Bennell slots seven goals, shines again at league level
Albany junior Michael Bennell has produced another superb display at league level, starring for Perth in the WAFL with seven goals as his side defeated East Fremantle in round 11 on Saturday afternoon.
In just his third league game and just a fortnight after booting three goals on debut, Bennell was devastating in the front half for the Demons as they won consecutive games for the first time this season.
The 24-year-old kicked 7.0 to go with 16 possessions, three marks and four tackles in the 64-point win and now has 11 goals in three league games.
Bennell spent a big period here in the Great Southern after playing colts for Swan Districts in 2013 and he was an integral part of Albany’s only ever league win, kicking 11 majors.
Mt Barker’s Russell Wynne had 14 touches and laid nine tackles for the Sharks. Ex-Royals defender Steven Edwards was named in South Fremantle’s best players after a telling display in defence to help his side defeat Peel Thunder by 35 points.
Edwards collected 25 disposals and had an equal game-high 12 marks to go with four inside 50s.
Former Albany defender Dylan Smallwood finished with 17 disposals and six marks for Claremont in their one-point loss to West Perth, also in the league competition. In the WAFL colts, Great Southern product Tom Baldwin pressed his claims for a State 18s recall with 22 disposals for the Tigers as they won by two points.
Baldwin, a member of the State 18s program, laid seven tackles and had two inside 50s to cap a strong showing.
Ex-Royals midfielder Morgan Davies also pushed his case for a league recall with a dominant display for the Tigers reserves, gathering 30 touches to go with six inside 50s and three goals.
Meanwhile Great Southern quartet Chris Wollaston, Luke Bairstow, Isaac Baum and Jayden Brooks all played on the WA State Country senior team at the weekend.
All from the Ongerup Football Association, they played in WA’s hard-fought 38-point win over Goldfields on Saturday night as part of their preparations for the interstate clash with South Australia next month.
Brooks was named in the best players, while Baum and Wollaston kicked two goals each.
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