Competition is tightening up in the top five – second, third and fourth all tied on 32 points at the end of round 14.
Perth managed to climb from fifth to third with a win on Sunday, playing under ‘Boorloo’ and displaying their Indigenous jerseys as part of a celebration of NAIDOC Week.
West Coast were defeated by 62 points as the Demons kicked their third largest score of the season so far.
The side has been struggling with inconsistency throughout the year but they’ve found a solid patch of form winning four out of their last five matches.
Boorloo midfielder Brandan Parfitt joined Sports Breakfast this morning.
“We’re sort of a young emerging club. Inconsistency is probably going to come throughout the season,” he said.
“I think we’re a lot better side than we were last year. I think everyone knows how we want to go about it and play the first team and play the system. It’s just working out when to pull the trigger and when to control the play.
“Momentum is just too massive and it’s hard to stop these days… when we’re down we probably get six goals kicked against us instead of two or three goals.”
Zac Harding and Joshua Edwards have competed as an unstoppable force together in the ruck, providing the side with positive hit out contests on every occasion they have played together with exception for round 1.
The pair are combining for an average of just over 40 hit outs per match – their largest being 53 in round 9, winning the ruck contest by a whopping 25 hit outs and powering their side to a 20-point victory over Subiaco.
“Those two boys are really emerging. They’re taking big strides in their games and they’re probably two different sorts of players.”
“Harding can really get up at CB [centre back] and sort of move around athletically around the ground, and Josh is probably that old school ruckman who likes to bash and crash.”
With the return of Blake Schlensog over the weekend for the first time this year after battling a calf injury suffered during the preseason, the Demons’ forward line is looking lethal as the competition approaches finals.
Aaron Clarke spearheads the attack and managed to find six goals on the weekend, kicking multiple goals in his last seven matches – the key forward leads the count for the Bernie Naylor Medal with 41 goals in 2026.
Strong defence led by Charlie Dean gives Boorloo a well-rounded team as they head into the business end of the year – he had 10 marks in this weekend’s match and boasts 44 marks in his past five games.
“The back seven are really solid. I love when backliners have their own team back there and run their own show.”
“Charlie Dean’s been massive for us. His leadership has taken our club to a new level… I probably didn’t realise how slick and composed he is with ball in hand, and he’s made our club a better club from him coming here.”
Boorloo’s next challenge is East Fremantle at home this Saturday – they’ll be looking to get the jump over Claremont as the Tigers watch on with a bye.
IMAGE: April Carey