The final match of One Life Round was between the bottom two teams who had just the one win apiece for the season going into the clash at Lathlain Park, and Perth took out a 14.11 (95) to 8.6 (54) victory.

The surprise of the WAFL season took place at Medibank Stadium when Subiaco suffered its first loss and East Fremantle scored a second win at Medibank Stadium inside six days. The Sharks backed up an impressive 37-point win over East Perth with a dominant 80-point thumping of the Lions.

Not only is the loss Subiaco’s first since Round 20 last year, but it is the Lions’ biggest defeat since losing to Claremont by 101 points in Round 23, 2012. The 80-point margin is East Fremantle’s biggest in a win over Subiaco since the Sharks won by 96 points in Round 20, 1994.

East Fremantle dominated Subiaco from the outset with the first five goals of the game before going on to lead by 33 points at quarter-time, 38 points at half-time, 59 points at three quarter-time 80 points at the final siren.

It was Subiaco’s 2013 fairest and best winner and 2014 premiership player George Hampson that set the tone for East Fremantle finishing with 26 possessions, eight inside 50s and two goals, but he had plenty of support.

Brett Peake continued his strong return season to the WAFL with another three goals for the Sharks with Jesse Crichton booting two majors and Josh Simpson three to go with 20 possessions.

Liam Anthony racked up 35 possessions and seven tackles for East Fremantle, Ryan Lester-Smith 28 touches and 11 marks, Dion Anthony 26 disposals and seven tackles, Jack Perham 23 possessions and seven marks, and Brock O’Brien 22 touches and seven marks.

There were plenty more strong contributors for the Sharks with Tim Bristow finishing with 20 possessions and eight marks, Sean Henson 20 disposals and Cameron Eardley 19 touches.

East Fremantle’s back-line was particularly impressive led by Andrew Stephen, Lester-Smith, Dylan Winton, Sam Read and Josh Cuneo as they kept Subiaco forwards Clancy Wheeler, Ben Sokol and Hamish Shepheard all goalless.

Liam Ryan was a positive for Subiaco from the defeat kicking two goals on debut while Lachlan Delahunty had 21 possessions and 20 hit outs in the ruck. Kyal Horsley collected 27 disposals, Adam Cockie 21, Brett Robinson 20, Greg Broughton 19, Chris Phelan 19 and Wayde Twomey 18.

Claremont finally got a chance to play its first home game of the season at the Claremont Showground and despite South Fremantle kicking the first two goals, the Tigers soon took control.