Sunday Round 13 McDonald’s WAFL Results

SOUTH Fremantle and Subiaco confirmed themselves as the top two teams in the WAFL with strong Round 13 victories on Sunday over fellow top five sides Peel Thunder and East Fremantle.

Round 13 began on Saturday with West Perth holding on to beat Claremont 14.10 (94) to 14.7 (91) and East Perth beating Perth 14.18 (102) to 10.6 (66).

The other two matches then took place on Sunday with South Fremantle beating Peel Thunder 15.11 (101) to 10.9 (69) at Bendigo Bank Stadium and Subiaco thrashing East Fremantle 16.14 (110) to 5.2 (32) at ATOM Stadium.

The Sunday victories keep both Subiaco and South Fremantle a game clear of the third placed West Perth on top of the ladder with the Lions taking over first position with less than a half per cent edge over the Bulldogs.

South Fremantle lost its last up effort prior to the state game to East Fremantle and lost dangerous half-forwards Haiden Schloithe and Blaine Johnson in the process.

Then during the game against Peel in Mandurah on Sunday, star veteran Ashton Hams injured a calf and reliable defender Adam McIntosh broke a bone in his lower leg, but the Bulldogs still did well to finish over the top of the Thunder who had won their last three matches.

Peel led by 11 points not long before half-time but South Fremantle kicked the last two goals of the first half to lead by a point at the main break.

The Bulldogs then kicked the opening three goals of the third quarter, and then the next three majors either side of three quarter-time.

Peel rallied briefly with goals to Ed Langdon and Blair Bell to get back within 19 points but then South Fremantle got the last two goals of the game from Tim Kelly and debutant Brandon Donaldson to win by 32 points.

South Fremantle ruckman Brock Higgins was far and away the most dominant player on the ground finishing with 28 possessions, 46 hit outs and four tackles.

Peel was missing Fremantle big men Zac Clarke, Jack Hannath, Tanner Smith and Michael Apeness, and then Matthew Uebergang injured a hamstring early in the game on Sunday.

Debutant Nick Merritt fought hard against Higgins for 15 touches and 13 hit outs but was ultimately no match despite the 18-year-old sure to greatly benefit from the experience.

Tim Kelly continued his terrific form in the midfield for the Bulldogs with 22 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and six tackles while Shane Hockey finished with 20 disposals and six tackles, Steven Verrier 17 possessions and five tackles, Tim Stewart 17 touches and six tackles.

Shaun Bewick earned his spot back in the South Fremantle team and played well for 15 possessions and two goals with Jacob Martinez playing his first game since Round 2 and delivering 17 disposals, eight tackles and a goal.

Despite the wet conditions, South Fremantle’s forward-line was productive with Ben Saunders kicking three goals, Zac Strom three and Mason Shaw two. Small forward Brandon Donaldson made his debut and looked lively and went on to kick the last goal of the game.

Ed Langdon was the standout player for Peel finishing the afternoon with 25 possessions, 10 marks and five goals.

Peel might have been missing the majority of its usual brigade of Fremantle big men, but they were well stocked with Dockers ball winners along with Langdon. Tendai Mzungu racked up 29 possessions, Brady Grey 20, Clancee Pearce 19 and Matt de Boer 17.

Garrick Ibbotson returned from injury and had to play a key defensive role and worked hard ending up with 24 possessions and nine marks.

Rory O’Brien battled away on the ball for the Thunder with a game-high 31 possessions while Brayden Lawler collected 23 disposals and Brad Walsh 22.

Subiaco had lost three of its last five matches leading into the state game and that including the Lions’ first loss of 2016 at the hands of East Fremantle by 80 points.

Subiaco could not have responded any more emphatically than with Sunday’s 78-point demolition of East Fremantle at Shark Park that sees the Lions soar to the top of the ladder.

Subiaco’s midfield dominated with East Fremantle struggling to cover for the absence of Cameron Eardley, George Hampson and Liam Anthony.

Chris Phelan racked up 31 possessions for Subiaco, Craig Hoskins 23, Leigh Kitchin 21, Kyal Horsley 20 and Adam Cockie 20 to go with 11 tackles and three goals.