WAFL Team of Round 17

We had several five-goal hauls, some brilliant defensive showings and some huge ball-winning performances during Round 17 of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season across the weekend.

The five matches took place over Saturday and Sunday this weekend in Round 17 and not only where there some standout individual showings, but Subiaco moved clear on top and South Fremantle back into second spot ahead of Claremont and West Perth.

Subiaco made a flying start on Saturday against West Perth at Leederville Oval which turned into an eventual 10.12 (72) to 8.4 (52) victory to see them move a game clear in top spot.

Brandon Matera kicked five goals for the Lions and Nick Martin two while Greg Clark had 29 possessions and Harry Marsh 28. 

Greg Clark, Max Walters, Wil Hickmott and Jordan Lockyer were unlucky to miss out on the WAFL Team of the Round, however Subi had five players selected, including the player of the round for their performances against West Perth.

BACK POCKET – AARON HEAL (Subiaco)
The Subiaco back-line of 2021 continues to be remarkably challenging to score against. They conceded only eight goals again to West Perth on Saturday and are only averaging giving up 55.1 points a game this season, and he has settled back into being a key part of it. Started the season in different roles, but his back in defence now and was terrific against the Falcons including having 14 disposals, seven marks and three tackles.
Times named in 2021: 2

HALF-BACK FLANK – ANGUS DEWAR (Subiaco)
He has enjoyed some great success since returning to Subiaco from his time at Hawthorn, but this Lions team of 2021 is especially standing out because of its back-line and how hard they are to score against. He is a key part in that and was instrumental again in the win over West Perth finishing with 15 possessions, five tackles and three marks.
Times named in 2021: 5

WING – HARRY MARSH (Subiaco)
He is proving to be quite the versatile weapon for Subiaco to use wherever they see fit in 2021. He has been dangerous in attack for a lot of the season, but spent a lot of Saturday's win against West Perth in the midfield and delivered 28 possessions, seven marks, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal.
Times named in 2021: 2

HALF-FORWARD FLANK – NICK MARTIN (Subiaco)
The emerging and versatile forward produced a strong all-round performance for Subiaco in the win against West Perth. Was dangerous when inside the forward 50 but worked hard up around the ground further too to provide a strong target. Ended the game with 21 touches, 10 marks and two goals.
Times named in 2021: 2

PLAYER OF THE ROUND – BRANDON MATERA (Subiaco)
Brandon Matera's form has been building solidly throughout his first season at Subiaco in 2021, but it all came together for a remarkable opening quarter on Saturday against West Perth to set up the crucial win for the Lions.

Going way back to 2009 when he broke into the South Fremantle league team back in the premiership year under the coaching of John Dimmer where he excited in a couple of appearances before playing in the reserves flag, there's been high hopes of what he could produce.

A lot of that is because of his remarkable family history as the son of Wally, and nephew of Peter and Phil, and he went on to play 144 games in the AFL over the previous decade split between the Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers.

He found himself out of the AFL system by the end of 2020, though, and wanting to continue playing in the WAFL, he elected to sign with Subiaco where his younger brother Bailey had already made the move to from South Fremantle.

The 29-year-old has fitted in solidly enough as a small forward in the Subiaco team who can drift up the ground to use his creativity and neat left foot skills to good effect, but it's in recent weeks where he has really gone up another level.

Matera has proven he can still take over a game and be a match-winner at WAFL level and that was on full show in the opening quarter against West Perth at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

In the first term alone, he gathered nine possessions and took six marks while kicking three goals from five shots on goal. He ended the afternoon with five goals, 15 possessions and eight marks with Subiaco winning to move a game and percentage clear on top of the WAFL ladder.

Only once in his AFL career did he better that performance with six goals for Gold Coast against Hawthorn in a shock win in Round 3, 2017. He kicked five once as well for the Dockers against the Western Bulldogs in Round 6, 2019.

Now if he can maintain this form for Subiaco going into the finals, it could be another reason why the Lions deserve to be premiership favourites right now.