Having watched the nailbiter unfold between West Coast and North Melbourne on Friday night, the players on the periphery of the team would have taken great delight in the thrilling victory.
They would also have noted that some openings were likely after some unfortunate injuries and a few of those players might well have erected a sign: The queue starts here.
Tenacious forward Ashton Hams, rising defender Blayne Wilson, 2006 Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley and a string of other experienced players grabbed the spotlight in the WAFL on the weekend.
With injuries to Sharrod Wellingham and Will Schofield, there are two vacancies in this week’s line-up, a fact not lost on those players as they fronted up for second tier action the day after the club’s clash with North Melbourne.
With positions opening up, Hams produced a match-winning performance. Playing forward and through the midfield, he sealed his game with four goals.
Meanwhile, at Steel Blue Oval, Wilson, who has not yet been exposed to senior football, produced a fine shut-down role in one of the WAFL’s premier forwards, Tim Gaepen, holding him to just one goal.
And Embley, in his return from a foot injury, was outstanding with 28 possessions and a goal for Swan Districts.
Bradd Dalziell and Mitch Brown, ultra-consistent when playing in the WAFL, were again strong contributors for East Fremantle. The Sharks were unable to mete out Claremont’s first defeat of the season, but Dalziell and Brown figured prominently.
Brown was again the premier defender in the game and must be at short odds to replace Schofield in the team to play GWS, while Dalziell racked up familiar numbers with 31 possessions and seven marks.
Another player running into a rich vein of form, East Perth’s Cale Morton, collected 21 possessions off half-back and also reeled in four marks.
Jamie Cripps also had 20 touches for the Royals, Pat McGinnity was typically hard-nosed at Claremont and Perth youngsters Brant Colledge and Fraser McInnes were solid contributors, Colledge capping off his work with two goals.
Adam Carter continues to grow with South Fremantle and, like Hams, played his role in the Bulldogs’ first win of the season.
Unfortunately, Ashley Smith suffered a hip injury early in the action for Perth, while Scott Lycett hurt his groin. Both will be assessed this week, before a decision will be made on whether they can take the field next weekend.
Two big stories also unfolded in the reserves, with Jamie Bennell (Swan Districts) and Mark Nicoski (Subiaco) both resuming after long lay-offs. They did enough to get through a major phase in their comebacks, but once again competing in the heat of battle was the most important aspect for them both.
