G’day friends!
Being a Fremantle fan is an interesting experience. The word Dockery was invented for a reason. All you can do is hope this week will be better than the last.
Meanwhile at WAFL level the footy has been unreal, and there’s still a prelim and a grand final to come in the next couple of weeks.
In today’s newsletter: An unreal WAFL final, looking ahead for Freo, Harley wins in a canter, Dockers W lose their most important player and an Eagles-linked prospect digs in again in the colts.
Let’s get stuck in.
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FREMANTLE
Hawks 10.12 (72) def Dockers 5.10 (40)
We try to keep things positive in this newsletter. So this will be brief.
Sydney’s shock win over Brisbane changed the game a bit. Most assumed there was one strong side of the finals bracket and one weak side. That’s not the case anymore.
So let’s just forget about last Thursday and look to the Friday semi-final against Geelong.
The main question being, who comes in to replace Brandon Walker (who I thought had done some nice things despite a rusty couple of touches)? Judd McVee and Corey Wagner are the obvious candidates, and both did OK for Peel on the weekend without having a statement game.
That’s all we have to say about Freo v Hawks.
WEST COAST
In a surprise to absolutely nobody, Harley Reid won the John Worsfold Medal in a canter last Friday night.
Here are the top 10 vote getters:
Harley Reid (260 votes)
Jake Waterman (209)
Tim Kelly (193)
Milan Murdock (170)
Brady Hough (166)
Tom McCarthy (164)
Willem Duursma (163)
Elliot Yeo (161)
Reuben Ginbey (159)
Liam Baker (155)
Coming fourth in the B&F as a last-minute SSP selection is crazy Milan Murdock, genuinely crazy.
WALYALUP (FREMANTLE) AFLW
Dockers 9.6 (60) def Tigers 5.5 (35)
Excellent win from Walyalup. They controlled the contest early and never let the Tigers back in it in a meaningful way.
But it wasn’t all roses - Mim Strom was out after a quarter with a shoulder injury. If you’ve read this newsletter in recent weeks, you know how good she’s been for them. Case in point: she missed three quarters but still led her team for clearances. Forward Eden Zanker went into the ruck in her absence which gave them a different look, but nobody can dominate like Mim in there.
Gabby O’Sullivan has been a consistent presence in the Freo forward line, and she bobs up at least a couple of times every year with a game-shaping performance. Three goals on the weekend and probably the Dockers’ best.
WAALITJ MARAWAR (WEST COAST) AFLW
Demons 12.9 (81) def Eagles 6.8 (44)
That’s four losses in a row to start the season. Naarm (Melbourne) are very good, but the warning lights are going off all over the place.
It was a tough day for the defenders - Melbourne led the inside 50s 41-30 and benefited from overlap in their favour time after time. But once again there were a few moments from Zoe Wakfer down back that has me convinced she can be an elite key defender.
WAFL
Rusted-on WAFL man Jacob Landsmeer reckons East Perth’s two-point semifinal win over Perth was the best game of WAFL footy since the 2010 grand final - yes, the Andrew Krakouer game.
The Royals moved through to the preliminary final thanks to a last-gasp goal from Sam Van Diemen, who gathered the ball running towards the boundary through a stoppage, threw it on his left and saw it sail through for an absolutely cracking goal which broke the hearts of Demons fans. It was a fitting finish to a game which was end-to-end all day.
Worth noting the last two Royals inside-50s came courtesy of some big Axel Walsh grabs in defence. Kid’s a star.
The mini of the game should be on 7plus today, so check it out if you have the time.
East Perth will face Claremont in the prelim after the Tigers suffered a 28-point loss to Peel, who move straight through to the grand final.
Zac Mainwaring had a terrific game for the Tigers with three goals, nine tackles and 13 touches. He looks dangerous wherever you put him. Our man Heath Mellody was also class.
For Peel, Tobyn Murray had some seriously good moments including a running goal that started on a half-back flank.
WAFL COLTS
East Fremantle are straight through to the decider and looked scary seeing off Claremont by 36 points. Bottom-aged mid James Artemis had 20 and eight tackles and there was a lot to like from Gus Mourish too.
Harper Banfield dropped another best-on performance for Claremont in a losing side. The hard-nosed Eagles-tied prospect had 29 disposals, a goal and nine inside-50s. Uncompromising.
The Tigers will meet South Fremantle in the prelim after the Dogs beat West Perth by 35 points. Bottom-aged mid Riley Stannard had his best game for months, kicking two goals from 27 disposals and five tackles.
For the Falcons, Campbell Creyk finished off a tremendous bottom-aged year with 30 disposals and seven tackles through the middle. Gets extra points for wearing his long socks up. He’s joined by Tadhg Barrowclough who was enormous again in defence.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.