The Western Derby needs a saviour
It's the biggest game on the WA calendar, we need the Eagles to save it.
G’day punchers! Did you know the Eagles actually had one more inside 50 yesterday?
Sorry, I’m just doing my best to make it feel like the derby is competitive atm.
In today’s newsletter: Amiss’ career four-game stretch, help for Reuben, a breakout year at Claremont, pin-point Swans, a 196cm prospect picking up 29 in the colts and the return of our leading AFLW draft contender.
Let’s get stuck in.
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THE DERBY
Fremantle 14.13 (97) def West Coast 5.11 (41)
There are no ways around it - we need to save the Western Derby. The Eagles need to take big steps in the next 12 months to start to make our showpiece game more of a contest. That’s nine of the past 10 to Fremantle. A few have been competitive. We’re optimistic the worm will turn soon.
Jye Amiss has kicked 13 goals in his past four games. It’s his best-ever four game stretch (which is a statistical indicator I just made up but now claim as important). There have been plenty of haters along the journey, but he’s making them eat humble pie. He particularly likes playing the Eagles, kicking 19 goals in seven games against the cross-town rivals.
It was his first game back and the Eagles have a few issues, but Hayden Young had plenty of moments to display his class in his return from injury. He burst out of the middle early, laced out forwards, and found too much space. When he’s firing and Murphy Reid has another game out of the box - not to mention Jordan Clark’s BOG display off half-back - you can see all the elements of a contender coming together.
Hats off to Reuben Ginbey. He was immense for West Coast with heavy traffic coming the other way. Holding Josh Treacy to just three marks isn’t something that can be shrugged off. He needs some help though. The coach knows it - and it looks like Jobe Shanahan may need to go down back for a while to provide it.
WAFL
Claremont are now the only undefeated side after taking the points against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. Zac Mainwaring’s midfield move continues to pay off - he was one of the best out there with two goals, 19 disposals and seven tackles.
The forwards at Swan Districts can’t seem to miss this season. William Reidy kicked four goals in a win over West Perth at the weekend for a season tally of 8.1. Off-season recruit Zach Provest has 6.1 from three games.
Jeremy Sharp would be one of the early Sandover Medal leaders. He’s going to find it tough to get into the senior Fremantle side, but he was best on for Peel in a one-point loss to Perth with another 34, six inside-50s and a goal.
East Fremantle’s Oskar Smartt - recruited from Essendon - is already one of the best small forwards in the comp. That’s 10 goals now from three games.
West Coast have two wins! We were told this season would be even, and it’s delivering. Malakai Champion in the best again - he’s taken a serious leap this season and will be pushing for AFL selection again very soon. Three goals from 20 touches.
WAFLW
Jaime Henry watch: 36 disposals and seven tackles this time in a win for Swan Districts over West Perth.
The return of leading draft candidate Cara Dziegielewski was the other big story from that game. The ruck-forward kicked a goal from 10 touches and 23 hit-outs to be amongst the best in her first game back from injury.
Another draft prospect having an unreal start to the year is Perth’s Mia Carlshausen. A recent convert to footy she’s been a standout for the Demons early and was at it again in defence in their win over Peel.
Claremont are humming again after a creaky start to the season. Bec Anderson has been a big part of that. She’s kicked seven goals in the past two games and has already almost doubled her goal tally from last year.
WAFL COLTS
Another week, another big game from George Gale at Claremont. The Tigers were narrowly beaten by South Fremantle but Gale was probably best on ground. He had 31 touches, two goals, six tackles, six inside 50s and was pretty much everywhere. The only colts player averaging 30+ and very few cheap possessions among them.
Quality game from the man with the best name in the comp, Jamayson Ketchup. The Demons small forward made the U18 summer squad and you can see why. Two goals, eight tackles and 16 touches in a win over Peel. Building into the season nicely.
Massive game for West Perth tall Harvey Spawton-Guy in their win over Swan Districts. He played across every line and was effective everywhere. A 196cm fella having it 29 times with 11 marks is crazy. Falcons could be the best team in it too, just quietly.
Bottom-ager James Artemis is working into the season well, and had his best game for East Fremantle on the weekend. He’s on Tasmania’s list.
TALENT
Koby LeCras had an enormous game for the AFL Academy against Richmond’s VFL side. Son-of-Brent kicked three goals working forward and on the wing, took a couple of contested grabs and demonstrated a few different tricks he has in front of goals.
Bella Nelson has continued her dominant pathways career by being named WA’s MVP of the U16 AFLW championships. The West Perth defender helped set up the State’s win in the second of their two games. Subiaco’s Caitlin Boss was probably the other standout across both games.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.