Tigers pounce as Falcons falter

WEST Perth threw away a 22-point three-quarter time lead against Claremont on Saturday to lose 12.11 (83) to 10.9 (69) in their Round 14 WAFL fixture at Claremont Oval.

The Falcons held a 34-point lead early in the third term, but the Tigers kicked the last seven goals of the game to claim their second consecutive win.

Chad Jones inspired the home side to victory with two of his four goals in the final quarter, while Lewis Stevenson capped off his fine game with a brilliant goal to seal the win.

West Perth did not manage to score a point in the last quarter.

The Tigers have now won four games under Simon McPhee since he took over from Roger Kerr as senior coach, and are still a slim finals prospect.

Stevenson had 28 possessions, as did Jaxon Crabb and Ian Rowe.

One of Luke Blackwell’s 31 touches put the Tigers in front late in the game.

The visitors dominated the first two-and-a-half terms but failed to put away their opponents in the wet and wild conditions.

The strong cross-breeze made it almost impossible for goals to be kicked from the outer side of the ground.

West Perth’s Kepler Bradley was outstanding as a tall midfielder collecting 27 disposals, while captain Jason Salecic had 29 touches and Brent LeCras kicked three goals.

Docker Adam Campbell kicked the first goal of the game but was well held by the Claremont defence, while Mark Seaby (WP) had 32 hit-outs to go with his 20 possessions.

Eagle Beau Wilkes (Cla) was knocked out in the second quarter and took no further part in the game.

EAST Perth continued its good recent form with a shock win over East Fremantle at East Fremantle Oval, a win that keeps Tony Micale’s team in touch with the top four.

The Sharks would have gone into fourth position with a victory, but managed just four goals in a 49-point defeat.

East Perth won 12.13 (85) to 4.12 (36).

Andrew Merrington made a mockery of the tough conditions to kick four goals for the Royals, while Craig Wulff (33 possessions) and Jeremy Humm (28) won plenty of the ball and Ben Stratton was outstanding down back for the winners.

The visitors set up the victory in the second quarter with six goals to one.

Without regular ruckman Zac Clarke, the Royals were expected to struggle at the stoppages, but they more than held their own with Hamish Shepheard and Michael Robinson nullifying the influence of Michael Griffiths and David Dwyer.

The East Fremantle forward line struggled without the injured Courtney Johns and had no multiple goalkickers.

For the Sharks, Kym Monteath continued his good form with 35 touches and Daniel Dalby was busy with 33.

Dumped West Coast midfielder Jamie McNamara was solid with 20 touches of the football.

East Fremantle won most of the statistical categories except for where it mattered most – on the scoreboard.

SUBIACO smashed a hapless Peel Thunder at Medibank Stadium to continue its charge towards a top two finish.

The Mandurah side was never in the hunt as the reigning premiers topped up their percentage with a 26.14 (170) to 9.9 (63) victory.

Leading by 41 points at the main break, the Lions stepped on the gas after half-time with 16 further goals.

Blake Broadhurst was again outstanding with six goals and Trent Dennis-lane moved within one goal of team-mate Brad Smith at the top of the WAFL goal kicking ladder with a five-goal haul.

Smith finished with three goals for the winners.

Out-of-favour Eagle Chad Fletcher was the outstanding player on the ground with 38 touches and two goals.

He constantly found targets by hand and foot and received great support from Jason Bristow (33 possessions), Ben Keevers (29) and former Thunder player Shaun Hildebrandt (27).

After a promising start to 2009, Chris Waterman’s Peel side has fallen in a heap and appears out of finals contention for another year.

Ash Arrowsmith kicked three goals for the Thunder in another bleak day for the club, which could yet add another wooden spoon to its cabinet.

Simon Rosa and Ben Howlett were the best for the Thunder with 26 possessions apiece.

The Lions had 167 more possessions than their opponent and could have won by more had they kicked straighter.

Michael Rix and Luke Newick dominated the ruck for the winners, giving their midfielders first use of the ball at most contests.

PERTH is bottom of the WAFL ladder and is currently playing like a team that is the worst in the competition.

The Demons were well beaten by South Fremantle at EFTel Oval by 39 points.
Inspired by the in-form Daniel Gilmore and returning Peter Bell, the Bulldogs won 16.13 (109) to 10.10 (70), moving into second spot on the ladder.

Callum Wilson kicked 5.4 for the winners, while Jeff Farmer kicked two goals but had his number taken for abusing and threatening a goal umpire.

Bell finished with 27 touches and seven tackles and Gilmore, who must come into consideration by the Fremantle Dockers after an outstanding few weeks, had 22 kicks, 13 marks and 11 handballs.

As a team, the Bulldogs had 91 more touches and 21 more inside 50s.
Brendon Jones never stopped trying for the Demons with a game-high 37 possessions, but his side struggled for goals.

The Demons managed just three to half-time but saved some face by winning the second half seven goals to six.

One of the more intriguing battles was in the ruck where Will Sullivan (Pth) and Jaymie Graham (SF) did battle for most of the day.

The honours were even.

Player of the round: Chad Fletcher (Subiaco).

Ladder after Round 14: Subiaco 36; South Fremantle 32; Swan Districts 32; West Perth 28; East Fremantle 24; East Perth 20; Peel 20; Claremont 16; Perth 16.

Leading goalkickers: 41 - Brad Smith (Sub); 40 - Trent Dennis-Lane (Sub); 39 - Chad Jones (Cla); 31 - Tim Geappen (SD); 30 - Brent LeCras (WP) .

Round 15 (all games Saturday, 2.15pm): West Perth v Perth, Arena Joondalup; Swan Districts v East Fremantle, Steel Blue Oval; South Fremantle v Claremont, Fremantle Oval; East Perth v Subiaco, Medibank Stadium.

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