The race for fifth place in the WAFL Finals has some disruption after Round 14 of the 2023 season, with a couple of shock results to provide a little more spice on the road to September.
From Swan Districts' shock win over Subiaco to East Perth knocking off Claremont to move atop the WAFL Ladder, Round 14 had it all.
Read up here on who stood out in this action-packed weekend of WAFL footy.
Under the Lathlain lights, West Perth kept a small glimmer of hope to make the five after accounting for West Coast by 28 points.
A seven-goal to nil start laid the foundation for the victory despite only kicking three goals after quarter time, allowing West Coast to make the game a more competitive outing.
The Falcons' victory on Saturday Night was down to their forward line firepower led by Tyler Keitel [3 goals, 10 marks] returning to form inside 50, supported by fellow tall timber Noah Pegoraro [3 goals, 3 marks, 2 inside 50s] also playing a crucial role in front of goal.
Experience in midfield was also a key for West Perth, led by the evergreen Luke Meadows who amassed 29 disposals in the thick of the contest but also had his fellow midfielders in Shane Nelson [23 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s] and Aaron Black [19 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles]
While for the Eagles with up to nine AFL listed players, they got more firepower from players like Luke Foley who was composed and crucial with 24 disposals, 4 marks & 4 tackles, and their skipper Jackson Nelson provided the backup this time around with another 26 touches and 5 marks.
Isiah Winder played his first game since Round 1 and was solid with effective run and carry for his 27 touches.
South Fremantle survived a late final term scare by Perth to run out winners by seven points in the first Sunday game for Round 14 at Lathlain.
It was a real back-and-forth contest in ideal conditions, but it was the Bulldogs' final term start that made the difference at the final siren.
One key standout for South Fremantle is the rising work rate of Solomon James in the ruck, he had 29 hitouts along with 12 touches, but it was his follow-up in the contest that was solid and has a lot of promise to be a dominant ruck in the WAFL.
The rest of the Bulldogs' midfield was also playing their roles in the close contest with Tom Blechynden [21 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 goals] and Jake Florenca [19 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 3 goals] continuing their solid seasons from the middle.
Perth had their two dominant mids running riot in Charlie Thompson [30 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles] and Corey Byrne [30 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles] delivering the footy forward with polish and precision.
Up forward the Demons didn't get a lot of firepower from the likes of Samuel Stubbs, who was held to just one goal along with Kristian Cary & Jye Clark.
430km north of Perth the WAFL tour came to Geraldton for the East Fremantle-Peel Thunder clash and the honours went to the Sharks, who stitched up third place by 19 points in a brilliant back-and-forth contest.
Fatigue may have got the better of Peel having been in the contest all day but East Freo looked the fresher side running away with it in the final term.
The Sharks teamed magnificently through Harry Marsh [32 disposals, 10 marks, 4 tackles] effectively guiding the Sharks into their attack and backed up by Kyle Baskerville [27 disposals, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s] who played a crucial hand.
Further back, Chris Walker keeps improving with six vital marks in the defensive half and effectively moving the ball inboard setting up inside 50s. Matthew Jupp's experience also was vital with 17 disposals, 9 marks and 5 tackles.
Peel had plenty of fire in their forward line with Brody Wemm kicking three goals including two in a row midway through the game and Sebit Kuek provided vital chances.
Jacob Blight [22 disposals, 7 marks] provided plenty of effect inside 50, repelling the Sharks' repeat entries. Further up the ground Blair Bell [24 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles] was vital at the coalface when the contest was on a tightrope.
Swan Districts kept their faint finals hopes alive by upsetting Subiaco by just two points at Steel Blue Oval.
After struggling to win the close games early in the season, the Swans have won two close ones at home in the space of a month and there was a big forward that lifted the Swans.
Tom Edwards held his nerve in the final term with not only 24 disposals but four goals in a thrilling finish to seal a big win for the Swans, his marking and goalkicking had been down on form for a few games but his final term was one to savour.
He had plenty of troops supporting from midfield with Aidan Clarke working hard for his 28 touches along with Tobe Watson [26 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles] and Jarvis Pina [24 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles] providing the firepower from the centre.
It was the Hickmott boys that again the Lions relied on for their service from midfield into attack. Liam [30 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles and 7 inside 50s] and Will [17 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s] provided crucial support for the dominant Zac Clarke who amassed an impressive 65 hitouts.
Subiaco again missed the goalkicking prowess of Ben Sokol but had Taj Schofield and Koltyn Tholstrup kicking two goals in a solid effort, but did miss their forward leader who was held well by the Swans backline.
East Perth are firmly in the picture for the 2023 premiership following a 24-point win over Claremont at Leederville.
The victory has put the Royals on top of the WAFL ladder for the first time in nine years and it was set up by a four goals to one final quarter.
It was the usual suspects for East Perth firing with their AFL quality midfield first to the footy, led by Hamish Brayshaw [32 disposals, 7 marks, 2 tackles and 5 inside 50s] and had the support from Mitchell Crowden [32 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s] giving vital service to their forwards.
Only in the team for a year, young Sam Van Diemen kicked an important three goals from 20 disposals and 5 tackles, while Liam Tedesco was a vital source of scoreboard pressure with three goals.
Claremont were guilty of turnovers that would prove costly come the end of the game but they had Jye Bolton firing again with another 30 disposals and up forward Alexander Manuel and Tyron Smallwood both kicked three majors.
Tigers ruckman Oliver Eastland was sensational despite the loss, with 35 hitouts to go with his 15 disposals as he played a lone hand in a tough last term.