THIS weekend produced the most exciting round of West Australian Football League (WAFL) Colts football so far, with every game decided by two goals or less, including three games by a combined nine points.

Peel Thunder 11.4 (70) defeated Subiaco 9.12 (66)

Peel Thunder has upset Subiaco to hand the Lions their second consecutive loss with a narrow four-point win at home. Subiaco looked on top early, booting eight goals to four in the first half, but could only manage one after the main break as the home team piled on seven, to run away with the contest and claim a vital four points and move back into the top five.

Peel’s Lachlan Riley had 23 disposals, seven marks, five inside 50s and three tackles, while Andrew Butler also managed 23 disposals, three marks, four inside 50s and five tackles. Lachlan Cullen played an important role down forward, booting 3.3 from eight disposals, while Jaxon Egan finished with two majors. Jake Howes was the other player over 20 disposals, with 21 touches, three inside 50s and seven tackles.

For the losers, Tristan Hobley topped the disposal count with 26 touches, nine marks, three inside 50s and three tackles, while Zane Shellabear Healey had 23 disposals (all kicks), four marks, seven tackles and four inside 50s, but was inaccurate up forward with three behinds. Jack Mayo was the lone hand up front with four goals from eight scoring shots, 12 disposals, seven marks and 11 hitouts, while Liam Hickmott laid 10 tackles and booted a goal from 17 touches.

Claremont 9.8 (62) defeated Perth 8.12 (60)

Claremont has held on for the upset of the round, taking down top-of-the-table Perth in a two-point thriller. The Tigers stormed out of the blocks, booting four goals to one in the first term and led by 17 points at the main break, before the Demons hit back. Perth booted three goals to one in the third term to draw within two points, but the Tigers managed to hang tough in the last term with both sides adding a goal and Claremont celebrating a memorable victory. In fairness to Perth, they were missing their top prospects who had made the Under 18 state squad.

Max Grant won plenty of the footy for the winners, racking up 25 disposals, six marks, four tackles and booted a goal. Jack Monaghan had 22 disposals, five marks and three tackles, while Angus Longmire was strong in the ruck with 34 hitouts and 14 disposals. Lewis Henry and Benjamin Clohessy both booted three majors.

For Perth, Zac Casey had the ball on a string with 31 disposals, six marks, eight tackles, five inside 50s and a goal. Maverick Hamilton (24 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s) and Bailey Smith (21 disposals, five inside 50s) were the other big ball winners. Alan Narkle was a lone hand up forward with four goals from eight disposals, while Jarrod Schofield laid seven tackles and had four inside 50s from 12 disposals.

East Perth 9.4 (58) defeated by South Fremantle 10.10 (70)

In the battle between the bottom two sides, South Fremantle picked up an away win over East Perth – the second for the season. It was a close game for most of the contest before the Bulldogs broke away with a three goals to one third term to lead by 23 points at the final break. A two goals to zero last quarter saw the Royals edge closer, but it was not enough to get the four points.

Tom Blechynden notched up 23 disposals, two marks and four inside 50s, while Manfred Kelly was one of the Bulldogs’ best with 23 disposals, four marks, seven tackles and three inside 50s. Matthew Ward was crucial in transition with eight inside 50s and four marks from 21 disposals, while James Russell laid nine tackles to go with 18 disposals. Thomas Weston did the most damage up forward with three goals.

For the Royals, Jarrod Hamer-Mathew and Eric Bashemule both had 17 disposals, four tackles and booted goals, while Jordan Hayden also had 17 disposals and took four marks. Thomas Baulch and Rory Sparks combined for 13 tackles, while Kyle Robinson was the home side’s only multiple goal kicker with two majors from 10 disposals, four marks and five tackles.

West Perth 12.6 (78) defeated by East Fremantle 12.9 (81)

Another thrilling contest saw the game between the Falcons and Sharks decided by less than a goal. After trailing throughout the first half, the home side booted four goals to two in the third term to open up a nine-point lead with a quarter to play. East Fremantle had other ideas than to just shy away from the contest, and booted four goals of their own to the Falcons’ two in the final term, to run over the top of the home side and claim a three-point victory.

Corey Robinson was enormous throughout the game for the Sharks, notching up 29 disposals and 11 marks, while Joshua Ritchie was also impressive with 25 touches, seven marks, five inside 50s and a goal. Nicholas Watson was good in the ruck and worked hard around the ground for 21 hitouts, 17 disposals and seven marks, while his partner in crime, Dylan Curley, also had 13 disposals, 16 hitouts and booted a goal. Mitchell Anderson booted three goals to be one of three multiple goal kickers for the winners, while Jai Jackson booted two from 16 disposals and nine marks.

Nathan Murray was the round’s highest ball winner, leading the Falcons with 34 disposals, three marks, three tackles and five inside 50s. Tyron Hindmarsh was also busy with 23 disposals, three marks, six tackles and four inside 50s, while Alec Johnson (22 disposals, seven marks) and Daniel Rowe (22 disposals, six tackles) were among the best. Jack Burke made an impact up forward with two goals from 19 disposals, six marks and four tackles, while Ben Johnson had a team-high seven inside 50s from 20 disposals and a goal.

Second placed Swan Districts had the bye.