South West AFL Watch: Harvey’s Brady Hough shines in new midfield role as West Coast lose to Hawthorn

Harvey’s Brady Hough shone in a new midfield role as West Coast suffered another loss on Sunday, this time to Hawthorn by 50 points at Marvel Stadium. Despite the Eagles’ seventh defeat from seven games this season, Hough belied his lack of senior experience in the middle of the ground to be his side’s best performer, showing some great signs in a battle with Hawk Jai Newcombe, one of the league’s premier clearance players. His 24 disposals — only the second time he has gathered more than 20 in his 60-game career and just two shy of his career best — included three clearances and he also laid six tackles. Hough had previously spent some time on the ball in the Eagles’ loss to Carlton at Gather Round and his performance will have done nothing to dissuade coach Andrew McQualter from giving him more midfield opportunities. Dunsborough-raised defender Reuben Ginbey was again solid for West Coast as he dealt with constant supply in his defensive 50, finishing with 11 disposals. In the WAFL on Saturday, Binningup’s Clay Hall continued to press his claims for a senior recall by gathering a team-high 27 disposals as the Eagles’ reserves went down by 52 points to Claremont. Busselton’s Jye Amiss slotted two goals as Fremantle defeated Adelaide by 18 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. The league’s other Busselton product James Tunstill was demoted to substitute duties for Brisbane’s 45-point win over St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday.