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WAFL colts: Swan Districts upset ladder leaders West Perth, NGA pair put hand up for U18s champs opener

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Jordan McArdleThe West Australian
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Chase Bourne in action for Fremantle's Next Generation Academy.
Camera IconChase Bourne in action for Fremantle's Next Generation Academy. Credit: supplied/The Sunday Times

A pair of Next Generation Academy talents put their hand up for WA’s national under-18s carnival opener with eye-catching WAFL colts performances on Saturday.

South Fremantle midfielder/forward Chase Bourne, part of Fremantle’s NGA, and silky-skilled East Perth winger Jordyn Baker (West Coast) were among the big performers in round nine.

Bourne, who played in WA’s first trial match but was squeezed out for the second, was the Bulldogs’ best in their three-point loss to Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval - 7.13 (55) to 8.4 (52).

It the 18-year-old’s strongest game of the year, racking up 27 disposals, seven inside 50s, laying six tackles and kicking a goal.

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Demons forward Michael Hall (two goals) kicked the match-wining goal at the 20-minute mark of the final term after South clawed their way back from 21 points down early in the last to snatch the lead through on-baller Roan O’Hehir (28 disposals and two goals).

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Cameron Hall, Sam Cameron, Baxter Philip and Elijah Scoble were also among Perth’s best.

Bottom side Swan Districts threw the WAFL colts form book out the window with a massive upset over ladder leaders West Perth in Joondalup.

The reigning premiers got their season back on track with an important 18-point win, 9.9 (63) to 7.3 (45), just their second of the year and the Falcons’ second loss.

Jack Saunders starred in the midfield with a game-high 30 possessions to go with six inside 50s, while Evan Smith (16, 24-hit-outs and a goal) was massive in the ruck in his namesake and State 18s squad member Tom Smith’s absence.

Key forward Noah Farrow was the dominant goal-kicker in the match with four of the Falcons’ seven, with goalsneak Jack DeMarte (17 disposals, four inside 50s and a goal) getting more time in the middle with captain Kane Bevan and Griff Julian on WA under-18s duties.

Midfield trio Max Mumme, Mitch Barron and Fletcher Netherway led Claremont to an 18-point win over East Fremantle at the WACA Ground - 10.8 (68) to 7.8 (50).

Big-bodied on-baller Barron sent a reminder to State 18s selectors a fortnight out from WA’s opener against Vic Metro in Melbourne with 22 disposals, seven inside 50s, six tackles and a goal, with Mumme (29 touches and two goals) going even bigger.

Jayke Scott was the pick of the Sharks, amassing remarkable numbers in the ruck with 20 disposals, 23 hit-outs, eight inside 50s and a goal.

The round finished under lights at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah on Saturday night with East Perth holding out a fast-finishing Peel Thunder by 14 points - 12.7 (79) to 9.11 (65) - partly thanks to Baker’s well-rounded performance.

Baker’s pressure was elite with 10 tackles, while he also amassed 22 disposals and three inside 50s.

Small forward Alexio Yiannakis (four goals) was also among the Royals’ best, with Byron Finch, Scott Tuia and Jackson Klepzig influential for the Thunder in a losing cause and usual key back Jed Adams competed well in the ruck.

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