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WAFL Story Lines: Comeback kings, ball magnets, WAFLW heats up, Fred again and moreMonday, July 28, 2025 - 8:40 PM - by Jordan McArdle
We take a look at the biggest story lines across the WAFL and WAFLW competitions in our weekly column
What a man, Waterman!
Alec Waterman was the hero as Claremont pulled off a stunning comeback against East Fremantle at The Good Grocer Park on Saturday.
The Tigers trailed by as much as 27 late in the third quarter and 22 five minutes into the last before booting the final four goals of the contest to snatch a five-point win.
Milestone man Declan Mountford made it a one-point game with a clutch goal at the 24-minute mark before Waterman kicked the winner 90 seconds later.
Ruckman Ollie Eastland was dominant for Claremont with 24 disposals, 44 hit-outs and 11 clearances, with Sandover medallists Jye Bolton and Callan England also prominent and Jaiden Hunter booting three goals.
Midfield maestro Milan Murdock was the Sharks’ best alongside Cam Eardley.
Peel’s WAFLW upset throws spanner in the works
Peel Thunder’s stunning upset at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah on Saturday put a massive dent in South Fremantle’s finals hopes.
The wayward Bulldogs dropped to sixth on the WAFLW ladder after back-to-back losses, just weeks after knocking off top-two outfits Claremont and Subiaco.
Souths are now one win and 14 per cent behind arch-rivals East Fremantle heading into the final round of the home-and-away season.
Chloe Wrigley continued her standout campaign for the Thunder with 26 disposals, six marks, four tackles and a goal in the 14-point win.
Swan Districts clinched third spot on the ladder and a home semi-final after defeating Perth by 17 points in the wet at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.
Subiaco and Claremont face off in the final round with the minor premiership up for grabs after both teams won in the penultimate round against East Perth and West Perth respectively.
The Sharks can book their finals spot with a win over Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday.
If they lose, it opens the door for the winner of Friday night’s clash between West Perth and South Fremantle to leapfrog them.
Derby comeback as trophy heads East
East Perth came back from 36 points down late in the opening half to prevail by 26 in an impressive derby comeback at HIF Health Insurance Oval on Saturday.
The Royals kicked 12 goals to two after half-time in what was a game of two halves as former Fremantle big man Scott Jones celebrated his 100th WAFL game in style.
Jones amassed a whopping 55 hit-outs to go with 22 disposals and five clearances to be one of East Perth’s best alongside Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw who had a game-high 36 disposals and 11 clearances to go with seven inside 50s and a goal.
Speedster Coby Burgiel, Mitch Schofield and Ben Middleton were all dangerous up forward with three goals apiece.
Under-18s All-Australians Jacob Farrow, Sam Swadling and veteran Shane Nelson were among the Royals’ best, while livewires Keegan Knott and Jack DeMarte kicked three goals each.
Make that nine!
South Fremantle have all but sealed the minor premiership with their ninth win on the trot.
The premiership favourites easily accounted for Subiaco by 61 points at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are two-and-a-half wins ahead of second-placed Claremont with four rounds remaining.
Sandover Medal fancy Matthew Parker continued his hot form with four goals from 26 touches, while Jamaine Jones returned in style with 26 disposals and six tackles and Jake Florenca (23 and six clearances) was enormous in the middle and ex-Dockers defender Ethan Hughes reeled in a staggering 15 marks.
Stefan Giro had a game-high 35 disposals for Subiaco, while Liam Hickmott had 12 clearances and 24 disposals.
Dockers trio lead Peel to close win over Eagles
Peel Thunder survived a Sunday scare from an improved West Coast to prevail by 12 points at Mandurah’s Lane Group Stadium as a Fremantle-listed pair combined for a staggering 83 disposals.
The Eagles kicked three goals in a row from late in the third quarter to midway through the last to take a one-point lead at the 17-minute mark.
But Peel steadied with Charlie Nicholls kicking the winner before Kyelan Sanders put the icing on the cake after the siren.
Midfielder Quinton Narkle and Will Brodie racked up 42 and 41 possessions respectively to go with 21 clearances to lead the way for the Thunder, while ruckman and fellow Dockers-listed talent Liam Reidy (19 disposals, 42 hit-outs, 10 clearances and a goal) was also dominant.
Tom Gross put his hand up to replace the injured Harley Reid in West Coast’s AFL midfield with a strong display, finishing with 24 touches and a pair of late goals to give his team a spark.
Father-son prospect Charlie Banfield impressed on debut, highlighted by a brilliant goal from the boundary, to enhance his draft credentials.
Fred Again!
Recently-announced Under-18s All-Australian and WA MVP Fred Rodriguez starred as EGT WAFL Colts powerhouse South Fremantle continued their winning ways against Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday morning.
The classy midfielder had 32 disposals, eight inside 50s, seven clearances and two goals to put his hand up for a senior recall.
Partner in crime and fellow draft prospect Toby Whan also impressed with 27 disposals, four clearances and four inside 50s, with captain Jacob Donald and bottom-aged ruck Byron Foster also among the best.
West Perth defender John Coleman earned EGT WAFL Colts Player of the Round honours following a 33-disposal, four-mark performance in his team’s win over rivals East Perth in Joondalup on Saturday.
Coleman also had seven rebounds 50s and five tackles in an eye-catching performance, with teammate Amon Ross also amassing 33 touches to go with seven clearances, Avon Drewett had 26 and two goals and key forward Peter Young kicked four majors.
In in the final colts game of Round 16, East Fremantle overcame a 10-point three-quarter time deficit to prevail against Claremont by 10 at The Good Grocer Park and go two games clear of second-placed Souths.
Ben Wood kicked two of his three goals in a see-sawing final term including the sealer, while livewire Max Hansen-Knarhoi booted two in three minutes to give the Sharks a scare.
Midfielder Tom Grylls was another important performer for the victors with 25 disposals, five inside 50s and four clearances.
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