WEST Perth advanced to the big dance, while Subiaco stayed alive with a big win in week two of the 2022 WAFL Colts finals series. After a week off, the Falcons snuck past Peel Thunder on Saturday before Subiaco pumped South Fremantle by 118 points the following day. We noted some of the top performers from either match.

By: Hayden Narducci

WEST PERTH:

#7 Luke Michael

The general down back for the Falcons, Michael was a marking and rebounding machine in this game. Showing great courage to hit contests back with the flight, and great anticipation to intercept, Michael was seemingly everywhere defensively for his side. Finishing the game with 24 disposals and 10 marks, these stats still do not manage to do justice to an amazing game built off the foundation of pure effort, much alike Brayden Maynard from an AFL comparison. 

#9 Kane Bevan

Leading by example in this game, the Falcons captain, and captain of the recent Rookie Me Central WAFL Colts team of the year, tore this game apart. The Thunder seemed unable to tackle him, using his momentum and strength to shrug off any would be tacklers with ease and continue to move the ball forward. He dominated the clearances in this game, winning the hardballs and providing an option outside the pack to run and carry. His kicking was not at its elite best in this game, but this was a result of constantly looking to take on the game and try to dish off the most damaging kicks he could. Finishing with 26 disposals and a game-high eight inside 50s, Bevan was hard to miss.

#42 Noah Farrow

The only multiple goal scorer in this winning Falcons unit, Farrow stood tall in the absence of strike partner Jasper Scaife. The best of his three goals was likely his first, bringing a two-on-one marking contest to ground, and capitalising on a lack of awareness from a surrounding five Thunder defenders to pick up and snap a goal from 40 out on a tough angle. He also proved to be a great source of creativity rucking inside 50, dishing off a great tap down the throat of Jack DeMarte which led to their first goal.

PEEL THUNDER:

#2 Scott Tuia

The fire in the Thunders engine room, Tuia’s effort and relentless attack on the footy or opposition ball carrier was vital for the Thunder’s comeback in this game. Down 26 to five at half time, Tuia turned it on, releasing teammates up forward with beautiful kicking and getting the hard ball to dish off to the outside runners. His 21 disposals resulted in seven inside 50s and several scoring opportunities for his side. His acceleration is one of his finest assets, chasing down opponents before they get a chance to dish off the footy, and burning would be tacklers.

#28 Clay Hall

The only thing that has changed in Halls game from his previous weeks of fine form, was his jumper early into the game as he left some blood stains on his favoured number 21. Finishing with 24 disposals, the top for his side, Hall continued to be metronomic on the wing or through the centre. He is a smart user of the footy, rarely dishing up a turnover and presenting in good spaces to receive the ball by hand or by foot, and move it on quickly. He will be a massive loss for the Thunder as he plays in next week’s AFL Futures game as a curtain raiser to the Grand Final.

#32 Michael Sellwood

Senior defender Sellwood was ever-calm and ever-present down back in this game for the Thunder, taking some great one-on-one and intercept marks. He showed great composure when rebounding the footy and used his strong frame to outmuscle Falcons forwards, or to make sure the ball was brought to ground when in unfavourable situations. He may have only had the 13 disposals in this game, but his use of the footy was sensational, more often than not spotting a teammate to set up for an uncontested mark rather than taking the bomb down the line to the pack route.

By: Charlie McCormack

SUBIACO:

#13 Robert Hansen

The exciting small forward blew the game apart early and finished with five goals from 15 disposals in a very impressive display. Hansen played just about the perfect small forwards game, as he looked threatening whenever the ball was in his vicinity by getting goal side of his opponent, gathering the ball cleanly and being able to finish beautifully on left and right foot. Hansen formed a duo alongside Tyrell Dewar that was far too smart and skilful for the South Fremantle defence to curtail, and will cause plenty of headaches for the remaining teams in the finals.

#16 Koltyn Tholstrup

The talented bottom-age prospect was another player who looked incredibly dangerous in the front half for the Lions, as he finished with 16 disposals and a goal. The Esperance product is such a difficult match-up for the opposition as he is terrific on the lead and in the air, but possesses excellent speed at ground level as well to make any defender nervous. Although he wasn’t always clean with the ball, he won several of the contests he was in and kicked a superb goal in the second term, tapping a loose ball to himself before dodging a couple of opponents and snapping truly on his right foot.

#21 Rory Murison

The tough on-baller got to work in the midfielder to be one of the most influential players on the ground, gathering 21 disposals and taking five marks. It was a no nonsense display from the Mines product, who did plenty of damage when the game was up for grabs in the first term by winning the ball cleanly at ground level and using it nicely. The 18-year-old also used his body strongly around the stoppages, as he was often able to hold off a tackler before distributing the ball to an outside player by hand.

#22 Oscar Dees

Playing his first game since Round 3, Dees was the only inclusion into the side for the Lions for the semi-final and he won’t be going out of the team based off his performance. The 18-year-old slotted into the midfield rotation seamlessly and ended as the game’s leading ball winner with 24 disposals to go with two goals and seven inside 50 entries in a terrific all-round game. 

#50 Luker Kentfield

The bottom-age key forward struck an imposing figure, using his mature body to exert a big physical presence on the game. The 17-year-old started the game like a house on fire, taking a strong contested mark before converting beautifully from long range and then taking advantage of a fortuitous bounce to kick a ridiculous goal from 80m. Kentfield was also injected into the ruck for portions of the game and had an impact, notching up 19 hitouts and laying some strong tackles.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#3 Chase Bourne

In what was a very tough day for his side, Bourne put up a strong effort against the tide and looked a class above many of his teammates. The 18-year-old played primarily in the midfield and was able to win a few clearances and always looked dangerous whenever he was able to turn onto his right foot out of traffic. He went forward in the last term to kick one of the Bulldogs three goals after taking a nice mark and converting. He finished with 22 disposals, five marks and was comfortably his side’s best.

#15 Seth Connor

The 19-year-old has been one of the Bulldogs’ best contributors this season, and he continued to work hard right until the final siren despite his team’s massive loss. He played plenty of midfield time to help fill the gaping hole left by Christian Wilson’s absence and found plenty of the ball, finishing with 22 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50 entries. He was also on the end of South Fremantle’s best piece of play for the day, as he won a clearance before lacing out Chase Bourne with a bullet pass in the final term.