WAFL Team of Round 17Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - 12:07 PM - by Chris Pike

WE had several five-goal hauls, some brilliant defensive showings and some huge ball-winning performances during Round 17 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season across the weekend.

The five matches took place over Saturday and Sunday this weekend in Round 17 and not only were there some standout individual showings, but Subiaco moved clear on top and South Fremantle back into second spot ahead of Claremont and West Perth.

East Fremantle and East Perth also won to keep their slim finals hopes alive while the West Coast Eagles strengthened their push to get off the bottom of the ladder before season's end.

The round got underway on Saturday afternoon and it included a massive win for South Fremantle over the undermanned Peel Thunder at Mandurah's David Grays Arena, 22.9 (141) to 3.7 (25).

Mason Shaw and Blake Schlensog kicked five goals each for South Fremantle, Jimmy Miller four and Cody Ninyette three while Haiden Schloithe dominated with 42 possessions and two goals. Tyrone Thorne had 25 disposals and a goal for the Thunder.

East Fremantle kept its slight finals hopes alive by beating Swan Districts 7.4 (46) to 5.9 (39) at New Choice Homes Park.

Jonathon Marsh kicked two goals for East Fremantle with Luke English gathering 25 possessions and ruckman Luke Strnadica 19 touches and 39 hit outs. Sam Fisher had 27 touches for Swans, Jesse Turner 26 and Frank Anderson 25.

Subiaco made a flying start on Saturday against West Perth at Leederville Oval which turned into an eventual 10.12 (72) to 8.4 (52) victory to see them move a game clear in top spot.

Brandon Matera kicked five goals for the Lions and Nick Martin two while Greg Clark had 29 possessions and Harry Marsh 28. Shane Nelson had 34 possessions for West Perth and Aaron Black 26.

The West Coast Eagles then joined Perth and Peel Thunder on four wins for the season with a 15.9 (99) to 6.7 (43) victory at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Jordan Busher kicked four goals for West Coast and Jarrod Garlett three while Alex Witherden racked up 40 possessions and Jarrod Brander 33 to go with 13 marks. Sam Stubbs kicked three goals for Perth and Jack Avery had 26 disposals.

The last game of the round took place at Leederville Oval on Sunday with East Perth stunning Claremont with the 12.6 (78) to 10.11 (71) victory.

Nick Merritt kicked three goals for East Perth Jackson Ramsay finishing with 31 possessions and two goals. Jake Patmore kicked three goals for Claremont with Jye Bolton amassing 41 possessions.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – BRANDON MATERA (Subiaco)
Brandon Matera's form has been building solidly throughout his first season at Subiaco in 2021, but it all came together for a remarkable opening quarter on Saturday against West Perth to set up the crucial win for the Lions.

Going way back to 2009 when he broke into the South Fremantle league team back in the premiership year under the coaching of John Dimmer where he excited in a couple of appearances before playing in the reserves flag, there's been high hopes of what he could produce.

A lot of that is because of his remarkable family history as the son of Wally, and nephew of Peter and Phil, and he went on to play 144 games in the AFL over the previous decade split between the Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers.

He found himself out of the AFL system by the end of 2020, though, and wanting to continue playing in the WAFL, he elected to sign with Subiaco where his younger brother Bailey had already made the move to from South Fremantle.

The 29-year-old has fitted in solidly enough as a small forward in the Subiaco team who can drift up the ground to use his creativity and neat left foot skills to good effect, but it's in recent weeks where he has really gone up another level.

Matera has proven he can still take over a game and be a match-winner at WAFL level and that was on full show in the opening quarter against West Perth at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

In the first term alone, he gathered nine possessions and took six marks while kicking three goals from five shots on goal. He ended the afternoon with five goals, 15 possessions and eight marks with Subiaco winning to move a game and percentage clear on top of the WAFL ladder.

Only once in his AFL career did he better that performance with six goals for Gold Coast against Hawthorn in a shock win in Round 3, 2017. He kicked five once as well for the Dockers against the Western Bulldogs in Round 6, 2019.

Now if he can maintain this form for Subiaco going into the finals, it could be another reason why the Lions deserve to be premiership favourites right now.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Josh Schoenfeld (East Fremantle)
Round 2 – Sam Fisher (Swan Districts)
Round 3 – Greg Clark (Subiaco)
Round 5 – Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle)
Round 6 – Tyrone Thorne (Peel Thunder)
Round 7 – Keegan Knott (West Perth)
Round 8 – Jye Bolton (Claremont)
Round 9 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
Round 10/11 – Jonathon Marsh (East Fremantle)
Round 12 – Jackson Ramsay (East Perth)
Round 14 – Warrick Wilson (Swan Districts)
Round 15 – Angus Schumacher (East Perth)
Round 16 – Oliver Eastland (Claremont)
Round 17 – Brandon Matera (Subiaco)

BACK POCKET – AARON HEAL (Subiaco)
The Subiaco back-line of 2021 continues to be remarkably challenging to score against. They conceded only eight goals again to West Perth on Saturday and are only averaging giving up 55.1 points a game this season, and he has settled back into being a key part of it. Started the season in different roles, but is back in defence now and was terrific against the Falcons including having 14 disposals, seven marks and three tackles.
Times named in 2021: 2

FULL-BACK – MATTHEW JUPP (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle captain took on the challenge of the opposition's most dangerous forward once again on Saturday. He was able to hold Jesse Palmer to just one goal from five kicks and he was instrumental in Saturday's win for the Sharks to keep their season alive against Swan Districts while also having 14 disposals and five marks.
Times named in 2021: 4

BACK POCKET – CHAD PEARSON (South Fremantle)
The premiership defender has spent a bit of time this season further up the field, but he has settled back into defence now and that's where he thrives as one of the best intercept marking and set up players in the competition. Did that tremendously in the hammering of Peel on Saturday finishing with 25 touches, four marks and three inside-50 entries.
Times named in 2021: 2

HALF-BACK FLANK – ANGUS DEWAR (Subiaco)
He has enjoyed some great success since returning to Subiaco from his time at Hawthorn, but this Lions team of 2021 is especially standing out because of its back-line and how hard they are to score against. He is a key part in that and was instrumental again in the win over West Perth finishing with 15 possessions, five tackles and three marks.
Times named in 2021: 5

CENTRE HALF-BACK – NOAH PEGORARO (West Perth)
West Perth couldn’t quite make up for a slow start against Subiaco on Saturday but it was through no fault of his as he continues to cement himself as one of the most reliable key defenders in the competition. Finished the afternoon with another 21 possessions and six marks despite the Lions entering their forward 50 on 47 occasions so he did well to help keep them to 10 goals for the day.
Times named in 2021: 4

HALF-BACK FLANK – KYE WILLCOCKS (East Perth)
East Perth's defence was terrific to restrict Claremont to just the 10 goals for the day and he was a key part of that performance alongside the likes of Nathan Blee, Jacob Msando, Nathan Eaton and Corey Watts. He was tremendous defensively and in providing attack the other way finishing with 20 disposals, five marks and three tackles.
Times named in 2021: 2

WING – BAILEY ROGERS (Claremont)
It continues to have proven to be a masterstroke from coach Ashley Prescott to move him into the midfield in 2021 after he had built quite a career for himself with the Tigers as an attacking defender. But has proven himself an impressive ball-winning goalkicking midfielder, and had another good showing despite the loss to East Perth with 29 possessions and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 3

CENTRE – JACKSON RAMSAY (East Perth)
The East Perth captain continues to show his quality as a dual fairest and best winner with the Royals, and just how sorely he was missed when out injured in the opening half of the season. Was brilliant in Sunday's win against Claremont with 31 disposals, eight tackles, four marks and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 3

WING – HARRY MARSH (Subiaco)
He is proving to be quite the versatile weapon for Subiaco to use wherever they see fit in 2021. He has been dangerous in attack for a lot of the season, but spent a lot of Saturday's win against West Perth in the midfield and delivered 28 possessions, seven marks, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 2

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – ALEX WITHERDEN (West Coast Eagles)
Couldn’t have possibly been more impressive as he tries to regain his spot in the West Coast team at AFL level. Was a dominant presence in the midfield in the Eagles' win over the Demons on Saturday finishing with 40 possessions, 11 marks and seven entries inside the forward 50.
Times named in 2021: 1

CENTRE HALF-FORWARD – BLAKE SCHLENSOG (South Fremantle)
When he was playing at centre half-back and dominating to start the season, there was nothing to suggest just how impressive he could be in attack at the same time. He went there out of necessity with Mason Shaw missing the game against Claremont but has stayed there with his vice-captain back and they are forming quite the threatening combination. He kicked a career-best five goals against Peel from 16 possessions and 10 marks.
Times named in 2021: 6

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – NICK MARTIN (Subiaco)
The emerging and versatile forward produced a strong all-round performance for Subiaco in the win against West Perth. Was dangerous when inside the forward 50 but worked hard up around the ground further too to provide a strong target. Ended the game with 21 touches, 10 marks and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 2

FULL-FORWARD – MASON SHAW (South Fremantle)
The reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist was part of quite the impressive offensive onslaught from South Fremantle on Saturday in the 116-point win over Peel. He ended up a big part of that by kicking five goals from 14 disposals, seven marks and four tackles. 
Times named in 2021: 4

FORWARD POCKET – JORDAN BUSHER (West Coast Eagles)
The big man provided an impressive key target for the Eagles WAFL team on Saturday and his presence ended up being crucial in them kicking a winning score and recording a fourth win for the season. Ended up kicking four goals from 17 disposals and 10 marks in the best performance of his WAFL career to date.
Times named in 2021: 1

RUCK – LUKE STRNADICA (East Fremantle)
The East Fremantle big man has shown at times this season that he can a dominant ruck presence and he was exactly that in Saturday's win against Swan Districts taking full advantage of no Corey Gault for the opposition. Ended the afternoon with 19 touches, seven marks, 39 hit outs and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 4

RUCK ROVER – JYE BOLTON (Claremont)
He has won two Sandover Medals and four Simpson Medals already since joining Claremont, but continues to prove himself one of the genuine superstars of the WAFL week after week. Despite the Tigers losing to the Royals on Sunday, he still racked up 41 possessions, eight inside 50s, five marks and three tackles.
Times named in 2021: 8

ROVER – HAIDEN SCHLOITHE (South Fremantle)
Certainly enjoyed a day out in Mandurah against an undermanned Peel Thunder outfit on Saturday. Was able to show his full array of abilities and that is vast, finishing the 116-point win by producing 42 disposals, seven marks, seven inside-50 entries, three tackles and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 7

INTERCHANGE – SHANE NELSON (West Perth)
It is hard to imagine any midfielder ever being more consistent than he has been now over a remarkable 182-game career with West Perth that has included three fairest and best awards and a premiership. The Falcons might have lost to the Lions on Saturday but he was tremendous again in the middle with 34 disposals, seven tackles and four marks.
Times named in 2021: 4

INTERCHANGE – FRANK ANDERSON (Swan Districts)
It might have been a disappointing loss on Saturday for Swan Districts against East Fremantle that denied them the chance to guarantee a finals berth, but he was once again outstanding in the midfield. Continued his standout season with another 25 possessions, eight tackles, three marks and three entries inside the forward 50.
Times named in 2021: 6

INTERCHANGE – LUKE ENGLISH (East Fremantle)
It is fair to say the midfield he is playing in at East Fremantle right now is far from the one the Sharks imagined having with so many players out through injury, but he stood up admirably against Swans on Saturday to be instrumental in the win. Finished the afternoon with 25 possessions, four tackles, three inside 50s and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 2

INTERCHANGE – JIMMY MILLER (South Fremantle)
Split his time between enjoying life in a dominant South Fremantle forward-line and the ruck during the 116-point win in Mandurah over the Thunder. Ended up with quite an impact on the game overall too finishing with 20 possessions, eight marks, 15 hit outs, five inside-50 entries and four goals.
Times named in 2021: 2
 

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 17 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Week, including:

Perth's Sam Stubbs, Jack Avery, Corey Byrne, Matthew Taylor, Andrew Fisher, Austin Davis and Kasey Nicholas.

West Coast Eagles' Jarrod Garlett, Jarrod Brander, Hamish Brayshaw, Lennon Marlin, Jackson Nelson and Luke Foley.

Peel Thunder's Tyrone Thorne, Ben Hancock, Bodie Kitchingman, Michael Randall, James Sturrock and Brayden Lawler.

South Fremantle's Cody Ninyette, Jacob Dragovich, Tom Blechynden and Nick Suban.

Subiaco's Greg Clark, Max Walters, Wil Hickmott and Jordan Lockyer.

West Perth's Aaron Black, Zac Guadagnin, Conal Lynch and Tristan Hobley.

East Fremantle's Cam Eardley, Kyle Baskerville and Michael Tassone.

Swan Districts' Sam Fisher, Jesse Turner, Josh Cipro, Jak Watson and Aidan Clarke.

East Perth's Nick Merritt, Angus Schumacher, Nathan Blee, Rohan Kerr, Angus Scott and Scott Jones.

Claremont's Jake Patmore, Ben Edwards, Ryan Lim, Ben Elliott and Tom Baldwin.