THE TOP four WAFL Colts sides locked horns in this year’s final home-and-away round, but only one team came away with a win. Minor premiers Perth drew in a dour 38-apiece result against second-placed Claremont, while East Fremantle beat Subiaco in a two-point thriller.

With state and national draft combine invitees finalised, a few were out to impress in either match. We noted some of the top performers before taking a look around the grounds in what was a fittingly tense end to the regular season.

>> All 61 players: National Draft Combine list

By: Hayden Narducci

CLAREMONT:

#8 Kai Dehavilland

Despite seeing less of the footy in this game than he has all season with 15 disposals, Dehavilland made every touch count. Constantly looking to move the ball forward, he found space on the outside regularly and in a highly contested and high pressure game, Dehavilland’s acceleration was too much for the Demons to handle when he got the footy. Though certainly not alone in this game, his ball use did leave a bit to be desired.

#18 Joe Fonti

Fonti began the game as he’s played all season; cool, calm and composed. He won plenty of footy intercepting at half-back and looked unbothered as he frequently played on and almost looked as if he was gliding past his opposition. He found himself in a lull late in the second and throughout the third quarter, after he got himself reported by the umpire as things heated up after he gave away an unfortunate free kick. Fonti made some rare mistakes, but came good again in the fourth quarter as he continued to make the opposition look like they were playing in slow motion.

#39 Will Hayes

A constant impactor at half-forward for the Tigers, the slightly built bottom-ager displayed explosiveness to receive some uncontested footy and find himself space when carrying the ball. Hayes set up the first shot of the game and ran with that momentum, playing a hand in the majority of Claremont’s forward movement in the first half. He capped his game off with a stellar goal from near on 50m out towards the boundary.

PERTH:

#3 Cooper Moore

The diminutive bottom-ager refused to let his size hold him back, as he was Perth’s most dominant midfielder in the contest. Routinely finding the footy from the ruck taps, Moore was relentless on the ground and commanded the contested footy. His running both at speed and to back up over long distances was additionally a major feature on the outside. He was regularly chasing up a long kick to receive the hands, seen starting the play in the back pocket, and getting the ball inside 50 in a matter of seconds via counter-attacks. Moore recovered well from errant disposals with relentless pressure, at times being the one to mop up his own mistakes and get the Demons back on track.

#14 Jake Watson

The major ball winner in this game, Watson was the beneficiary of poor disposals going forward from the Tigers as he claimed many uncontested and intercept marks. Reading the footy in the air better than anyone, Watson felt like an inevitability at times when Claremont moved the ball forward. He regularly looked to move the game on with safe kicking, and was the general for the Demons down back as they found themselves under siege regularly throughout the first half.

#26 Oscar Hine-Baston

One of the year’s top performers and risers, Hine-Baston has done the same week in week out with his relentless attacking style from the defensive 50. Never did he look to stop or slow the game down, rather choosing to burst forward with any mark or loose possession he gained, and rarely getting so much as a touch from an opposition player. This fierce counter attacking style was very rarely let down by his disposal, dishing up some gorgeous centimetre perfect deliveries. Though, when under pressure, Hine-Baston was susceptible to the odd blunder by foot. He improved defensively in the second half as he had more one-on-one moments with his opposition.

By: Charlie McCormack

SUBIACO:

#2 Tyler Senge

Senge continued his superb late-season form with another eye-catching display, leading the Subiaco disposal charts with 22 touches and eight tackles. Despite his light frame, the 18-year-old’s appetite for the contest was strong and his agility and speed ensured he always looked dangerous whenever he had the ball in hand.

#7 Lance Collard

The electric small forward had another low-possession, high-octane game, producing some good individual moments despite having limited supply. He kicked a trademark crumbing goal in the second term, swooping on a loose ball before snapping truly and he continued to look dangerous whenever the ball was in his vicinity. He missed a couple of half-chances, with his lack of a non-preferred foot noticeable on one occasion, but he still finished with two majors and eight disposals to be an important player for his side. 

#10 Malakai Champion

Occupying the high half-forward role, Champion gave the Lions plenty of energy in a lively performance. The gun bottom-ager worked hard up the ground and was often used as a short option in transition, where he picked up eight marks to go with 14 disposals. With ball in hand, Champion was purposeful, backing his first instinct to take an aggressive option when it was on. He capped his game off with a sensational goal late in the final term, after marking deep in the pocket and wheeling around to snap truly to put the Lions back within a goal.

#23 Judd Kelman

Playing his first game at the level in six weeks, Kelman produced a solid performance down back, notching 20 disposals and eight marks. With his side losing the inside 50 battle by 22, the 17-year-old was under siege in defence but alongside a couple of teammates in Dylan O’Dea and Travis Shearer, Kelman ensured his side repelled the East Fremantle pressure and remained in the contest. He looked particularly adept playing the intercepting game, reading the ball well in flight and peeling off his opponent to mark or spoil.

EAST FREMANTLE:

#15 Luke Urquart

Playing his third game of the season due to a combination of injury and school football related absences, Urquart provided a stunning final term cameo to help the Sharks to victory. With his side trailing by 16 points early in the last stanza, the bottom-ager lifted his side with a clutch set shot from an acute angle before emerging minutes later to slot another set shot from 40m. He then got involved once more, leading out from centre half-forward to mark before finding a teammate inside 50 to cap off what was a superb 10-minute patch of football that swung the game for the visitors.

#16 James Spadanuda

Returning to the Sharks’ line-up after another two-week stint in the Reserves, it was no surprise to see Spadanuda continue his prolific ways, with the ball magnet gathering 26 touches to be the leading disposal-getter on the ground. Playing more midfield minutes, the 18-year-old provided his typically good run and ball use, but it was some of his defensive efforts that were impressive, as he laid eight tackles to compliment his strong outside play.

#33 Darcy Wills

The over-age ruckman produced an inspired performance, giving a strong contest in the ruck contests but doing his best work at ground level, playing like an extra on-baller to give the Sharks are point of difference at stoppages. Wills was particularly influential late in the game, kicking a crucial goal after taking a contested mark in the final term and battling manfully in the ruck contests to help the Sharks hold on. He finished with 22 disposals and 20 hitouts.

#35 Jack Cocking

Fresh off receiving a State Combine invite during the week, Cocking struggled to impose himself on the game, but still played an important role in helping clinch the result. With Subiaco defending well on their last line, the Geraldton product was forced to venture high up the ground to find the football. While he didn’t clunk as many contested marks as usual, he still competed hard aerially and found the scoreboard with an important goal in the third term.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Reigning premier Peel may have fallen short of finals, but managed to finished the season on a high by beating Swan Districts to the tune of 27 points. The Thunder led at every break to win 12.9 (81) to 6.18 (54), making better of less scoring shots than a wasteful Swans outfit.

Otis Harvey starred in the losing side with 29 disposals and two goals, while state Under 18 captain Riley Hardeman (27 disposals) and Under 16 skipper Blake Kelly (22) were typically prolific. Kody Sharpes (22 disposals) led all comers for Peel, while Kaed Collard and Bo Allan each kicked two goals.

West Perth bounced back onto the winners list ahead of finals with a 13-point win over East Perth. The Falcons maintained a near-on two-goal lead for most of the match and were challenged at times, but held firm to secure the 11.7 (73) to 8.12 (60) result.

Odin Jones had a big day in the ruck, notching a game-high 24 disposals and 30 hitouts for the winning side. Meanwhile, Royals Mitch Miller and Will Cassidy had it 22 times apiece, as National Combine invitee Xavier Walsh bagged three goals.