WHILE the West Australian Under 18 side got its National Championships underway on Sunday, Round 9 of the WAFL Colts season was stretched across Saturday to Monday. Reigning premier Claremont continued its undefeated title defence as a handful of state squad members showed their wares.

>> SCROLL for the Round 9 results & ladder

In their game against Peel Thunder, the Tigers established a five-goal lead at the main break and never looked back, holding firm to win by 22 points despite being outscored in the second half. It was the ladder leaders’ seventh win on the trot, putting them two games clear in top spot.

Sullivan Moody filled his boots with 29 disposals and 11 inside 50s, supported ably by Will Wildberger‘s 23 touches, eight tackles and one goal. Big man Lucas Ravenhill ruled the skies with five marks and 26 hitouts, while bottom-ager Oscar Willis (18 disposals, seven marks) auditioned for a state call-up.

Saturday’s other game saw Swan Districts upset the second-placed Subiaco by an even six goals at Leederville Oval. The Swans snuck ahead after a steady start and kicked away with five goals to one in the final quarter to salute 15.5 (95) to 9.5 (59) and move clear into the top five.

Otis Harvey (24 disposals, 10 tackles, two goals) and Chayse Martinson (23, eight and one) put up big numbers, but it was Lucas Andrews (23 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was named best afield for the Swans. Subiaco tall Finley Henderson had an economical day with four goals from as many kicks.

West Perth kicked off Monday’s action with a 46-point win over East Perth in Joondalup. The Falcons set up a handy buffer in the third quarter, before pouring in a further five majors in the final term to make it nine goals to three in the second half. The 12.13 (85) to 5.9 (39) victory moved West Perth into third.

Jack Wooden (29 disposals) and Judd Marcello (five goals) were hard to split as best afield for the Falcons, while East Perth’s sole state squad member Andre Gulluni (28 disposals, eight marks) played a typically prolific game alongside Adam De Masi (25 disposals, six inside 50s).

South Fremantle rounded out proceedings by taking down East Fremantle in a four-point thriller at Fremantle Oval. The Bulldogs fell behind during the second and third terms but came home with a wet sail, sneaking over the line with four goals to one in the 10.8 (68) to 9.10 (64) result.

Sharks trio Elijah Stockden, Declan Pauline, and Presley Campbell all notched up over 20 touches, though Mitchell Geier (25 disposals) was the only Bulldog to do so. Hudson Pivac and Lucas Cattalini had just 13 disposals between them, but combined for half of South’s goal tally in the win.

Although the state Under 18 side is set for a week off, there will be only two WAFL Colts fixtures in Round 10 – both on Sunday June 9. Claremont takes on East Perth at Leederville Oval, while East Fremantle hosts West Perth in a battle for third spot at Fremantle Oval.

>> Scouting Notes: Western Australia U18s vs. Allies

STATE SQUAD MEMBERS

Claremont:
Oscar Willis – 18 disposals, 7 marks, 2 tackles

East Perth:
Andre Gulluni – 28 disposals, 8 marks, 2 inside 50s

Subiaco:
Wesley Walley – 9 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal
Hayden Windsor – 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackle

South Fremantle:
Tom Bell – 12 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles

>> FULL SQUAD: 2024 Western Australia Under 18s

ROUND 9 RESULTS

Claremont 11.5 (71) def. Peel Thunder 7.7 (49)
Subiaco 9.5 (59) def. by Swan Districts 15.5 (95)
West Perth 12.13 (85) def. East Perth 5.9 (39)
South Fremantle 10.8 (68) def. East Fremantle 9.10 (64)

WAFL COLTS LADDER

1. Claremont (7-0, 160.68%)
2. Subiaco (5-3, 105.36%)
3. West Perth (4-2-1, 120.83%)
4. East Fremantle (4-3, 130.12%)
5. Swan Districts (3-4, 94.98%)
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6. Perth (2-4-1, 84.07%)
7. Peel Thunder (2-5, 87.1%)
8. East Perth (2-5, 76.86%)
9. South Fremantle (2-5, 68.95%)