Grown men are crying in Lathlain
The Demons won a final, the Eagles W team finds form fast, concerns for Freo and a West Coast father-son makes a statement.
G’day punchers, we’re back again. Less footy this weekend with the AFL pre-finals bye and the start of finals in the WAFL - but plenty to get excited about.
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Today’s newsletter includes: The Demons have broken a VERY long drought, Ella Roberts being the best player in the AFLW again, the State’s two leading draft candidate dominating the colts final and a Royal statement in Claremont.
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WAFL FINALS
It’s taken 28 years, but Perth have won a final. Yes, you’re not going crazy… it actually happened. The Demons trailed East Fremantle by 21 points in the second quarter of Sunday’s elimination final and looked set for their second finals loss from two attempts this century. But this is a different Demons outfit. The men in red and black owned the second half, playing with pace and pressure and converting when they needed to. Blake Schlensog changed the game when he lifted his ruck minutes in the second half, Aaron Clarke was enormous with six goals and Charlie Constable led from the front all day. You’ll also want to keep an eye on small forward Daniel Hill - he had an ‘almost’ day, but if he puts it together he’ll be deadly inside 50.
East Fremantle are the unlucky ones after a season where they did better than expected. If AFL recruiters are sharp enough, Milan Murdock may have played his last game for the Sharks. Just draft him please.
There were upsets in both games - East Perth shocked Claremont by playing harder for longer. The Royals had winners across the park - Hamish Brayshaw the best of them with 31 touches and a goal. Their approach was personified by the likes of Kye Willcocks. He had a great game stat-wise with 22 and nine marks, but just attacked each contest like his life depended on it. Huge from the Royals, who are now one win from a grand final. Huge questions for Claremont, who genuinely looked rattled, and will be without their spearhead Jaiden Hunter for 21 days with concussion.
AFLW
For 7/8ths of the game, West Coast couldn’t score. For the final eighth, it was all they did. In the last seven minutes of their game against St Kilda, the Eagles went from one goal to six. They also went from a loss to a win. There was a familiar name at the heart of the surge - Ella Roberts. She kicked two goals in the final term, created plenty more with her attack on the contest and finished with 23 touches, 14 contested, nine marks and seven tackles. Her teammate and former skipper Emma Swanson said Roberts was the best player in the competition - we’re inclined to agree.
Fremantle started the season as likely finalists. Three weeks in, they’ve copped two absolute hidings on their home deck care of Brisbane and now North Melbourne. Next week they’ve got the red-hot Sydney Swans. And they’ll have to do it without All-Australian defender Emma O’Driscoll, who was concussed in the loss. Tough, tough times.
WAFL COLTS
Charlie Banfield has been a terrific role-player for Claremont and the WA under-18 side this year. At the weekend he turned into a star for the Tigers despite their loss to East Fremantle. Banfield, son of West Coast premiership player Drew, had 33 disposals, seven tackles and two goals for the Tigers in a performance more like those he’s been rolling out for Scotch College. Finals performances count. Banfield is making people take notice.
Fresh off a call-up to the AFL National Futures games later this month, Claremont’s George Gale also made an impression. He’s only 16 and already 187cm. Keep an eye on this one.
We mentioned Reid Foot a few weeks ago and again he played a crucial role for East Freo in just his fifth colts game. Two goals from 14 disposals this time in a finals victory.
Finlay Yeo just about took mark of the year too - if you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour.
West Perth’s colts season is still alive thanks largely to - you guessed it - Sam Swadling and Jacob Farrow. The two Falcons are looking a good chance to be two of the first West Australians picked at the draft for good reason. Swadling had 35 disposals, Farrow had 26 and 11 inside-50s, and West Perth had a win over Swan Districts. Judd Marcello’s four goals certainly helped too.
That’s us all caught up. If you’ve got any feedback or story tips, just reply to this email.
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Catch you next week.