WAFL Recap: Falcons Keep Finals Dream AliveTuesday, August 5, 2025 - 9:01 AM

South Fremantle 18.7 (115) v East Fremantle 11.5 (71)

The competition’s premiership favourites didn’t get the memo about the low scoring this weekend, earning win number 14 for the season.

South Fremantle took an early lead against their archrivals and never looked back, leading by 66 points at three quarter time before taking the foot off the pedal slightly as they look ahead to the finals.

The home side were led by Zach Strom who celebrated his 200th game, just the 21st player to ever reach that mark for the Bulldogs, booting an equal career-high five goals.

The 31-year-old kicked three goals in the third term including the first two of the quarter to set his team on their way to their big lead.

Hamish Free impressed in the ruck, while Brandon Donaldson and Roan O’Hehir added a combined seven goals to the tally.

Jed Hagan nailed five majors for the Sharks, while Tom Joyce and Jarrad Jansen battled hard all day.

The Sharks now sit just two games clear of West Perth but have the chance to sure up a finals position against the Eagles this week.

West Perth 12.9 (81) v Perth 9.12 (66)

In the only upset of the round the Demons inaccurate kicking cost them, with the Falcons running out 15-point winners.

West Perth jumped the Demons, leading by 38-points heading into the final quarter, before Perth dominated the fourth term with nine scoring shots to one.

They were only able to convert that into four goals despite the best efforts of Matthew Taylor, Charlie Constable and Corey Byrne, who were Perth’s best and combined to win 94 possessions.

Riley Wills booted two goals as did Daniel Hill, but it was to little avail as Tyler Keitel (17 disposals, three goals), Keegan Knott (21 disposals, two goals), Aaron Black (16 disposals, five tackles, two goals) and Shane Nelson (32 disposals, six marks) led West Perth to victory.

Kane Bevan also impressed for West Perth, who picked up a vital four-points as their season continues to remain on a knife’s edge.

They play Subiaco this week and will hope to pick up a big win to stay in the hunt.

East Perth 20.4 (124) v West Coast 8.7 (55)

The Royals took care of business at home on Saturday afternoon, comfortably defeating the Eagles by 69 points.

They stayed within half a game of Claremont as they hunt down a spot in the top two.

Scott Jones (19 disposals, 10 tackles, 39 hit outs), Hamish Brayshaw (39 disposals, eight marks) and Mitchell Schofield (19 disposals, 12 marks, five goals) were major contributors in the win, while Tom North, Sam van Dieman, Tyler Lindberg and Angus Scott all were prominent against the bottom-placed side.

West Coast led at quarter-time but were unable to continue their momentum giving up 17 goals to five from that point on.

Matt Flynn responded to his omission from the AFL side with 24 disposals, five marks and 30 hit outs, while WAFL-listed Eagles Thomas Edwards-Baldwin (20 disposals, one goal), Caleb Datson (16 disposals, five marks), Josh Burke (three goals) and skipper Shannon Lucassen (19 disposals, six tackles) were also among the best.

Swan Districts 6.7 (43) v Subiaco 3.7 (25)

The Steel Blue Oval surface resembled Woodstock in 1999 after a wild weekend of weather.

Despite the conditions the teams staged a competitive contest.

The Black Ducks made the early start and dominated all but a 10-minute patch towards the end of the third term, running out three-goal victors in the end.

Jesse Turner dealt with a hard tag all day, but Jye Chalcraft got off the handle to win a game-high 29-disposals to go with eight tackles.

Both sides are going through a rebuilding phase, and Swan’s youngsters impressed with Tom Smith (17 disposals, seven marks, one goal), Brodyn Fitzgerald (12 disposals, four tackles) and Bryce Watson (21 disposals, seven marks) among the better players on the day.

Nathan Blakely and Jehb O’Donohue were also superb, while Josh Cipro and Brad Lynch were dangerous in their respective returns.

Subiaco were led by Stefan Giro through the middle and Jack Mayo was fantastic.

Kieran Douglas impressed in his second game, while Kody Eaton made an impact in the ruck despite just three disposals to his name.

Claremont 8.6 (54) v Peel Thunder 1.10 (16)

Fremantle-listed players Will Brodie, Nat Fyfe, Quinton Narkle and Liam Reidy all produced strong numbers at Revo Fitness Stadium, but it wasn’t enough to challenge the Tigers given they converted just one of their eleven scoring shots.

The constant showers and boggy ground made conditions difficult, but the home side adjusted better on their way to a 38-point win.

Jaiden Hunter kicked four goals to outscore the Thunder by himself, while Alec Waterman, Jye Bolton, Benjamin Elliot and Anthony Davis all had big days.

The Tigers cling to second spot with East Perth nipping at their heels and a matchup between the second and third placed sides looming in the final round of the season.