The weirdest WAFL grand final ever
The best team claimed the flag, but it was certainly a journey. Plus my new favourite colts player, and the AFLW form guide is still all over the shop.
G’day friends, bit of an eventful day yesterday, wasn’t it?
What was a bit of a drag of a WAFL grand final turned into one of the most memorable in years thanks to a late surge from the Royals, a controversial finish and a Simpson Medal count that was all over the shop.
How good is footy!!!
Today’s newsletter includes: Unpacking the end of the WAFL grand final; a massive turn-up in the twos; the Eagles father-son surging up the charts; my new favourite colts player and trying to figure out who is good and who is not in the AFLW.
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WAFL GRAND FINAL
FAIR BIT TO UNPACK! South Fremantle won the WAFL premiership by two points after a massive East Perth comeback in the final quarter. But it wasn’t without controversy. To break it down: Matty Parker gets done holding the ball, the siren goes. Aaron Drage kicks the ball away in celebration. Bench runs onto the field in celebration. Jordyn Baker reminds everyone that he has a free kick and wants a shot at goal (from the middle of the wing). East Perth want a 50m penalty because Bourne kicked the ball away. Umpires say no. The field has to be cleared of players, club staff, the stage and fireworks. Baker takes the kick, it gets nowhere near the goals. Souths claim the flag.
Coming from a member of the umpiring department who was sitting near me at the time, it could only have been a 50m penalty if it was for deliberately time wasting or dissent. You also can’t pay 50m for time wasting post-siren. The ball was kicked in celebration, the umpires read the room and used their common sense. As for the players running on the field, it would only be a free kick if they ignored the request to return to the bench. They didn’t. Was it a cluster? Yes. Did the umpires assess it correctly? That’s a yes too.
It was a tight game that caught fire late. The fourth quarter was better than the previous three. In the end, the best team all year get the chocolates.
Hamish Free was awarded the Simpson Medal. Four players tied on three votes - Free, his direct opponent Scott Jones plus defenders Ethan Hughes and Chad Pearson. The umpires gave Free three votes, so he won on countback - they had the deciding ballot in the event of a tie. Free kicked two goals at crucial times and was a fine selection. Jones was the only person to get votes from more than one judge.
Seriously, this was a weird finish all round.
East Perth couldn’t have done much more. Jones capped off an elite season with a massive performance in the middle and was instrumental in the late comeback. Hamish Brayshaw, Stan Wright and Tom North all fired. Sometimes the result just isn’t your friend.
There was a huge turn-up in the reserves decider. East Perth finished fifth but somehow got over the top of a Claremont side that had been beating teams by three figures. Tyler Lindberg was best on with three goals from 21 disposals and 10 tackles. He’s only 20, so expect him to see plenty of league action sooner rather than later.
WAFL COLTS GRAND FINAL
A few months ago, Charlie Banfield would have been a speculative draft pick. That’s not the case any more. Banfield was a unanimous best on ground in Claremont’s upset win over South Fremantle. The West Coast father-son chance had 28 touches, five clearances, nine inside-50s and two goals for the Tigers. It was a big performance to cap off a really big month. His third quarter in particular, when the Bulldogs tried to mount a comeback, shut the game down. He’s bigger than you think, competitive as hell, dangerous overhead, and should be wearing blue and gold by the end of the year.
It was hard going for Souths from the start, after Jack Clarke medallist and Fremantle NGA member Toby Whan went out of the game with a shoulder injury. It was a cruel end to a really strong season from the young midfielder.
One other note out of the game is that I have a new favourite colts player - Cameron Maynard from South Fremantle. He’s quick, he kicks goals, he tackles, he does backflips, and said after the game he kicks goals “for breakfast and lunch”. How good.
That’s two colts flags now for Cody Curtin. He was well held early by Lucas Cattalini but when the dam wall burst in the final quarter he cashed in to finish with six goals.
Fred Rodriguez was a stand-out for South Freo. Without his partner in crime Whan, Fred took the lead and did all he could with 25 disposals, six tackles and a goal.
AFLW
If somebody could tell me who is good and who is not good, that would be very helpful. This competition is all over the place. At least it keeps things interesting before North Melbourne lift the cup in November.
Fremantle carried over their derby form to pump Essendon 56-8. I was chatting with a former Sydney player on Friday night who said the Bombers game would be a good indication of where Freo sit amongst the mid-table pack of sides who are not called the Kangaroos. The charge was led in the middle by Aisling McCarthy and Kiara Bowers - who laid a casual 21 tackles, just short of her record 22. And if this was an indication of the level Gabby Newton can go to, that is going to prove to be one hell of a trade for the Dockers. They still need to get some more young high-end talent coming through, but Newton will be a key cog in that midfield for years. She was enormous at ground level and overhead with 28 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal - and was dangerous forward when she went there.
The Eagles, meanwhile, appear to have had their mojo stolen last week (apologies to younger readers for an Austin Powers reference that will go over your heads). West Coast couldn’t get anything going in a 50-point loss to Melbourne. It was a rude awakening after such a good start to the year. To find a positive, which we like to do here, Abbygail Bushby had a career day out with 23 disposals and five tackles. So that’s good.
PERTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
North Beach are back at the top of the A-Grade men’s PFL tree - winning the decider comfortably over Curtin Uni Wesley. When the team sheet features names like Zac Clarke, Leigh Kitchin, Nic Reid, Drew Rohde and Frank Anderson, you’re going to be half a chance. They did it from third on the ladder at the end of the regular season and no doubt celebrated long and hard. Nic Wells was best on ground.
That’s the lot for today. Thanks again for reading.
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