I wasn't at the game, but this isn't what it sounded like
wafl online BEST: M.De boer, E.Langdon, T.Smith, J.Mathers, L.Weller
perth now
BEST Sounds more appropriate for both teams, although deboer appeared to do little until the last quarter
C: R Lim, T Ledger, F Watson, R Neates, S McAdam, J Bradshaw, B Franz. (Lim 19yrs 186cm 78kg)
PT: E Langdon, L Weller, M DeBoer, E Hughes, H Crozier.
Francis Watson is also from Halls Creek, is still a teenager and had made three league appearances.
Yet his attack on the ball at half-back embarrassed his mercurial opponent Max Duffy, helped him gather 21 possessions and enabled him to carry the ball forward with verve and precision.
And Ryan Lim, a teenage midfielder in the second month of his career, was even more effective.
Lim started on the highly-regarded Connor Blakely, spent time opposed to other Fremantle mids in Matt De Boer and Jacob Ballard, as well as veteran Brendon Jones, but came away with a career-high 32 disposals and substantially enhanced standing.
Add Jack Bradshaw’s impact and Claremont not only won the ball in the middle but had numerous potent options in attack.
Peel defender Brady Grey attacked the ball with greater vigour than most of his colleagues but he could not contain Bradshaw whose 18 disposals included eight shots at goal for 4.4.
Francis Watson (Claremont)
Born 29.9.1995, 186cm, 76kg
AFL biography: Medium Defender with terrific agility, natural leap and smooth kicking technique on his preferred right foot. Often plays as a rebounding half back that runs and carries the ball however he can also play a shutdown role on a dangerous forward. Shows good overhead marking strength and had a consistent NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 12.5 disposals and 3.5 marks over four matches.
Raff Guadagnino, WAFL: "Francis has come late to the game - he only started playing when he was 13 or 14 - but he can really play. He's doing a traineeship with a diesel mechanic who rang us up to say he was the best, most respectful kid he'd ever had work for him and that he really wanted to see him be successful. He's from up north and he really wants to learn, he's a kid with a real desire to compete."