WAFL Round 18 match reports

SUBIACO won a 15th straight match this season taking care of Peel Thunder in the WAFL grand final rematch in Round 18 on Saturday with South Fremantle claiming a fifth consecutive victory and West Perth snapping a four-game losing run.

There were just the three matches in Round 18 of the 2017 WAFL season with East Fremantle, Claremont and Swan Districts having the bye, but all had plenty at stake for the six teams involved.

For the second straight week the WAFL headed to a regional centre as part of the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Country Sport Enrichment Scheme. This team it was East Perth and South Fremantle locking horns at Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton.

East Perth fought hard to try and avoid slipping two games out of the top five but ultimately five goals for South Fremantle from Blaine Johnson and 30 possessions from Shane Hockey saw the Bulldogs win 18.13 (121) to 14.7 (91).

It’s a fifth consecutive win for South Fremantle who improves to a 12-4 record to remain clear in second position while East Perth is two games behind the fifth placed West Perth at 6-9 but still well within a chance of playing finals if they string some wins together.

Perth and West Perth both entered their clash at Lathlain Park on losing runs and needing to win for vastly different reasons.

Once again the Demons started strongly but the Falcons kicked 15 goals to seven after quarter-time to win 18.18 (126) to 11.7 (73) with Tyler Keitel booting seven goals, Nick Rodda six and Shane Nelson amassed 51 possessions, 11 clearances, nine inside 50s, eight marks and five tackles.

It ended a four-game losing run for West Perth and improves them to an 8-7 record to be two games clear in fifth spot. It was a ninth straight loss for Perth who slipped to bottom spot on percentage.

It was then time for the grand final rematch between Peel and Subiaco at Bendigo Bank Stadium. The Lions took control early holding the Thunder scoreless in the opening quarter while kicking four goals and that set up the eventual 12.14 (86) to 6.4 (40) victory.

Subiaco has now won 15 consecutive matches to sit clear on top of the ladder at 15-1. Peel remains third at 10-6 with its five-game winning run coming to an end.

ROUND 18 McDONALD’S WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
East Perth 14.7 (91) lost to South Fremantle 18.13 (121)
Perth 11.7 (73) lost to West Perth 18.18 (126)
Peel Thunder 6.4 (40) lost to Subiaco 12.14 (86)

RESERVES
East Perth 10.16 (76) lost to South Fremantle 12.7 (79)
Perth 14.12 (96) defeated West Perth 12.6 (78)
Peel Thunder 12.7 (79) lost to Subiaco 13.10 (88)

REDiMED COLTS
East Perth 10.7 (68) defeated South Fremantle 9.13 (67)
Perth 8.2 (50) lost to West Perth 12.13 (85)
Peel Thunder 14.8 (92) defeated Subiaco 8.8 (56)

Click the match graphics below for in-depth reviews of each clash.