West Coast closed out its 2025 WAFL campaign with a trying but ultimately tough afternoon at Mineral Resources Park, going down to ladder-leading South Fremantle by 87-points.
On a perfect day for football, the clash doubled as a milestone occasion for Harley Sparks, who notched his 50th WAFL appearance, while co-captain Jack Eastough also celebrated his 50th game in Eagles colours.
The Eagles were determined to finish their season on a positive note, but the minor premiers showed their class from the outset. South Fremantle came out firing with five unanswered goals before Jack Williams and Andries Mercer broke through late in the first term to stem the tide for the Eagles.
Despite those efforts, the Bulldogs’ midfield dominance set the tone, with Brandon Donaldson and Chase Bourne hitting the scoreboard early and repeatedly.
By quarter-time the Eagles trailed by 31-points, and the pressure continued into the second quarter as South Fremantle piled on another seven majors to take a commanding 68-point lead at the main break.
West Coast steadied after half-time and produced some of their best football of the day. Darby McCarthy and Thomas Edwards-Baldwin sparked the third term with goals, before Charlie Banfield marked strongly to kick his first at WAFL level.
Williams added another late in the quarter as the Eagles matched the Bulldogs in general play and fought hard to win more clearances and tighten up their pressure.
The final quarter offered some reward for persistence, with Jack Walsh and Caleb Datson finding the scoreboard. But the Bulldogs continued to flex their firepower through forward Trey Ruscoe, who finished with seven goals in a dominant display.
South Fremantle’s Donaldson (five goals) and Bourne (four) provided further headaches in attack, while Tom Blechynden (35 disposals) and Haiden Schloithe (two goals, 15 disposals) were prolific through the middle.
For West Coast, Sparks led by example in his milestone game with 21 disposals, five tackles and four marks. Petruccelle was lively with 18 touches, four tackles and a goal.
Edwards-Baldwin was influential with 16 touches and a goal. Williams worked tirelessly in attack to finish with 13 disposals and two majors.
It marked the end of a challenging season for the WAFL Eagles, but there were glimpses of growth and resilience, particularly in the second half where the side showed greater cohesion and intent.
WEST COAST: 2.1 3.1 7.3 9.3 (57)
SOUTH FREMANTLE: 7.2 14.4 18.7 22.12 (144)
GOALS
West Coast: Williams (2), Mercer, Petruccelle, McCarthy, Edwards-Baldwin, Banfield, Walsh, Datson.
South Fremantle: Ruscoe (7), Donaldson (5), Bourne (4), Schloithe (3), Free, Ward, O’Hehir.
BEST
West Coast: Sparks, Edwards-Baldwin, Johnston, McCarthy, Williams, Petruccelle, Burke.
South Fremantle: Blechynden, Ruscoe, Donaldson, Bourne, Schloithe, Florenca, Drage, Winder, Jones.
