Ruck questions posed and answered
The Dockers answer doubters again, a hard slog for West Coast and who impressed across the WAFL competitions.
G’day punchers! Short and sharp into for you today to get into the good stuff.
By the way, Gather Round should stay in SA and WA should continue having a slice of Origin for as long as possible (sell gets murky with Vic v SA etc but that’s never stopped them before).
In today’s newsletter: Johnson lifts again, a Brownlow leader, realistic Eagles results, a ruck solution, the Royal recruits, a young Docker and Eagle impress in pathway, Henry does it again and a 16-year-old Shark goes nuts.
Alright, let’s get stuck in.
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FREMANTLE
Fremantle 7.3 (45) def Collingwood 5.9 (39)
Was it a good game of football? God no. But the fact the Dockers were able to scrap a win from behind with all the momentum going the other way was impressive. The fact they did it two weeks in a row was even more so.
Almost every time Luke Jackson rucks solo, he makes the argument for two rucks a little harder to swallow. Jackson was the most damaging player out there after Sean Darcy went down with a head knock. They might bring in Mason Cox for the derby anyway, the other option would be let Jackson go one out and bring in Jeremy Sharp, who has been in very good form as an inside mid at Peel (he had 25 disposals and kicked three against Claremont at the weekend.
We threw his name up last week, and Matthew Johnson lifted another gear. The burst through the middle to lace out Jye Amiss. The burst through a tackle to settle and kick the winning goal. He’s improving out of sight.
Is Caleb Serong leading the Brownlow at this point of the season? Polls very well.
WEST COAST
Geelong 17.20 (122) def West Coast 11.10 (76)
The jumpers looked sick.
This is one of the results Eagles fans would have been happy with if not for getting those wins on the board early. They were competitive against a good side and a heap of their kids played well.
That’s the first time I can remember Andrew McQualter publicly ripping Harley Reid for discipline issues. Harley’s best this season has been brilliant. He’s still so young, you have to wonder at what point he’s able to shelve that side of his game completely.
We’ve got to see it one more week considering who he was rucking against, but Bailey Williams should be the Eagles’ ruckman going forward. The new rules play in his favour, he offers more going forward, and he’s got a certain amount of mongrel about him. Had 20 disposals and seven clearances.
WAFL
Darcy Craven (ex-Brisbane) and Cooper Stephens (ex-Hawthorn & Geelong) are already proving to be excellent additions at East Perth. Craven has six goals in the first two weeks and Stephens has been a high-level inside mid. When Hamish Brayshaw returns from injury they’ll be fully up and running.
East Fremantle snatched a last-gasp win over Subiaco thanks to a late goal from Liam Robinson, but Jack Cleaver was one of the stories of the day. The Sharks midfielder is still young and he’s played some good games so far - but this might have been his best. Kicked two goals from 26 touches in the middle and burst through stoppages all day.
West Coast won! They beat West Perth by 15 points! The Falcons kicked 12.20, but still! Malakai Champion made a case that he shouldn’t have been dropped in the first place with two goals and seven inside-50s.
Fremantle draftee Ryda Luke kicked 5.4 in the WAFL ressies against Claremont - this fella has so much raw potential.
South Fremantle got two of their prime onballers back in Matthew Parker and Tom Blechynden and flexed on Perth as a result in a 46-point win.
WAFLW
Third best-on-ground in as many weeks for Jaime Henry. This time it was 31 disposals, eight tackles and a goal in a win over East Fremantle.
South Fremantle and Perth played out the first draw of the season - 55 a piece. Isabella Shannon has started the season like a house on fire for the Demons, while Natasha Entwistle was strong for the Dogs.
Paige Sheppard has come back even better this year, she’s almost tipped over 100 disposals in the first three games for Subiaco and was best on in the weekend’s win over East Perth. Subi young gun Marley Kelman also featured in the best for the first time.
Claremont recruit Ruby Sargent-Wilson had a steady start after joining from the Sydney Swans in the off-season. She exploded against Peel Thunder at the weekend as the Tigers notched a 70-point win. First shots fired by the reigning premiers, who have found another gun.
WAFL COLTS
Reid Foot came into the East Fremantle colts side as a 16-year-old last year and held his spot through finals. He was there again in round one this season and had a massive game in a win over Subiaco this weekend - kicking four goals from 15 touches. Keep an eye on this one.
In that same game there was another breakout from a 16yo in Oscar Richardson. He kicked two goals from 26 touches and 11 marks in his second colts game. Wowee.
West Coast father-son prospect Harper Banfield was good for Claremont. He’s similar to his brother Charlie in terms of hunger and endeavour, just not as tall. Two good games to start the year.
Key defender Mitchell Stirling was massive for Peel. He had 25 touches and six marks. Will be a pillar of WA’s U18 side this year.
AFLW U16 CHAMPS
WA came close to a comeback win in their opening game against SA last week, but they were cut short by the siren.
Bella Nelson, fresh off a hat-trick of U15 All-Australians, had it a team-high 23 times with nine marks and 10 rebound 50s.
Subiaco’s Caitlin Boss was another standout with 22 disposals and four clearances.
Their second and final game is this Thursday in Melbourne.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.