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WAFL Wrap

Here is a complete wrap on the four WAFL games played on the weekend:

East Perth defeated arch rivals West Perth by one point on Friday night in a highly controversial finish at Leederville Oval.

Leading by the one point in the dying seconds, East Perth's Jeremey Barnard was tackled deep inside his defensive fifty as he attempted to run the ball out.

The West Perth players pleaded with the umpire for a holding the ball decision, which would have given the Falcons a shot at goal from twenty metres, directly in front.

The umpire didn't blow his whistle, and East Perth held on to win a great game.

The first half was a tight affair, with the scores being level at both quarter and half time.

West Perth came out after the long break and took control.

The Falcons dominated the third quarter, but were unable to convert that dominance into goals.

For the term the Falcons kicked 3.1 to the Royals three behinds.

But such was West Perth's dominance, they should have been sitting on at least a five goal lead going into the last term.

West Perth still looked to have the game in their keeping when Brent Rynehart goaled early in the last term.

The Falcons got out to a 23 point lead before the Royals started to reel them in.

Paul Ridley provided the spark up forward for the Royals in the last term, presenting himself on a regular basis. He finished the night with 3.4.

Adam Selwood was East Perth's most consistent player all night, collecting 27 possessions to be the top ball winner on the ground.

Brent Cowell played possibly his best game for the season, winning the ball from the stoppages at vital times.

East Perth were also well served by Merrington, Pickering, Humm and Swan.

West Perth dominated most of the match because of the strong play of Brad Murray and Kim Rigoll in the midfield.

Duckworth, Tsalikis, Rynehart, Smith and Logan were good players for the Falcons.

EAST PERTH 11.13 (79) b WEST PERTH 11.12 (78)
GOALS - EAST PERTH - Ridley 3, Wilson, Merrington 2, Wulff, Cowell, Swan, Humm 1
WEST PERTH - Campbell 3, Curley, Fewster 2, Salecic, Tsalikis, Rynehart, Murray 1
BEST - EAST PERTH - A. Selwood, P. Ridley, M. Clark, M. Swan
WEST PERTH - Murray, Duckworth, Rigoll, Foulds, Smith, Salecic

A brave Swan Districts have inflicted the first loss for 2004 on Claremont and Claremont Oval on Saturday.

Swans lead all day to defeat the star-studded Claremont by 10 points.

Swans won 8.10.58 to 6.12.48.

Shane Beros was the outstanding player on the ground. The classy midfielder collected 38 possessions in a standout performance.

He was well supported by the Casson brothers, Richmond, Munro and Griffen.

Another highlight of the match for Swans was the performance of Debutant Jesse Pearce. He kicked two goals in a very classy debut.

Haron Bakhari kicked four goals for Claremont.

Swan Districts 3.2, 6.5, 6.8, 8.10(58) defeated
Claremont 2.3, 3.7, 5.10 6.12 (48)
Claremont Goals: Bokhari 4, Crawford, Waterhouse
Claremont Best: Wira, Quinn, B Jones, A Jones, Bokhari, Crabb

Swan Districts Goals: Edwards Pearce 2, L Casson, Cornelius, Edmonds, Lange
Swan Districts Best: Beros, L Casson, Griffin, Radici, Richmond, Pearce



Perth have got their 2004 campaign back on track with an impressive victory over Subiaco at Cunderdin Oval today.

The Demons ran out winners 15.6.96 to 8.10.58.

After a close, tight first half, the Demons broke the game open in the third quarter when they took advantage of the breeze to outscore the Lions 6.1 to 1.2.

Chris Maguire was a major focal point in attack for the Demons.

The fast leading Maguire kicked five goals and took seven marks.

In the midfield Chris Bossong continued is great form for the Demons.

He collected 27 possessions, most of which were used with great aplomb.

Young West Coast midfielder Sam Butler continues to impress and again was prominent.

Former Subiaco player Sam McManus was keen to perform against his old club, and he was a major driving force in the engine for most of the game.

Brad Smith kicked four goals for the Lions, but was kept reasonably quiet after quarter time.

Josh Wooden (33 possessions), Marc Webb (30) and David Robbins (24) worked hard for the Lions.

Perth 3.1 6.2 12.3 15.6(96)
Subiaco 3.3 5.5 6.7 8.10(58)
Goalkickerserth Maguire 5,Rudd 3,McManus 2, Maher 2, Johnson 2, Kelly 1.
Subiaco Smith 4, Robbins 2, Cossom 1, Wooden 1.
Best: Perth Maguire, Sprigg, Johnson, McManus, Perkins, Rudd, Bossong.
Subiaco Webb, Cossom, Pickett, Priddis, Hayes, Miller.

South Fremantle claimed the first bragging rights for the 2004 season when they were victorious over East Fremantle by 7 points in the first Fremantle Derby for the year at East Fremantle Oval this afternoon.

The final score saw South Fremantle 14.10.94 defeat East Fremantle 13.9.87.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Bulldogs.

At the first change, East Fremantle led by 3 points and by half time the Sharks remained in front, with their margin reduced to 2 points.

Scott Simister led the way in the first quarter for East Fremantle, kicking three goals for the term.

The start of the second quarter saw the Bulldogs put East Fremantle's defence under constant pressure and when South Fremantle scored the opening goal for the term, they hit the front by two points. A goal to Foster extended South's lead to nine points.

It wasn't until the 12 minute mark of the second term that the Sharks scored their first goal for the quarter, courtesy of Jason Morgan who slotted a major through from 40 metres.

Both teams traded goals throughout the remainder of the term, neither team able to string back-to-back goals together to take the ascendancy.

By half time, Scott Simister had kicked four goals for East Fremantle, while Ryan Murphy had two on the board for the Bulldogs.

Three consecutive goals to East Fremantle at the start of the third quarter, including two more to Simister, saw the Sharks stretch their lead out to 21 points, before South Fremantle managed to add to the last three goals of the term to reduce the margin back to 2 points in favour of the home team.

There was a five minute period in the third team where there was no movement on the scoreboard, and at times, play was scrappy and mistake ridden.

The fourth quarter saw teams go goal for goal and at the 24th minute mark, scores were level.

Joe McLaren kicked a behind to give the Bulldogs a one point lead and when Hayden North kicked his third goal for the quarter in the final minutes of the match, the Bulldogs were home by seven points.

East Fremantle would be disappointed to have lost, having had plenty of opportunities late in the final term to score.

Scott Simister was dominant in the East Fremantle forward line kicking 8 goals for the match, while for the Bulldogs, Hayden North kicked three for the day, all in the last quarter.

Best players for South Fremantle were Hayden North, who was a livewire in the forward line all day, Joe McLaren, who was South's best player, setting up many attacking moves across the half back line, and Matt Clucas, who was outstanding in the middle.

Kingsley Hunter, Stephen Dodd, Michael Collica and spearhead Scott Simister were among the best for East Fremantle.

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3-4 ; 6-7 ; 9-9 ; 14-10 (94)
EAST FREMANTLE 4-1 ; 7-3 ; 10-5 ; 13-9 (87)

GOALS
SOUTH FREMANTLE