SUBIACO became the first WAFL Colts side to knock off Perth in 2023, as the two sides locked horns at Leederville Oval on Saturday. In a fiery top three clash, the Lions led at every break and beat the ill-disciplined Demons by 19 points to tighten up the minor premiership race.

Western Australia’s Under 18 squad members have also returned to the WAFL grades, including a handful who took the field in this match. We noted how they fared before taking a look around the ground in Round 15 of the WAFL Colts season.

SUBIACO:

#7 Lance Collard
Small Forward | 177cm | 26/03/2005

Registering just three kicks, one behind and a yellow card, Collard had a tough day out and was heavily targeted by Perth’s defenders. He wasn’t afraid to engage in the argy-bargy and while both sides were sucked in at times, Collard’s Lions had the last laugh. The West Coast NGA prospect nearly sharked a goal in the opening quarter and displayed his dancing feet before hitting an excellent pass inside 50 during term three. Otherwise, his impact was restricted.

#8 Riley Wills
Midfielder | 181cm | 08/07/2004

A late addition to the West Australian state squad this year, Wills continued his excellent Colts form with 26 disposals and eight marks. The hard-running midfielder, who also had stints up forward, lacked outward flair and polish at times but was unselfish with ball in hand and looked to move it on quickly at each opportunity. With handy speed and endurance, the over-ager also snuck free inside 50 in the final quarter and had the last shot on goal for the game, which was rushed over.

#10 Malakai Champion
Small Forward | 176cm | 15/05/2006

The best player afield, Champion showed just why he was a train-on with the Under 18 squad as a bottom-ager. He was a true game changer, adding enormous energy to the contest and dipping deep into his bag of tricks to pull out 21 disposals, 10 marks and three goals. He reeled in a speccy in the final quarter and snared scores in each of the first three terms, sustaining a definitive attacking output. Whether swooping on ground balls, niggling the opposition or tearing past them with speed, Champion did all he could to get Subiaco the result in style.

Others…

Helmet-donning midfielder Lachlan O’Keefe topped the victors’ disposal charts with 29, while wingman Tyler Senge notched 26 and snuck forward effectively for a goal. On the opposite side, Charlie Burke managed three behind from 17 touches, while the likes of Ethan Barbieri (23 disposals, nine marks) and Lachlan Macrae (16 and six) were also productive.

PERTH:

#26 Oscar Hine-Baston
Defender | 177cm | 18/11/2004

Having taken on some tough roles in Western Australia’s defence, Hine-Baston managed 10 disposals and three tackles for the second week running back with the Perth. He was typically aggressive with his positioning, holding a high line and backing himself to impact contests on the intercept. The over-ager also attacked the ball hard and looked to go long by foot, attempting to set somewhat of a tone in defence early on before having a quiet second half.

#36 Elijah Scoble
Key Defender | 192cm | 04/08/2005

Scoble was right in the thick of things down back, engaging in niggle and organising his troops as one of Perth’s more experienced defenders. The tall interceptor was typically sound aerially, rising high to clunk nine marks, and distributed the ball quickly without fuss. Although, he was a touch slower in general play and clumsy in a few contests when forced to compete one-on-one.

#45 Coen Livingstone
Ruck | 200cm | 25/05/2005

Another West Coast NGA candidate, Livingstone impacted on Saturday with 15 disposals, four marks and 26 hitouts in the ruck. The developing tall looked to impose himself on the contest, taking the ball out of the ruck and looking to claim his own clearances. He fared well when engaged in body contact but was a touch overzealous with his aggression late in the piece as Perth began to drop the bundle. Otherwise, his upside was evident as one of the premier big men in Round 15.

Others…

Defender Jake Watson racked up 30 disposals to lead all comers in a losing side, while the likes of Kalib Dempster-Park (25 disposals), Noah Murray (16), and Cooper Moore (14) all had success through the middle of the ground. Up forward, Michael Hill finished as the Demons’ lone multiple goal kicker, snaring two.

>> Up the Grades: Hall, Tholstrup continue strong senior form

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Claremont drew level on points with Perth in second spot with a 43-point win over West Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium. The Tigers’ left their best quarter until last with four goals to one en route to running out 13.9 (87) to 6.8 (44) victors.

Over-age forward Harry Cole was the star of the show with six goals from 14 disposals and six marks, while Bailey Banfield (24 disposals) led state squad members Kai Dehavilland (22) and Dan Curtin (21) as the top ball winner. Odin Jones (22 disposals, 16 hitouts, two goals) was West Perth’s best player.

At Lane Group Stadium, East Perth snapped a three-game losing run and dented Peel Thunder’s finals hopes with a 16-point win. The Royals booted four goals in each of the opening three terms before holding on against the depleted reigning premiers to get up 13.4 (82) to 10.6 (66).

Tyler Lindberg (24 disposals, eight marks) and Will Cassidy (21 disposals, six tackles) were busy for the victors, while Bronson Martin topped Peel’s disposal charts with 21. Brody Delaney (five goals) and Xavier Walsh (three) did the scoring damage, as Ethan Logan also snared three majors in the loss.