It's really Wharfie Time, isn't it?
Plus a West Coast father-son breaking records in the WAFL colts, another Warner going big in school footy and Souths found another stud.
G’day friends! Happy first day of AFLW pre-season. Because footy never stops.
It was a massive weekend for the boys in purple, (and another grim one for the Eagles) and there was plenty to take note of right across the footy landscape.
And don’t forget to grab your tickets to the WAFL State Game this Saturday at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in Leederville. Three games of State footy at the one ground. Get around it.
In today’s newsletter: Freddy’s back, some young Eagles find their positions, Souths have another young gun to watch, the WAFLW talent pipeline gets deeper, son-of-Braun breaks the record and another Warner is making an impact in the PSA.
Let’s get stuck in.
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FREMANTLE
Fremantle 12.16 (88) def Hawthorn 11.7 (73)
Wharfie Time has been around for a while, but it’s never hit like that before. I was in the stands for this game and the atmosphere in that final run was genuinely insane. Best since the Dogs final in 2022. The game had been a bit of a grind, but the Dockers turned it on when they needed to. A flex that has the competition on notice and Freo smack bang in the middle of premiership contenders.
While Luke Jackson was leading the charge late, it was another game when a fringe Docker stood up - this time Michael Frederick. He has his critics, but with three goals from 19 touches, he was critical to the win. His best game in a while.
Alex Pearce strained his MCL late so will miss a game. The selection committee has their pick of three key backs to replace him - Hugh Davies, Oscar McDonald and Josh Draper. I’d like to see Davies given the chance, the 21-year-old has been in really good form for Peel and I’d like to see how he goes.
WEST COAST
Melbourne 15.9 (99) def West Coast 9.13 (67)
Brady Hough has played a step below his usual standard this season, but I’ve always been a fan. He’ll do whatever job you ask him to, and rarely delivers a stinker. His job to keep Kozzy Pickett quiet all game was a tick. Maybe just use him as a tagger every week?
There’s always Willem Duursma. At one stage the Eagles were dicking around with the ball in the back 50 and about to turn it over if not for the class of the No.1 pick. He received a dodgy handball at his feet but gathered it so cleanly and dished a crisp offload around the corner to a man with grass in front of him. He’s better than advertised.
Thoughts go out to Harry Edwards, who suffered his third concussion this season. It’s going to be tough from here. Jamie Cripps has also done his ACL playing WAFL. Tough weekend.
Elijah Hewett played on ball in the WAFL and had 27 touches and seven clearances. That’s his position. How long it takes him to break into the midfield at senior level is another question.
WAFL
Talk about making the most of your first league game of the year. Cooper Clarke-Dehring kicked five goals for South Fremantle in his first game of ones footy for the year as the Dogs saw off West Coast. He’s a 21yo, 190cm forward from Donnybrook and yet another option for the stacked Dogs. He was replacing Trey Ruscoe, who hurt his hamstring, but will be hard to leave out when the main man returns.
West Perth are struggling this year, and copped another touch-up on the weekend - this time against Subiaco. But you can always count on Tyler Keitel. He kicked four and is once again leading the Bernie Naylor race.
Bit of love around for Judd Kelman’s performance for the victorious Lions. The Kalgoorlie lad is really coming of age this season.
Claremont are 6-0 now thanks to a 111-59 win over Perth. It’s between them and Souths at this stage. Another casual 27 disposals, two goals and eight inside-50s for Bailey Rogers.
Jeremy Sharp was squeezed out of Freo’s side last week, so he came back and kept his dominant WAFL form going. He had 36 and a goal in Peel’s win over East Perth.
Swan Districts notched their second win of the season by beating the Sharks. A four-goal return from recruit Jovan Petric is an encouraging sign that things are starting to settle.
WAFLW
Two WA U16 reps made their league debut in the same game on the weekend - Trista Smoker for West Perth and Bea Crane for Subiaco. They joined state teammates Bella Nelson (Falcons) and Caitlin Boss (Lions) in a game stacked with young talent. The Lions took the win by two points.
East Fremantle caused a massive upset by taking down Claremont by one point. This was the same week their best player was drafted by Fremantle too. Former Tiger Mackenzie Webb was best on ground, because of course she was.
The Tash Entwistle-Madison Evans-Ash Gomes ex-Shark trio were at it again for South Fremantle in their win over the winless Peel. Really finding their groove.
Ex-Docker Poppy Stockwell could be looking at another AFLW shot later this year if she keeps putting up numbers like she did on the weekend. Now at Perth, she kicked 3.4 and added six tackles in a very well-rounded forward game.
WAFL COLTS
Claremont’s Noah Braun had 52 touches. FIFTY-TWO TOUCHES! And two goals. It’s a new disposal record for the colts competition. If you think the name is familiar, yes that’s the son of West Coast premiership player Michael Braun. He’s eligible as a father-son but has a bit of work to do still to be in the draft frame. Still, 52 touches and two goals elevates his chances.
Tadgh Barrowclough has been consistently good in defence for West Perth. He’s elevated himself in his second season of colts, going from 7.8 average disposals to 17.6. He’s still only 16 but we’ll be watching him closely.
Peel Thunder’s young key forward Trent Robertson had his best game for the club with four goals in a win over East Perth. He’s a big unit already at 194cm and 97kg at 16 years old and knows how to find the goals. He’s kicked 13 goals from six games.
Jai Debono put together one hell of a game for Swans. He kicked two goals from 31 touches as his best game in a very good season so far. Debono was an All-Australian in the U15s and player in the U16 champs, but has been on the outer since. Could a few more games see him knock on the door of the 18s squad?
SCHOOL FOOTY
A reminder that this is the final week of school footy content being in front of the paywall, from next week it will be a separate send for paying subscribers.
Aquinas College look like the team to beat early this season after easily accounting for reigning premiers Hale School 109-55. Troy Warner - the youngest of the four Warner brothers - was very impressive with a couple of goals and some real influence in the middle of the ground. That’s against a Hale midfield that includes Heath Mellody and Campbell Creyk as well.
A massive 137-18 win for Scotch College over Guildford Grammar. Scotch have had some of their best mids in and out with State duties - George Gale and Harper Banfield in particular - but the likes of Jarra Mallard have stepped up in their absence.
Christ Church are on the board with a 72-51 win over Wesley College. It’s their best win in a couple of seasons. Harry Brooks has been enormous for them up forward to start the season after making his colts debut with Claremont this year too, and Lachie Sheldrick has been big through the middle.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.