Premiership defender Sam Butler, ultra-consistent wingman Bradd Dalziell and his East Fremantle teammate Mitch Brown are among the players who shone in the WAFL competition at the weekend, compelling the match committee to ‘look at me.’

With Eric Mackenzie likely to miss Sunday’s clash against Hawthorn with a hamstring strain, Brown would be the logical replacement.

He received the call-up late last year to play on Lance Franklin at the MCG and did a good job, so could go to the Hawks’ main man again.
He completed a terrific defensive performance for East Fremantle against Peel on Saturday and is again in good touch.

Dalziell, a consistent accumulator, had 25 possessions and seven tackles for the Sharks in another eye-catching display while defender Jacob Brennan was also solid in a convincing team performance by East Fremantle.

Butler showed his class when playing with Perth and amassing 29 possessions and 11 marks to put his name in the selection frame.  

Teammate Fraser McInnes had a quiet day with 11 possessions and three marks, though he impacted more heavily as the game progressed.  

Utility player Brad Sheppard was among three players who represented the club in the opening round who was engaged in the Good Friday-Easter Saturday WAFL round. The others were veteran wingman Andrew Embley and ruckman Scott Lycett.     

Sheppard was another to shine for the Sharks while Embley, who was the sub in the derby off a limited preparation because of a hamstring strain in the first round of the NAB Cup, needed a further run and Lycett went head-to-head with a man keen to grab his spot as the support ruckman to Dean Cox.
Lycett is being challenged by rookie-listed big man Callum Sinclair, with the pair unable to be split in their personal battle on Good Friday when East Perth was eclipsed by Subiaco. Both gathered 16 possessions and kicked a goal.                

Wingman Cale Morton continues to build on his form for the Royals with 18 possessions on a wing, while Blayne Wilson was again solid in defence with 17 touches and five marks.

Another rookie pressing  his claims for elevation is Claremont forward-ruckman Jeremy McGovern, who was under notice constantly when the Tigers proved too strong for Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

McGovern has been consistent for the Tigers in the early part of the season and took seven marks and converted two goals from his 10 touches.
Also engaged in that match were Embley (20 disposals and six marks) and small forward Murray Newman, who managed just 10 possessions and four marks.

The club also had a brace of players engaged in the reserves competition, with Brad Dick, Adam Carter and Brant Colledge all suffering injury issues through the pre-season.

Dick played three quarters for East Fremantle and managed maximum impact, kicking three goals from seven touches, while Carter, resuming from an ankle injury, will benefit from playing through the midfield and in defence for South Fremantle.

Colledge showed he is ready to advance to senior football with 19 possessions, six marks and four tackles playing for Perth.