This weekend in the WAFL, plenty of enthralling, tight and even bizarre matches took place, as the race to finalise the top five continued.
Here is all the action from Round 19.
EAST FREMANTLE 13.10 (88) def by. EAST PERTH 11.7 (73)
East Fremantle have pulled off an impressive comeback to defeat a fast-starting East Perth side by 15 points at The Good Grocer Park.
Saturday’s win puts East Fremantle in a prime position to host a final, with just one round of the regular season remaining, with the race for the last two places in the top three heating up.
The Sharks trailed by 17 points heading into the first break, but five-goal run in the second quarter brought them back into the game and gave them the lead at the main break.
Milan Murdock starred in the comeback, claiming 31 disposals, five tackles and two goals, while Tom Joyce (27 disposals, 5 inside 50s) and Cameron Eardley (29 disposals, 12 marks) also stood out.
Jed Hagan, Luke Strnadica and Jarrad Jansen each booted two goals and were among East Fremantle’s top performers, along with Reuben McGuire (12 disposals, 16 hitouts).
For East Perth, winger Angus Scott (25 disposals, 8 marks) was their top ball winner, while state captain Christian Ameduri (21 disposals, 7 tackles) also played a solid game, kicking two goals, along with Sebit Kuek.
Tom North (21 disposals, 4 inside 50s, one goal) and Liam Tedesco (21 disposals, 8 marks) also contributed well in the loss.
SOUTH FREMANTLE 20.10 (130) def. WEST PERTH 10.8 (68)
South Fremantle continues to reinforce its top-dog status, handing West Perth a 62-point thrashing at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
The Bulldogs have been a force to reckon with this season, and are looking unbeatable heading into the finals, posting the largest total of the season.
Seven different players tucked in and kicked multiple goals, with Trey Ruscoe, Roan O’Hehir and Chase Bourne each kicking three goals apiece.
Meanwhile, Jake Florenca (36 disposals, 8 marks) and Tom Blechynden (33 disposals, 6 inside 50s) were ball magnets and well-served by ruck Hamish Free, who had 49 hitouts.
Veteran Falcon Shane Bevan (36 disposals, 6 tackles) was West Perth’s best player, followed by young gun Kane Bevan (28 disposals, 6 inside 50s).
Ruck Matthew McKenzie also got involved with 26 hitouts, 14 disposals and 8 tackles. Reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Tyler Keital has maintained his lead after kicking three goals, along with Riley Sprigg.
PERTH 11.7 (73) def by. CLAREMONT 13.8 (86)
It was a bizarre day at Mineral Resources Park, as Claremont rebounded from a nine-goal opening term deficit to beat Perth by 13 points.
Perth looked like they had comfortably clinched the four points after a monstrous effort in the first term, where they kicked nine goals to Claremont’s one.
But in a stunning twist of events, Claremont then went on to kick nine goals in the middle terms, while holding the homeside goalless until the final quarter.
Claremont’s usual suspects, Jye Bolton (25 disposals, one goal), Callan England (22 disposals, 8 tackles) and Oliver Eastland (21 disposals, 28 hitouts) were all among their best, as was Jaiden Hunter, who booted three goals.
West Coast sons-of-guns Bailey Banfield (11 disposals, one goal) and Zac Mainwaring (21 disposals, 8 tackles, one goal) also had strong performances.
For Perth, Aaron Clark bagged six goals, while Corey Byrne (33 disposals, one goal) finished at the match’s top disposal winner.
Matt Taylor (26 disposals, 3 tackles) and Brandon Parfitt (27 disposals, 6 tackles) also saw plenty of the ball.
SUBIACO 4.9 (33) def by. PEEL THUNDER 13.12 (90)
Peel Thunder produced one of their best performances of the year to down a struggling Subiaco side by 57 points at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.
Peel wasted no time applying early scoreboard pressure in the opening quarter; however, Subiaco responded in the second, kicking three goals of their own and halting Peel’s momentum.
But Peel had the upper hand in the second half and booted eight goals, while defending hard to keep Subiaco to one.
Three-goal hauls from Jack Delean and Isaiah Dudley put Peel on the front foot, while Charlie Nicholls and Josh Draper contributed with two of their own.
Jeremy Sharp (25 disposals, 10 marks, one goal) was the game’s top possession winner, while Scott Tuia (25 disposals, 6 tackles), Oscar McDonald (22 disposals, 13 marks) and Liam Reidy (42 hitouts, 19 disposals) also strung together solid performances.
Subiaco captain Greg Clark led from the front, winning 21 disposals and eight tackles, while Marlin Corbett (21 disposals, 5 tackles) and Jack Mayo (18 disposals, 19 hitouts) played well too.
Taj Schofield (12 disposals, 6 tackles, one goal)also contributed where he could, despite having a quieter day than usual.
WEST COAST 11.7 (69) def by. SWAN DISTRICTS 11.12 (78)
Swan Districts have just scraped over the line with a five-point win over West Coast, who got away to a flying start at Mineral Resources Park.
Both sides fought hard with under the lights, but at halftime, it looked like the hosts would be well on their way to their third win of the season.
But the contest heated up in the second half, with Swan Districts taking the lead into three-quarter time.
Throughout the final quarter, both sides traded the lead with each other, but a heroic goal from Ayden Cartwright put the Black Ducks in front when it mattered most.
For the Black Ducks, Jesse Turner had leather poisoning with 34 disposals and 10 inside 50s, and was adequately supported by Joshua Cipro (27 disposals, 5 tackles) and Max Chipper (19 disposals, 6 marks).
Ruck Jackson McLachlan (22 disposals, 22 hitouts, 12 tackles) also played well, as did Luke Cotellessa (20 disposals, 7 tackles).
West Coast’s Jack Williams was outstanding, kicking three goals, while winning 13 disposals and 13 marks. Harry Barnett also joins Williams on three goals.
Tyrell Dewar (24 disposals, 5 marks) was the Eagles’ top possession winner, while Thomas Edwards-Baldwin (22 disposals, 9 tackles) played well. Defender Charlie Klemke did well to keep danger man Leigh Kohlmann at bay.
IMAGE: Peter Keleman Photography