IT'S BEEN a tough nine weeks for Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands but the Ross Glendinning Medallist had reason to smile after his match-winning performance in the 30th western derby.

Sandilands spent the final two weeks of Fremantle's nine-week losing run on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but he returned with devastating effect on Saturday.
The All-Australian tallied 30 possessions, 31 hit-outs, eight clearances and a goal to lift Fremantle to its fifth straight derby win and its seventh from the last eight clashes.

Sandilands said he thrived on the rivalry between the WA clubs and was relieved to get back to playing footy after watching his side lose to the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide in the last fortnight. 
 
"It's been a long nine weeks to be honest," he said after the win, Fremantle's first since it beat Carlton on the Gold Coast in round seven.

"It's pretty hard sitting on the sidelines watching. I was close to getting up last week against Brisbane, but the medical staff told me to have the extra week and the body really pulled up better."

After a dominant start, Sandilands faded through the second and third quarters.

But with the game on the line, and Fremantle desperate for their leaders to lift, Sandilands dominated the final exchanges to become Fremantle's fourth Ross Glendinning Medallist.   

Coach Mark Harvey said he had his doubts Sandilands was right to play early in the first quarter, but said late in the game he was a tower of strength. 

"It was interesting, we were watching at the five to 10 minute mark in the coach's box and he was blowing like the north wind," Harvey said. "I thought, 'Is he all right?'

"As the game wore on, naturally you saw him have an influence.

"I think when you look at the last quarter and you see the dominance of clearances (Fremantle won the stat 16 to five in the final term), I think he had an enormous influence – he was a tower of strength today."

The 30th western derby pitted 16th against 13th, and for most of the day it was hard to pay either side a compliment.

But Sandilands said, with nine first-year players in the Fremantle side and six West Coast players playing in their first western derby, skill errors were to be expected.  

Fremantle also had six derby debutants, and Sandilands said they all played their role and deserved to experience a win.

"They're a really exciting young bunch, and they're trying their hardest and learning as much as possible as they go along," he said.

"It’s good to see them all contributing and hopefully they can improve as the year goes on.

"They're the guys that have put it all on the line. So it was just good for the young boys who haven't experienced the winning feeling to experience that and get confidence from it."