ROUND 18 WAFL action saw a host of standout performances with Claremont dominating West Perth with two players booting bags of five, Perth winning on the back of a former AFL player kicking another five while South Fremantle won with a former Tiger bagging seven and East Fremantle put in another outstanding performance against a top-four side.Claremont recorded the biggest win of the season to date beating West Perth 26.10 (166) to 7.5 (47) at Arena Joondalup.
Perth downed Peel Thunder 15.26 (116) to 12.10 (82) at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium, South Fremantle beat Subiaco 14.17 (101) to 12.9 (81) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium and East Fremantle scored a big win over Swan Districts 20.16 (136) to 11.7 (73) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.
The results leave Claremont and East Fremantle on top with 11-4 records ahead of their Round 19 meeting at Claremont Oval. Swan Districts (10-5) and East Perth (9-1-5) make up the top-four with West Perth (7-1-7), Subiaco (6-9), Perth (5-10), South Fremantle (4-12) and Peel (4-11) making up the rest.
Click here for the summary of Round 18 of the WAFL
THE BIG WINNERS
Claremont gained a big percentage boost by hammering West Perth by 119 points on Saturday at Arena Joondalup, but the Tigers will need to keep winning to hold off the also in-form East Fremantle.
The top two teams battle over first spot this Saturday at Claremont Oval, but the Tigers could not have possibly been any more dominant over West Perth.
The Tigers had 12 separate goal scorers highlighted by hauls of five from Chad Jones and Jack Bradshaw (pictured) as they had 162 more possessions, 17 more hit outs, 19 extra clearances and 21 more entries inside-50.
Even scarier for the rest of the competition is that Claremont was without a host of players expected to be there come finals time including Paul Medhurst, Andrew Browne and Tom Swift.THE BIG LOSERS
West Perth and Subiaco's hopes of breaking into the top-four are all but over after disappointing results on the weekend.
While mathematically West Perth remains a hope, the Falcons now sit two games and massive percentage behind fourth-placed East Perth with just five games of the season to go.
Saturday's 119-point thumping to Claremont could take some time to get over as well, but the Falcons will need to bounce back immediately this Saturday against the bottom-place Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
Subiaco had a hope of still making it two weeks ago, but losses to bottom two teams Peel and South Fremantle have ended those chances for the Lions in disappointing fashion.
THE SHINING LIGHTS
Claremont did not have a player that didn’t contribute strongly to the 119-point win over West Perth. Jack Bradshaw and Chad Jones kicked five goals apiece, but Bradshaw should have had six had he not missed an open goal from directly in front.
Tom Lee continued his terrific form with four goals while Jeremy McGovern was outstanding with 18 possessions, 11 marks, 15 hit outs and three goals. Ian Richardson added two goals in his 100th game.
Luke Blackwell was outstanding in the middle with 30 possessions, five clearances, four entries insdie-50 and a goal. Byron Schammer also had 29 disposals and seven clearances, Kane Mitchell 27 touches, Jake Murphy 25 to go with eight inside 50s, Rory Walton 22 disposals and Jess Laurie 20.
James Thomson also did well keeping Brent LeCras to one goal and eight possessions with Gerrick Weedon, Laurie, Lewis Stevenson, Alex Silvagni and Aaron Holt rock solid in defence.
It was a disastrous day for West Perth but Aaron Black tried hard for 21 possessions with Steven Browne, Dustin Burns, Mark Hutchings and Shane Nelson all picking up 19 apiece.It was an inaccurate Perth that eventually beat Peel by 34 points with Brennan Stack continuing his strong form for the Demons with five goals. Simon Tunbridge (pictured) also booted three and Paul Bevan two to go with his 22 possessions and seven marks.
Captain Ross Young racked up 27 possessions and eight inside-50 entries. Alistair Smith had 25 disposals, Matt Tedesco 24, Leon Davis 21, Michael Florio 20 and Llane Spaanderman 20 to go with his 35 hit outs and eight marks.
Brad Holmes kicked six goals for Peel and Matt Battye added two. Pat Travers gathered 29 possessions, Toby Gianatti 28, Matt Orzel 24, Rhett Mason 23, Peter Faulks 22, Jamason Daniels 21 and Eddie Dann 19.
South Fremantle ended an eight-game losing run to beat Subiaco and get off the bottom of the ladder in the process with Ben Saunders (pictured) terrific with seven goals. Jayden Woods and Haiden Schloithe also kicked two apiece.
Alex Grima racked up 28 possessions, six marks, six inside 50s and a goal with Kris Miller also gathering 23 disposals, Jordan Wilson-King 20, Adam Guglielmana 20, John Sgherza 18, Matthew Olivieri 18 and Sean Tighe 18 to go with 22 hit outs and six inside-50 entries.
It was a disappointing day for Subiaco with Blake Broadhurst, Chris Deluca, Alliston 'Buddy' Pickett and Callum Sinclair all booting two goals. Jason Bristow picked up 36 possessions, Aidan Parker 25 to go with 11 marks and 28 hit outs, Rowen McDonnell 23, Brett Mahoney 22 and Ben Randall 20.
East Fremantle continued its hot form beating Swan Districts by 63 points with Brock O'Brien kicking five goals and Brad Dick four as he continues his strong comeback from a shoulder reconstruction. Adam Waight and Max Duffy also booted three apiece for the Sharks.
Rory O'Brien was terrific with 29 possessions with Steven Dodd (pictured) also picking up 29 disposals, Bradd Dalziell 26, Jayden Schofield 26, Koby Stevens 25 (and two goals), Sean Henson 24, Mark McGough 24, Andrew Stephen 23 and Richard Hadley 19.Tim Geappen kicked five goals for Swan Districts to go with his 18 possessions and nine marks. Ryan Davis also kicked two goals.
Fremantle's Lachie Neale had a big day finishing with 35 possessions, 11 marks, five inside 50s and a goal. Shaun Hildebrandt also picked up 30 disposals, Marlon Motlop 30, Tom Roach 27, Matt Riggio 26, Kyle Hams 22 and Wayde Twomey 20.
PUSHING FOR A SPOT
Claremont's reserves beat West Perth by 31 points with Mitch Andrews outstanding with 23 possessions, 10 marks, 29 hit outs and a goal. Anton Hamp and Jordan Aitken kicked three goals with Alroy Gilligan gathering 25 possessions, Thomas Taylor 23 and Coleman Cristinelli 21.
Matt Fowler, Anton Saylor, Josh Donaldson and Mitch Brown all kicked two goals each for West Perth with Joe Morrow picking up 29 possessions and Anthony Tsalikis 17.
Perth's reserves beat Peel by 63 points with Ben Fraser and Christian Eyres kicking three goals each, and Brad Fry, Tyler Chrimes, Michael Mather and Matthew Rogers all two. Michael Edwards had 24 possessions and Ben Noakes 22.
William Dawson kicked four goals for Peel with Liam McKenna gathering 22 disposals and Callan Eddy 19.
Subiaco's reserves had a big 68-point win over South Fremantle with Nick hay kicking five goals. Rory Muller gathered 30 possessions, Joel Ashman 28, Matthew Bogensperger 27, Tim Whyte 25 and Michael Genovese 23.
Kaiden Matera kicked two goals for South Fremantle with Jesse Maiorana gathering 26 touches, Joel Palumbo 25 and Casey Sibosado 22.
East Fremantle's reserves beat Swan Districts by 69 points with Godfrey Curley and Tim Viney kicking four goals, Adrian Ricciardello three and Louis Cronan three. Callum Leslie picked up 24 possessions, Mitch Boyle 21 and Viney 21.
Leigh Kohlmann and Adam McKinlay kicked two goals each for Swan Districts with Matthew Jukes picking up 26 possessions and Nathan Blakely 20.
