As the West Coast Eagles sit back, take a collective deep breath and prepare for the second half of the year the match committee can look with confidence to those sitting outside the team, looking for opportunity.

The form of those players searching for an AFL opening was again captivating in the split round of WAFL fixtures across the WA Day long weekend.

Heading the list of high achievers was the club’s No.1 draft selection and No.23 overall in the 2011 ballot, lively Swan Districts midfielder or small forward Murray Newman.

Newman had 30 possessions, took 12 marks and kicked five goals in his best performance in senior football when he led Swans to victory over Perth.

Another forward, West Perth’s Andrew Strijk, key defender Mitch Brown and midfielder Koby Stevens were also in stellar form across the weekend.

Brown and Stevens were engaged in the Fremantle derby on Monday and played key roles in propelling East Fremantle to a pulsating victory over South Fremantle. Brown had the task of shutting down key Bulldogs forward Paul Mugambwa and did that task expertly before being thrown onto potential match-winner Andrew McCarrey.

Stevens again accumulated plenty of football, racking up 27 disposals and five tackles in a typically tough and hard working display.

Strijk was engaged in the Perth derby at Joondalup, had 17 possessions, took 10 marks and finished with four goals in a game that produced high drama and excitement as East Perth snatched a draw through a soccered goal in the last play of the game.

There were others in good touch, too. Ryan Neates, Anton Hamp, Jeremy McGovern and Lewis Stevenson all did their bit for Claremont, although it did not prevent them from suffering an unexpected loss at the hands of Peel.

Neates had 18 disposals and four marks playing largely as a small forward with the occasional run through the midfield, while Hamp and McGovern played forward and Stevenson, with 17 possessions and four marks, provided his trademark rebound out of defence.

Gerrick Weedon played in the reserves and produced a confidence-building 20-possession performance.

Unfortunately, ruckman-forward Scott Lycett was on the receiving end of a solid bump early in the game foe Peel and struggled to impact the contest, but defender Blayne Wilson continues to develop and had 20 possessions and seven marks.

Simon Tunbridge is another developing defender who did some good things for Perth, along with Fraser McInnes, who was a little quieter than his best, but still kicked a goal.

One of the most satisfying performances of the weekend came on Monday when Brad Dick played the first half for the East Fremantle reserves and kicked two goals from seven possessions. He had a smile as wide as Fremantle Oval when he threw his footy bag over his shoulder to leave the venue.

Also in that game, Callum Papertalk found some touch, picking up 20 touches in the defensive half for the Sharks where he also provided some strong running rebound.