We take a look at the biggest story lines across the WAFL and WAFLW competitions in our weekly column.
Tiger queens!
Claremont are the queens of the WAFLW once again after withholding a strong fightback from Swan Districts to prevail by one point in Sunday’s stunning Grand Final at Mineral Resources Park.
The Tigers made it back-to-back WAFLW premiership and their third in four years, prevailing 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) over a fast-finishing Black Ducks in front of nearly 3000 supporters who braved the tough conditions.
Swan Districts had a shot from the boundary to win it in the final minute but it went across the face of goal and missed everything as Claremont held on in an epic finish to a finals series which had a total margin of just five points across four games.
Two-time Dhara Kerr medallist Jayme Harken added a second Lou Knitter Medal to her ever-growing trophy resume after a best-afield performance through the midfield.
Harken finished with 20 disposals, a staggering 18 tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s to lead the Tigers to victory alongside midfield partner in crime Matilda Sergeant (21 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances and a goal).
Harken and Sergeant finished with six votes apiece in the Lou Knitter Medal with the field umpires’ three votes to Harken the tie breaker.
Young gun Juliet Kelly (18 disposals and eight tackles) did her AFLW draft chances no harm with an important performance, while Mackenzie Webb was solid as a rock in defence.
Top-10 AFLW draft prospect Carys D’Addario (25 disposals and nine tackles) was Swan Districts’ best alongside fellow midfielder Jaime Henry who laid a whopping 22 tackles to go with as many disposals, with classy goalsneak Summer Yarran providing a spark up forward with three goals.
Tiger (comeback) kings as Royal breaks hit-outs record
Claremont are making a habit of pulling off miraculous comeback wins.
The Tigers bounced back from 26 points down at half-time against East Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium to prevail by nine, one week after storming home from a 50-point quarter-time deficit against Perth.
GET YOUR WAFL FINALS TICKETS HERE
Sandover Medal trio Callan England (28 disposals, eight clearances, seven clearances and a goal), Jye Bolton (23 disposals and five clearances) and Bailey Rogers (23 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal) starred in the win as the Tigers and Royals prepare to do battle once again at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday to kick off finals.
For East Perth, Scott Jones broke the all-time hit-outs record for a single season, finishing with 800 after 47 for the match.
Keitel claims FIFTH Bernie Naylor Medal
The Sullivan Logistics WAFL competition’s top-two goal-kickers booted 13 goals between them in the final round as Tyler Keitel snatched his fifth Bernie Naylor Medal in thrilling circumstances.
The West Perth veteran won his third Bernie Naylor Medal in a row in a stunning final round which saw him needing at least five majors against East Fremantle at The Good Grocer Park on Saturday to overcome South Fremantle recruit Trey Ruscoe.
Ruscoe’s Bulldogs had the earlier game against West Coast and smashed the wooden spooners by 87 points with their star forward kicking a staggering 7.7 to finish the home-and-away season with exactly 50 goals.
Ruscoe started the round three goals behind Keitel and finished his Round 20 clash four goals ahead as his impressive debut season at Souths continued.
But sharpshooter Keitel held his nerve in the Falcons’ loss to the Sharks, kicking six of his team’s 10 majors without a minor score on his way to 52 season goals.
Claremont signing Jaiden Hunter finished in third position with 40 goals from just 14 games.
Falcons’ Rogers Cup hat-trick
West Perth survived a second-half scare to win their third Rogers Cup premiership in a row at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.
The ladder-leading Falcons’ victory came off the back of a dominant starting, kicking the first six goals of the match.
Claremont were gallant in defeat, coming to life late in the opening half with back-to-back majors before making their move in the third term to cut the margin back to 18 points at the final change.
But the minor premiers held on in a goalless last quarter to prevail by 18 points – 7.6 (48) to 4.6 (30).
Falcons young gun Tayah Nicholson won the best-on-ground medallion after an impressive four-quarter performance.
Nicholson received seven of a possible nine votes to win the medal ahead of Claremont’s Mia Jackson who polled five votes and was instrumental in her side’s fightback after half-time.
Demons’ dynamic duo do it again
Perth’s dynamic duo Brandan Parfitt and Charlie Constable combined for 76 disposals, 13 clearances, 12 inside 50s and two goals as the Demons tuned up for finals with an easy win over Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
Fellow ex-Geelong player Blake Schlensog continued his hot form up forward with six goals ahead of the Demons’ long-awaited returns to finals in a do-or-die clash against East Fremantle at The Good Grocer Park on Sunday.
Dockers duo put hand up for AFL recall as young gun has breakout game
Nathan O’Driscoll and Matthew Johnson put their hand up to be a part of Fremantle’s finals campaign with impressive performances in Peel Thunder’s big win over Swan Districts at Mandurah’s Lane Group Stadium on Saturday.
O’Driscoll responded to his axing in fine form, racking up 25 disposals, five inside 50s and booting three goals in an eye-catching display.
The hard-running midfielder put together an exciting highlights reel including an EGT goal-of-the-week contender in the first half when he started from half-back and took three bounces before pulling the trigger from 45m out.
Johnson also did his bit in the 54-point win with 20 disposals and three inside 50s in his return from an ankle injury.
Man mountain Liam Reidy (22 disposals, 33 hit-outs, nine inside 50s and a goal) will likely get the three Sandover Medal votes after a monster performance in the ruck as he closes in on his first Tuckey Medal as Peel’s fairest-and-best player.
Teenager Kyelan Sanders had a breakout game with three goals while nearing pulling off mark of the year with a Gary Moorcroft-like effort.
The high-flying goalsneak only made his debut earlier this season and finished the season with 12 majors in 11 games to show he’s a player for the future.
Jesse Turner (35 disposals) was the injury-hit Swan Districts’ best, while 100-gamer Aidan Clarke battled hard in the midfield.
Young guns shine in EGT WAFL Colts
West Perth ball magnet Sam Swadling racked up 47 disposals in his EGT WAFL Colts return as his team snatched fifth spot and a finals berth on Saturday.
The AFL draft bolter and Under-18s All-Australian continued his stellar season as the Falcons knocked off East Fremantle by four points in a thriller at The Good Grocer Park.
Classy half-back and first-round draft prospect Jacob Farrow also returned with a bang after a stint in the seniors, finishing with 29 disposals and nine clearances.
Judd Marcello was the hero with three majors including the match-winner as West Perth prepare for an elimination final against Swan Districts at The Good Grocer Park this Sunday.
State 18s vice-captain Cody Curtin had a successful comeback from injury, booting five majors in reduced game time for Claremont
Fellow WA under-18s leadership group members Blake Kelly (33 disposals, eight inside 50s and five clearances) was also among the best players for Round 20, leading Swan Districts to a big win over Peel.