WAFL round 20
Yes it was all set for a Sunday pre-finals elimination final with Peel and Swan Districts fighting for fifth spot in the last game of the qualifying rounds. Perfect. Swans kicked the first goal. Thunder got the next 11.10. Yeah it wasn’t much of a contest. Lloyd Meek controlled the ruck and kicked three goals, Connor Blakely and Mitch Crowden were extraordinary at clearances, Sam Sturt kicked four first-half goals and Ethan Hughes, Nathan Wilson, Liam Henry and Karl Worner were damaging in what turned out to be a Peel romp. Jesse Turner, Aidan Clarke and Jarvis Pina battled away for the outclassed Swans who were great at home but lost away in 2022.
The other games went as expected.
West Perth kicked nine goals to one in the second half to beat Subiaco. Tyler Keitel scored five goals and got reported. I don’t know what he did but I reckon the tribunal will come down hard and give him a reprimand.
East Fremantle restricted East Perth to three goals at Leederville but only scored seven themselves. The midfield impressed again. It was the last game for Royals captain Jackson Ramsay.
The wonderfully named Steely Green starred for South Fremantle who put Perth out of their 2022 misery.
And Claremont beat West Coast by not very much in front of friends, relations and Eagles hanging-judges at Claremont Oval.
Both finals will be played in Fremantle this weekend either side of a game at the MCG.
East Fremantle 7.11 (53) East Perth 3.14 (52)
Claremont 10.8 (68) West Coast 6.9 (45)
Peel 18.20 (128) Swan Districts 5.6 (36)
West Perth 13.11 (89) Subiaco 5.12 (42)
South Fremantle 14.8 (92) Perth 4.4 (28)
Ladder: West Perth 54; East Fremantle 52; Claremont 52; South Fremantle 50; Peel 44; Swan Districts 40; Subiaco 28; East Perth 24; Perth 12; West Coast 4.
Qualifying final: Saturday: East Fremantle vs Claremont (East Fremantle Oval).
Elimination final: Sunday: South Fremantle vs Peel (Fremantle Oval).
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