BULLDOG TRIO IN ROUND 18 TEAM OF THE WEEK

PLENTY might have been sorted in Round 18 of the WAFL season with Subiaco and South Fremantle moving clear on top of the ladder while Swan Districts shut the gate on East Perth who kept on winning at the same time.

There were four games played on Saturday for Round 18 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season and by the end of it, Subiaco was a game clear on top, South Fremantle a game clear in second, and Swan Districts had secured their return to finals action.

South Fremantle made it 12 straight derby wins and continued to assert its dominance the longer Saturday’s game went at Fremantle Community Bank Oval to end up beating East Fremantle 19.9 (123) to 9.8 (62).

The Bulldogs moved a game clear in second position as a result with Brandon Donaldson kicking five goals, Mason Shaw four and Cody Ninyette three. Jonathon Marsh and Corey Holmes kicked two goals each for East Fremantle.

CENTRE – TOM BLECHYNDEN (South Fremantle)
He cemented a spot in the South Fremantle team in 2020 mostly as a wingman or at half-forward to become a premiership player, but now throughout 2021 he has moved onto the ball and continues to thrive. He is making the most of the chance and repaying the faith of coach Todd Curley and produced another 25 possessions, nine tackles, five inside-50 entries and three marks in Saturday’s big derby win.
Times named in 2021: 2

FULL-FORWARD – MASON SHAW (South Fremantle)
He continues to spend a lot of this season as South Fremantle captain with Dylan Main sidelined with a foot complaint and he stood tall once again the 12th consecutive derby win for the Bulldogs. He kicked four goals from six kicks and five marks to give him 43 goals in 14 matches this season, and 264 overall in his 114 WAFL career.
Times named in 2021: 5

FORWARD POCKET – BRANDON DONALDSON (South Fremantle)
Had the best day of his career in terms of goal kicking in Saturday’s 61-point derby win for the Bulldogs against the Sharks. South Fremantle’s forward-line remains potent and he gave another option by kicking five goals from 19 touches and six marks. It’s the first time in his 76-game career he has kicked five goals having kicked four on two previous occasions.
Times named in 2021: 2

WAFL TEAM OF THE ROUND
BACK: Nathan Blee (EP), Matthew Jupp (EF), Aaron Heal (S)
HALF-BACK: Andrew Fisher (P), Tony Notte (SD), Jason Carter (C)
CENTRE: Tyrone Thorne (PT), Tom Blechynden (SF) , Greg Clark (S)
HALF-FORWARD: Aidan Clarke (SD), Brayden Noble (SD), Kane Mitchell (C)
FORWARD: Ben Sokol (S), Mason Shaw (SF), Brandon Donaldson (SF)
RUCK: Scott Jones (EP), Frank Anderson (SD), Aidan Lynch (EP)
INTERCHANGE: Angus Schumacher (EP), Jesse Turner (SD), Liam Hickmott (S), Steven Miller (C)

UNLUCKY BUNCH
There were plenty of players who delivered tremendous performances across Round 18 but couldn’t quite fit into the Team of the Week, including:

South Fremantle’s Cody Ninyette, George Wessels, Nick Suban, Zac Strom, Manfred Kelly and Noah Strom.

East Fremantle’s Kyle Baskerville, Luke English, Cam Eardley and Ryan Lester-Smith.

East Perth’s Tom Edwards-Baldwin, Harley Sparks, Rohan Kerr, Angus Scott, Nathan Eaton and Kye Willcocks.

Perth’s Conor McPartland, Brent Edmonds, Corey Byrne, Jack Avery, Matthew Taylor, Austin Davis and Sam Perkusich.

Swan Districts’ Sam Fisher, Jesse Palmer, Josh Cipro, Chris Jones and Jak Watson.

Peel Thunder’s James Sturrock, Michael Randall and Blair Bell.

Claremont’s Timm House, Alex Manuel, Bailey Rogers, Max Spyvee and Jack Lewsey.

Subiaco’s Nick Martin, Lachlan Delahunty, Leigh Kitchin, Chad Harris and Hayden Kennedy.

Players of the Round
Round 1 – Josh Schoenfeld (East Fremantle)
Round 2 – Sam Fisher (Swan Districts)
Round 3 – Greg Clark (Subiaco)
Round 5 – Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle)
Round 6 – Tyrone Thorne (Peel Thunder)
Round 7 – Keegan Knott (West Perth)
Round 8 – Jye Bolton (Claremont)
Round 9 – Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
Round 10/11 – Jonathon Marsh (East Fremantle)
Round 12 – Jackson Ramsay (East Perth)
Round 14 – Warrick Wilson (Swan Districts)
Round 15 – Angus Schumacher (East Perth)
Round 16 – Oliver Eastland (Claremont)
Round 17 – Brandon Matera (Subiaco)
Round 18 – Aidan Lynch (East Perth)

CREDIT Wednesday, August 11, 2021 – 7:35 AM – by Chris Pike WAFL website