The Black Ducks are in the decider
The best two teams deliver an epic WAFLW final, Dockers get done, Eagles get Daicosed, and a vet and a rookie deliver epic WAFL goal-kicking feasts.
G’day friends!
The first finals of the WA season were run on the weekend and both were cracking, tight encounters, with Swan Districts booking a ticket straight to the WAFLW decider.
We also handed out a trophy at school level as coach Steve Malaxos returned to the winners’ list at Scotch College with his fifth title since 2020.
In today’s newsletter: The Eagle who may have earned a new deal, two half-centuries at Freo, a WAFL veteran’s big day in front of goals, a colts rookie’s big day in front of goals, plus the WAFLW finals.
Let’s get stuck in.
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WEST COAST
Magpies 17.15 (117) def Eagles 15.8 (98)
They just got Daicosed. If not for the Brownlow Medal favourite, they could have won the game. But Nick had 39 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal and they didn’t.
They were also dealing with the fact their best player - and only real midfield difference marker - Harley Reid was battling all day after an early cork. He fought his way through the game and was still one of their best, but his attacking flair was blunted.
Tom Gross has probably been the Eagles’ best young WAFL player this year, but with so many cuts looming his spot wasn’t guaranteed next year. It feels like he showed enough against the Pies to get another chance. Two goals from 14 disposals and a handful of nice moments.
FREMANTLE
Demons 17.11 (113) def Dockers 17.7 (109)
Of their three losses this year, that’s the first time you felt like the Dockers were playing well enough, they were just beaten. Even if Justin Longmuir pointed the finger at a bad day for the back six.
A moment for Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss. For years the Dockers had been searching for a post-Pav spearhead capable of 50 goals in a season. Now they’ve got two. Amiss now has 53 for the year, and Treacy has 50.
This is very vibe-based, but it feels like the mids just need to get going a bit. There have been some big individual games, but as a collective they don’t seem to be firing as well as they could. Luckily both the forward and defensive 50 operators have been overperforming (this week aside for the defenders) to make up the difference.
WAFLW FINALS
Swan Districts are straight into the GF after holding off a fast-finishing Claremont to win by one point at Steel Blue Oval.
Jaime Henry had 23 and 11 tackles for the winners, while Hayley Bullas was huge for Claremont with 27 and 11 tackles in a ripping contest.
Have to give a nod to Shaya Yarran, who kicked the winning behind and seemed to be everywhere in the final term.
In the other game, East Fremantle’s miserly defence got it done again, ending South Fremantle’s season 3.4 (22) to 2.6 (18).
Jae Flynn continued her excellent season with 23 disposals, seven tackles and a goal off half-back.
WAFL
Peel and Claremont aside, finals spots are still up in the air. East Perth (fourth) jumped back into the five by beating South Fremantle (fifth). And West Coast (sixth) are on the cusp after dealing a blow to Subiaco, who dropped from fifth to seventh as a result of their loss. Percentage is now all that’s separating Perth in third from West Coast in sixth.
Outside of Peel, who have won 12 in a row and sit in a different category to the rest, West Coast are probably the WAFL’s form team. Finlay Macrae had 30 and nine inside-50s to help them record their fourth win from the past five games and keep finals in the picture.
Speaking of Peel, Lachie Tardrew had a day out in their win over Perth - 36 disposals and three goals
The Bernie Naylor Medal is surely headed back to Tyler Keitel now. The West Perth veteran kicked six and had 31 disposals to help the Falcons to their second win of the season, a shock 45-point win over East Fremantle.
This year’s draft crop continues producing at league level. Harvey Spawton-Guy now has six goals from three games at West Perth, Benji van Rooyen had nine touches, 12 hit-outs and four tackles for Claremont, and Garrison Kenh had some nice moments off half-back for the Eagles.
WAFL COLTS
South Fremantle ruck Byron Foster ran rampant in a win over East Perth with 25 disposals, two goals, 36 hit-outs and eight inside-50s.
Keep an eye on 16-year-old Demon Hayden Symons. The young forward out of Hammond Park kicked six in his second colts game to help Perth beat Peel.
Freo NGA Finlay Yeo loaded up for East Fremantle in a win over West Perth with 27 disposals, two goals and seven tackles. I’m really high on this kid as an exciting front-half creator.
SCHOOL FOOTY
Scotch College are Alcock Cup champions. Their 53-36 win over Aquinas was enough to make them unbeatable with one game remaining in the PSA WA season. Unsurprisingly, it was George Gale leading the way for his school, who claimed their fifth title under coach Steve Malaxos.
Axel Walsh had 31 disposals and 12 clearances for Trinity College in a 101-49 win over Hale.
Guildford Grammar fell agonisingly shot of their first win of the season, with Wesley College winning 7.17 (59) to 8.10 (58).
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.