TABtouch Team of Round 19

THINGS really heated up across Round 19 of the WAFL as East Perth and Claremont replaced Perth and Peel Thunder in the top five in an afternoon of action that included a seven-goal haul, three players racking up 40 or more possessions and another 12 racking up 30 or more.

It was the third last round of the 2018 WAFL season and coming into it with eight teams still in contention to reach finals, that meant that every game took on greater significance.

All four of the matches took place on Saturday afternoon as well with all eyes on Lathlain Park awaiting to see who out of Perth and Claremont would end the round having enhanced their finals hopes.

In the end it was the Tigers who won 19.11 (125) to 11.13 (79) on the back of kicking their biggest score of the season having broken the 100-point barrier for the first time in 2018.

East Perth also returned to the top five, and shot up to fourth spot, with a thumping 23.13 (151) to 5.7 (37) of East Fremantle at Leederville Oval with Jake Waterman kicking seven goals and Luke Partington, Brayden Ainsworth, Patrick McGinnity and Nathan Blee among those to star.

South Fremantle moved back up to second spot with a 12.7 (79) to 7.7 (49) victory against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on the back of eight goals to two in the second half with Shane Hockey, Nick Suban and Ryan Cook superb in the midfield, Noah Strom, Blayne Wilson, Chad Pearson, Steven Edwards and Jason Maskos leading the way in defence and Cory Dell’Olio kicking four goals.

Subiaco continued its undefeated 2018 season with a comfortable 14.20 (104) to 8.9 (57) victory against West Perth at Joondalup Arena with Lachlan Delahunty, Kyal Horsley, Zac Clarke, Jordan Lockyer, Josh Deluca and Chris Phelan leading the way.

After Round 19 of the 2018 season, Subiaco (16-0) remains clear on the ladder ahead of South Fremantle (11-5) and West Perth (10-7).

Those top three positions look all but set with Subiaco to have the bye in the first week of the finals before hosting a second semi-final against the winner of the qualifying final between the Bulldogs and Falcons.

East Perth (7-9) is now in fourth position with Claremont (7-9) making up the top five ahead of Perth (7-9), Peel Thunder (7-9), Swan Districts (6-11) and East Fremantle (2-14).

Swans and the Sharks can’t reach finals but the Demons and Thunder still can. Perth finishes the season away to South Fremantle and Subiaco while Peel is away to Claremont this week before hosting East Perth in the final round.

M & J CHICKENS PLAYER OF THE ROUND – LUKE PARTINGTON

TABtouch TEAM OF THE ROUND (times named)
BACK: Steven Edwards (3), Anton Hamp (6), Corey Gault (3)
HALF-BACK: Michael Sinclair (9), Jordan Lockyer (4), Brandon Erceg (1)
CENTRE: Josh Deluca (7), Kyal Horsley (11), Hamish Brayshaw (2)
HALF-FORWARD: Alex Manuel (2), Lachlan Delahunty (12), Luke Partington (4)
FORWARD: Andrew Strijk (11), Jake Waterman (1), Cory Dell’Olio (2)
RUCK: Zac Clarke (5), Jared Hardisty (3), Shane Hockey (6)
INTERCHANGE: Brant Colledge (7), Shane Nelson (12), Patrick McGinnity (4), Nick Suban (5)

BACK POCKET – STEVEN EDWARDS (South Fremantle)
When he’s up and firing he’s one of the best small defenders in the competition, and was named to the Team of the Year in 2017, but injury and form issues have held him back a little in 2018. But he’s in some impressive form again and on Saturday not only kept Swan Districts’ Kirk Ugle quiet, but had 18 possessions and six marks himself.

FULL-BACK – ANTON HAMP (Claremont)
You don’t always attract a lot of attention as a key defender but there’s few more important jobs on any team and he has claims to be the best in his role in the WAFL right now. Is having a standout 2018 season and was named to the Team of the Round for a sixth time by keeping Perth’s Spencer White to one goal and four kicks and having 12 disposals and seven marks himself.

BACK POCKET – COREY GAULT (Swan Districts)
He won Swan Districts’ fairest and best award in 2017 as a ruckman and was named the ruckman in the WAFL Team of the Year, but for most of this year has been anchored at centre half-forward while backing up Nathan Blakely in the ruck. But Swans have thrown things around in recent weeks and he’s moved down back and looks right at home. He was superb in a five-goal loss on Saturday holding South Fremantle’s Mason Shaw to one goal and six kicks while having 23 possessions and 13 marks himself.

HALF-BACK FLANK – MICHAEL SINCLAIR (Perth)
The form intercept defender and playmaker out of the back-line in the competition was outstanding once again despite a tough loss for Perth to Claremont on Saturday that puts its finals hopes well and truly in jeopardy. He had another 36 possessions, five marks, five tackles and four inside 50s to reach the Team of the Round for a ninth time in 2018.

CENTRE HALF-BACK – JORDAN LOCKYER (Subiaco)
One of West Perth’s best hopes of upsetting Subiaco on Saturday at Joondalup Arena was if Bernie Naylor Medal leader Tyler Keitel caught fire but he ensured that didn’t happen. Not only that, but he kept him scoreless and to just seven kicks and four marks for the day while having 12 disposals and four marks himself in the Lions’ 16th straight win of 2018.

HALF-BACK FLANK – BRANDON ERCEG (Swan Districts)
It has been a long journey for him from when he last played colts at Swan Districts in 2011 before returning to the club to play at senior level in 2015. He played 10 league games in 2016 and two last year but it wasn’t until three weeks ago that he added to that in 2018. But he likely delivered the best performance of his career on Saturday against South Fremantle holding Zac Strom to four touches and one behind and having 23 disposals and 11 marks himself.