Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Men
North Beach wiped out Baldivis 24.9 (153) to 5.8 (38) in their biggest margin of victory this season. North Beach’s relentless pressure won the contested ball 134 to 93 and used possession to dominate through the corridor with 84% handball efficiency and 72% kicking efficiency for direct access in front of goals. North Beach’s firepower came from Alexander Marklew, who kicked 5 goals and 7 marks alongside captain Justin Prior’s crucial link-up in North Beach’s forward half for 19 disposals and 4 goals, earning him the Jax Tyres and Auto player of the week. Zac Clarke put in one of his best performances of the season with 37 hit-outs, 9 goal involvements, and 20 disposals, allowing North Beach to find success through the stoppages as well as their reliable scoring avenue of turnovers through the constant pressure that swept Baldivis. North Beach's third-quarter blitz of nine goals to one point put the nail in the coffin for the Brumbies, who were beaten out in nearly every metric of play. A goal accuracy of 72 per cent from an 18 inside 50 advantage might suggest North Beach were simply in red-hot form (and they were), but Baldivis struggled to restrict leading patterns and prevent uncontested marks inside 50, allowing North Beach's talented forwards to convert from favourable positions.
Scarborough picked up a valuable win against Mt Lawley 5.8 (38) to 10.8 (68) as the fight between the bottom three heats up now that we hit the middle mark of the season. Scarborough’s superior movement inside 50 was able to get them better chances in front of goals, which Zachary Hill was quick to make the most of, kicking 4 goals. Scarborough’s immense pressure, landing 56 tackles to Mt Lawley’s 44, was helped through a tireless midfield effort led by Liam Robilliard, 22 disposals, 11 contested possessions and 4 tackles. Brady Foster’s efforts coming out from the Scarborough backline were another equally crucial part of the win, with 7 rebound 50’s and 78% efficiency on his 23 disposals. Addan Peters was the best for Mt Lawley, racking up 27 disposals, 5 inside 50s and 11 clearances. Ultimately, Scarborough’s dominance at the stoppages and superior ball use saw them drill the ball deep inside 50 eight times for four goals compared to Mt Lawley, who couldn’t find a score from the five times they got it deep inside 50. A small difference in their attacking styles saw Scarborough take their second win for the season.
Kingsway keep their pressure on the top four with a big win at home against University 13.4 (82) to 9.6 (60). University held a lead all the way up until the final quarter, when Kingsway’s pressure finally caught up to them. Kingsway’s kicking and physicality, both at ground level and in the air, got the best of University, winning the midfield tackle count by nine and the overall marks count 75–54. Kingsway used the ball well, coming off the wing and finding leads in the inside 50 corridor for clean shots on goal. Joint leading goalkicker in the league, Braydn Furmark, was a handful for the University backline; everything he touched turned into goals, kicking 5 goals from 5 shots. Lachlan Vanirsen and Lachlan O'Keefe were equally prolific through the midfield, Vanirsen’s 30 disposals, 16 kicks and 6 tackles combining nicely with O’Keefe’s 28 disposals, 14 kicks and 7 clearances. Tyler Senge added 26 disposals, 5 tackles and 5 goal involvements, justifying his selection as the youngest player in the PFL representative squad. Jake Dugan continued his strong season with 18 disposals, 8 interceptions and 7 marks. The effort of ruckman Kody Eaton's 31 hit outs provided Kingsway first crack from the stoppages, which they used so efficiently. University fought back through Cyrus Upson, who amassed 30 disposals and 11 clearances, and Sullivan Moody, 16 disposals, eight inside 50s, but couldn't match Kingsway's run, with the home side's 31 rebound 50s to 18 underlining their control off half-back.
Curtin Uni Wesley handed Fremantle CBC their first loss of the season in emphatic fashion, smashing them by 47 points, 15.11 (107) to 7.12 (54). CBC were left chasing all day, the Tigers controlled possession through a hard-hitting brand of footy, winning contested possession 110 to 94, the 26 to 15 advantage in the 1%ers epitomising the work rate of Curtin Uni Wesley. The Tigers were the more dangerous side going forward, especially through the centre bounce, in total they recorded 37 inside 50s to CBC’s 29 and were able to convert at a far higher rate than CBC. Kade Stewart was the standout for Curtin Uni Wesley with 18 disposals, 5 goals and 2 assists, while Alexander Howson finished with 5 goals, taking 8 of his side's 14 marks inside 50. George Wessels was the engine room of it all, producing 17 disposals, 7 inside 50s and 7 tackles. Curtin Uni Wesley were able to isolate CBC’s key performers, although Cody Smith’s 14 disposals, 3 goal involvements and 6 tackles, and Tom Wright's 17 disposals and 5 clearances were huge efforts against a team that suffocated any clean access to the ball. The Tigers' endless work rate from the start allowed them to control the tempo and play to their strengths going forward, resulting in a better conversion between the big sticks compared to CBC, who were on the back foot for most of the game, causing them to grab at the chances they usually put away so easily.
Ocean Ridge and Trinity Aquinas shared the points in a thriller, the sides locked together at 56 apiece, Ocean Ridge 9.2 (56) to Trinity Aquinas's 7.14 (56). Trinity Aquinas dominated territory with 53 inside 50s to 25, but a wasteful 7.14 in front of goal let Ocean Ridge off the hook. Tyron Hindmarsh was the hero for Ocean Ridge on the day, kicking 3 goals of Ocean Ridge's 4 in their fourth quarter fight back to level the scores. Mitchell Bentley was equally as responsible for the late comeback, assisting 2 goals in the final quarter, finishing with 19 disposals, 6 tackles and 5 inside 50s, the highest for his side. Brodie Matthew Gray solidified his position as one of the best midfielders in the league with an insane 39 disposals and 15 clearances that single-handedly kept his side in the game. While Drenin Finnegan had 29 disposals, 25 kicks, 15 marks and 10 rebound 50s, Taj Ross had 20 disposals, 6 rebound 50s, which provided plenty of drive for the Eagles. For Trinity, Jordan Leeson piled up 27 disposals and 6 inside 50s, teammate Matthew Rodan was busy with 21 disposals and 5 clearances, but the inaccuracy in front of the big sticks proved costly as the Eagles snuck away with a share of the spoils. Ocean Ridge might count themselves lucky, scraping through a draw, but their midfield effort alone was well deserving of the win.
Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Women
Trinity Aquinas defeated North Fremantle 3.1 (19) to 5.10 (40), the comprehensive win marking the halfway point in Trinity Aquinas' first-ever season in the top women's competition. Remarkably, Trinity Aquinas holds the best defensive and attacking record in the league, with top spot eluding them following a two-point loss to Curtin Uni Wesley in Round 5. Trinity Aquinas’ Jessica Schleicher kicked two goals to take her four clear as the top goalkicker in the league, with teammate Denby Murphy opening her account for the season, as well as North Fremantle’s Makayla Cocking. In the end, North Fremantle will consider themselves lucky to be walking away with a 21-point loss, as Trinity Aquinas very easily could have doubled the score if they had been more clinical in front of goals.
Curtin Uni Wesley made it back-to-back wins on the road, accounting for Quinns District 6.5 (41) to 1.3 (9) despite having fewer disposals than the Bulls 152 to 130. The Tigers made the most of their opportunities forward, kicking six goals from 14 entries while restricting Quinns District to a single major from 11. The Tigers’ control of the ruck contest 35 to 4, with Samantha Fieldler's 33 hit-outs to advantage and nine disposals, underpinned their control around the stoppages. Sara Lewis kicked 4 goals straight while teammate Skye Prentice put in a shift with 11 kicks, 4 tackles and 2 inside 50s. For Quinns District, Ella Fiest was the standout with 18 disposals and 11 groundball gets, and Tayla Anthony was arguably the best on ground with 21 disposals and 6 clearances, working hard in a losing side that struggled to convert its territory.
North Beach got over the line in a tight one, defeating Baldivis 7.4 (46) to 6.2 (38) in a contest decided by efficiency in front of goal. The Tigers booted seven goals from 43 inside 50s while Baldivis made the most of fewer opportunities, kicking six from 27. North Beach were faster at the ground ball with a 115 to 86 advantage. North Beach’s Mischa Rodier was outstanding with 25 disposals, 6 marks and a goal, while Siénna Joubert added 16 disposals and 5 marks. Baldivis fought hard throughout, showing glimpses of their best football at times; Kelsey Timms's 28 disposals, 12 clearances and 14 turnovers kept Baldivis in the contest, while Sara Sammons's 19 disposals and 4 inside 50s were also crucial in keeping her side competitive. North Beach's slight edge with their ball use, especially with the handballs, having 41 more effective handballs, paired with their forward-line precision, proved the difference.
University was dominant against Hamersley Carine, running out 4.17 (41) to 0.0 (0) winners. University controlled territory with 37 inside 50s to 1 and 37 forward turnovers to 0, and while their conversion was wasteful at times — booting 4.17 — the result was never in doubt. Helen Taylor was excellent with 28 disposals, five clearances and five inside 50s, while Layla Tomljanovich added 20 touches and two goals in her season league debut, and Tarnica Stewart finished with 26 disposals and five score involvements. Hamersley Carine were competitive around the ball without troubling the scoreboard, with Maya Harvey 25 disposals and 7 rebound 50s and Mollie Bradley with 18 disposals and 3 clearances their most prominent contributors in a game where they were on the backfoot from start to finish.
Wembley defeated Melville 5.3 (33) to 1.2 (8) on the road after a big second-half performance. Melville held sway in some of the underlying numbers — winning clearances 34 to 27 and rebound 50s 18 to 15 — but Wembley's accuracy in front of goal made the difference, converting five goals from 19 entries compared to Melville's solitary major from 18. Both sides were kept to just the one goal coming into the start of the third quarter, before Phoebe Coulthard opened the floodgates, finishing up with 3 goals and 13 disposals. Parris Laurie was the best afield with 25 hitouts, 20 disposals and 6 clearances, while Jessica Ledger contributed 11 disposals and 7 tackles. For Melville, Isabella Strnadica was prolific with 16 disposals and 8 clearances, and Clotilde Decaux, with 12 disposals and 6 clearances, stood out. Wembley’s ability to switch to a kick-focused game was the defining moment away from a game that was so heavily congested.
Budget Car and Truck Rental B Grade Men
Cockburn Lakes put on a ruthless performance, beating Melville 26.10 (166) to 4.6 (30), the 136-point margin their biggest win since May 2022, when the side were playing in C3. The result not only proves their strength but also the growth in the past few years to be a real contender amongst the biggest clubs in the PFL. There were several star performances for Cockburn Lakes, but none bigger than Joshua Grant's staggering 10 goals. Cockburn Lakes now sit 3rd with a huge amount of momentum behind them to take on the second half of the season.
Collegians’ difficult run of games continues with another well-fought contest ending in a loss against Bullcreek Leeming 8.7 (55) to 12.8 (80). Collegians’ league debutant Saami Welsh kicked 3 goals, and the side's top scorer Jono Williams added 2 goals. The result might be the deciding factor in who goes down, the win being the only thing separating eighth-placed Bullcreek Leeming from second-last Collegians.
Whitfords were too much for Kalamunda, running out 16.9 (105) to 8.6 (54) winners. Whitfords’ captain, Alex Wenn, was at the forefront of the win, kicking 4 goals along with 2 majors from Baylee Payne, who has really established himself as the young gun in this Whitford side. Kalamunda’s Tyler Mouritz didn’t let the scoreline stop his great form this season in front of goals, with 3 majors. Kalamunda's best quarter came in the last, when they matched Whitfords for goals, but ultimately, the experience of Whitfords was enough to push through Kalamunda’s much younger developing squad.
Swan Athletic beat West Coast 11.12 (78) to 10.11 (71), a game they desperately needed to win after a difficult run of form. The game was a tale of two completely different halves, with little to separate the sides in the first half. Swan Athletic had a huge 3rd quarter, keeping West Coast to 0.3 to their 4.4, although West Coast came back to make Swan Athletic sweat, kicking 4 goals largely unanswered. For Swan Athletic, Will Parkinson kicked 3 goals with prospects Liam Hrabar and Carlos Partington kicking a goal each as they begin to find their feet at league level. William Stacy and Jackson Slater were the main men up top for West Coast, combining for 7 goals.
North Fremantle vs Brentwood Booragoon was a tough contest for both sides, finishing 11.10 (76) to 8.4 (52) in favour of the second-place North Fremantle. North Fremantle’s 12-point lead going into the third quarter was no sure thing, especially against a forward-footed side like Brentwood. In the end, North Fremantle showed their class defensively and in front of goals to seal the game, holding Brentwood to their lowest scoring half of 1.2 to their 3.2. Ethan Paholski was the main man for North Fremantle, slotting 5 goals. Finn Gorringe played a pivotal role through the middle and nabbed his first league goal on the same week he was announced in the PFL representative squad for their clash against WA State Country this Friday. Brentwood Booragoon put up a strong fight against tough opposition, but the absence of last year’s Fairest and Best winner, Conor McPartland, was definitely felt.
Now that every side has played each other, the teams head back to play familiar faces, making for some great footy. Starting with Kalamunda playing against North Fremantle, who beat them by 36 points last time, although a repeat scoreline is far from a sure thing. Kalamunda, now adjusted to the league, have the home advantage that often swings results in their favour, and a sharpshooter in Tyler Mourtiz. Brentwood Booragoon hosts Cockburn Lakes in a game that is a similar story. The Doggies relish the home advantage more than most and could very easily get over the line if they're at their best, despite Cockburn Lakes’ amazing form at the moment. West Coast take on Melville while Whitfords play Collegians, with the two favourites playing at home, sealing an almost certain 4 points for both, while Bullcreek Leeming host Swan Athletic, the last time they played, Bullcreek Leeming nearly pulled off an upset, only losing by 14 points.
Budget Car and Truck Rental B Grade Women
Warnbro defeated Collegians 2.6 (18) to 4.3 (27) in a game that could have a big say in the survival of the two sides. The win at David Cruickshank Reserve gives a much-needed gap between them and Collegians in second last. Amazingly, the game featured just one scorer each for the two sides. Emily Standing kicked twice for Collegians, while Darice Wood, who has been playing well for Warnbro since moving up from their junior system, kicked 4 goals.
Swan Athletic bounced back from their defeat to Scarborough last round, beating Piara Waters 1.3 (9) to 6.11 (47). Hayley Baker kicked 4 goals for Swan Athletic, taking her total to 12 for the season. Baker’s teammate, Breanna Goold, kicked a goal in her first game back this season. The result reflects Piara Waters difficult start to the season, still without a win, similar to Swan Athletic’s 8th place position last season, although they look like a completely different side sitting comfortably in third at the end of round 9.
Scarborough continues their somewhat inevitable rise back into Budget Car and Truck Rental A Grade Women, defeating Ocean Ridge 1.2 (8) to 4.8 (32). Scarborough's four leading goalkickers this season did not feature, yet the side showed its depth against strong opposition with four players contributing to the scoreline.
Bullcreek Leeming followed up their demolition of Warnbro last week with another against Rossmoyne 12.8 (80) to 0.0 (0), Bullcreek Leeming's biggest margin of victory since round 13 in 2024. Jacinta Stevens once again ran the show, after kicking 5 goals last week, Stevens kicked a ridiculous 7 goals against Rossmoyne, putting her at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Kwinana showed composure, defeating Kelmscott 4.4 (28) to 10.9 (69), to mark their fourth win in a row. Kwinana’s ever-reliable Teah Taylor popped up for 2 goals while teammates Chantelle Laird and Kiera Simpson both kicked 2 goals for their first goals of the season.
Looking at round 10, fifth-place Ocean Ridge hosts sixth-place Kelmscott; a win for Kelmscott is a big step forward for a finals finish, as it levels them on points. Fourth-place Bullcreek Leeming plays third-place Swan Athletic, the last time the sides met, Swan Athletic won by 45 points. But Bullcreek Leeming’s home record will be a massive boost for the side, winning 8 out of 9. The top two are likely to keep their spots, with Scarborough travelling to Collegians and Kwinana playing Warnbro.
Budget Car and Truck Rental C1 Grade Men
Hamersley Carine came very close to handing Wanneroo their first loss of the season, with the league leaders hitting another gear late in the match to win 9.12 (66) to 7.5 (47). Hamersley Carine had the lead all the way up until late in the 3rd quarter, until Wanneroo’s pressure through a dominant midfield performance was able to overturn the hard work Hamersley Carine had done. Blake Baker kicked 2 goals, as did James Duvysten, who was instrumental in the late charge from Wanneroo. For Hamersley Carine, Chris Martin continued his top form in front of goal, and captain Tate Robertson put in yet another great performance all over the ground.
Wembley took apart Forrestdale 20.13 (133) to 7.9 (51). Wembley’s Josh Richard was the clear highlight, kicking an incredible 10 goals to remain the league's top goalkicker, in a game where the Wembley side really showed their credentials in the forward line. The win marks 8 wins on the trot for Wembley, who face a big challenge in round 10.
Thornlie put on a show away at Mosman Park 17.9 (111) to 8.14 (62). Cooper Shord, unsurprisingly, considering his form, kicked the bulk of Thornlie’s goals with 8 majors, while captain Bailey Smith commanded the game from the centre and kicked 4 goals in his 100th game. Mosman Park’s Thomas Smith fought hard for his opportunities in front of goals, kicking 3 goals. Thornlie now sit one win clear of the three teams below them. Whether that gap lasts the rest of the season remains to be seen, but with the middle of the ladder so tightly contested, the 10 per cent boost in percentage gained from this result could prove invaluable.
Cockburn Cobras were another side to significantly boost their percentage, beating Quinns District 17.8 (110) to 7.7 (49). Cockburn Cobras’ Royce Evans celebrated his 150th game in style, kicking 5 goals alongside teammate Cameron van Oss, booting 4 majors. Quinns District’s Trent Solly, who recently stepped in from Colts, played a great game, kicking 3 goals in what was a tough day for the Bulls.
Kwinana got their season back on track with a win over Jandakot 7.7 (49) to 12.7 (79). After a strong start to the season, the recent form has been a struggle for the Knights, with 1 win from the last 5 before their result against Jandakot. Although Jandakot did press them, Matthew Armstrong, in particular, played a strong game, kicking 2 goals, but the quality of the Knights, who were operating at their early-season best, won out.
The big fixture of round 10 is the clash between 2nd-place Wembley, who host 1st-place Wanneroo. Wembley, suffering their only loss of the season against Wanneroo back in round 1 by 39 points, will be looking to level the playing fields, although if they are to win, Wanneroo still sit first, thanks to the biggest percentage advantage between two directly opposing teams on the ladder of 64%. Thornlie travel to Cockburn Cobras, with Thornlie running out 18-point winners the last time the sides met, a game that will be decided through whose defence can hold up the best, with the best sides being so strong going forward. Hamersley Carine is facing an easy enough game against Jandakot and Kwinana, playing Quinns District, which they will also expect themselves to win. The game between 8th-place Mosman Park and 7th-place Forrestdale will be difficult to call, although Mosman Park got the recent win, Forrestdale has the home advantage.
Written By Oliver Mcfarland