Swans can't quite finish job against Tigers

IT was a familiar tale for Swan Districts on Sunday at Steel Blue Oval with the black-and-whites starting strongly, being on top for much of the first three quarters but ultimately fading to a 34-point defeat at the hands of Claremont.

Swan Districts came into the Sunday clash for Round 10 of the WAFL season following the bye after a similarly strong showing against Perth two weeks ago before a last quarter fadeout.

Then with the breeze at their back in the first quarter on Sunday, Swans started strongly kicking the only three goals of the first quarter and the home side would go on to lead for much of the opening three quarters.

But Claremont went on to kick six goals to one in the last quarter to run out 11.9 (75) to 6.5 (41) winners.

Despite the strong home ground advantage Swans have always had at Bassendean, remarkably the loss means that they have won just one of their last 11 games on home turf.

Swan Districts again just couldn’t find enough of the ball across the afternoon to win the game with Claremont amassing 106 more possessions while taking 38 more marks and going inside-50 on 18 more occasions for 20 scoring shots to 11.

George Hampson delivered another standout performance for Swan Districts made up of 32 possessions, six marks, four tackles and the first two goals of the game. 

But ultimately once more, he just didn’t get enough support which he might be getting used given it was a similar case at East Fremantle last year when he won the fairest and best award.

Steven Payne ran hard on the wing all day for Swans, collecting 22 possessions while Jesse Turner gathered 21 disposals, Tristen Raynor 16, Matt Riggio 15, Tony Stephens 14 and Corey Gault 13 to go with 19 hit outs and four entries inside the forward 50.

Tony Notte was his usual tremendous self in a tantalising battle with veteran Claremont forward Tom Lee. Despite Lee kicking five goals, Notte couldn't have done much more and had 19 possessions and five marks himself.

Sunday's standalone Round 10 WAFL fixture took place at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts desperate to win to keep its finals hopes alive while Claremont was out to build on its momentum from two weeks earlier.

Both teams had the bye in Round 9 following playing on the WA Day long weekend which saw Swans once again put in a competitive performance to have a chance of winning before being overrun by Perth.

Claremont then put in a dominant performance for three quarters to beat the West Coast Eagles by 31 points at Optus Stadium to consolidate their place in the top five.

So both sides met at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday with at least a two-week break behind them and it was Swan Districts who kicked with advantage of the strong Bassendean breeze in the opening quarter.

The black-and-whites took full advantage too with the only three goals of the opening quarter. The first came courtesy of George Hampson with a beautiful kick from almost 50m out near the boundary when he bravely took advantage.

A minute later he kicked well again on the run before Tristen Raynor goaled shortly before quarter-time to give Swan Districts a 19-point advantage at the first break.

Claremont had the breeze in the second quarter and it took less than six minutes for them to kick two goals thanks to Jack Bradshaw and Tom Lee.

But Swans did get a steadier for the first goal of the game into the breeze with Leigh Kohlmann kicking truly at the 20-minute mark. Claremont, though, did boot the last goal of the half through Ian Richardson to cut Swan Districts' lead to eight points at the major break.

Claremont then took the lead to start the second half when Bailey Bennett kicked the first goal of the third quarter at the 11-minute mark.

But three minutes later Swans regained the lead when Mitch Howlett kicked truly for his second goal in black-and-white. Swan Districts couldn’t manage another goal for the quarter, though, with Claremont goaling through CJ Oakley to take a one-point lead into the last term.

It was then all Claremont in the last quarter in another frustrating finish to a game for Swan Districts which saw their hard work all afternoon undone with a largely non-competitive final term.

Claremont had nine scoring shots to one and kicked six goals to one in the last quarter to go from one-point in front at three quarter-time to win the game by 34 points.

The 11.9 (75) to 6.5 (41) win improved Claremont to a 6-3 record on the season and to replace Perth in third position on the ladder

Meanwhile, Swan Districts slipped to 2-7 on the season and despite the positive of being largely competitive in all seven losses, the fact they just can't put four quarters together, or ultimately win enough of the ball or kick a winning score continues to frustrate the black-and-whites.

The second colts contest of Round 10 took place on Sunday morning at Steel Blue Oval and it was a thrilling contest between two teams who are perennially among the best teams in the competition and best producers of talents to be drafted.

Coming off playing in last year's Grand Final in the colts, Swan Districts came into Sunday's clash on home turf undefeated from the opening seven matches of the 2019 season while Claremont's form  had been building nicely after a slow start.

With both teams coming off the Round 9 bye and missing some key players to the WA State 18s team, it was going to always be a fascinating contest and that's how it played out.

Swan Districts kicked the only goal of the first quarter and then with both teams managing two goals in the second term, it was the black-and-whites leading by three points going into the half-time break.

But Claremont managed to kick three goals in the third quarter and Swan Districts just the two to see the Tigers assume the lead and take a four-point advantage into the final break.

Neither team could then manage a goal in the last quarter with Claremont holding on for the 5.11 (41) to 5.8 (38) victory to hand Swan Districts their first defeat of the colts season.

Jehb O'Donohue kicked two goals for Swan Districts while Kade Wallrodt, Ben Taylor and Jamison Ugle kicked one each.

Ethan Nordahl racked up 29 possessions for the black-and-whites, Brenton Hilton 28, Wallrodt 23, Ashley Brockbernd 18 (11 tackles), Atem Deng 18, Seb Bright 16 and Kade Screaigh 14 (10 tackles).

Then in the reserves contest at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday, Claremont also beat Swan Districts 14.10 (94) to 8.9 (57).

Oskar Matthews, Blake Rowlinson and Austin Watson kicked two goals each for the black-and-whites.

Ethan Maguire collected 27 possessions, Lachlan Riley 20, Jackson Beck 20, Josh Simpson 19, Chad Daniels 17, Rowlinson 17 and Callum Garcia 16 to go with laying 13 tackles.
 

ROUND 10 OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

SWAN DISTRICTS        3.4    4.5    5.5    6.5    (41)
CLAREMONT            0.3    3.3    5.6    11.9    (75)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Hampson 2; Gault, Kohlmann, Raynor, Howlett.
Best: Hampson, Notte, Raynor, Payne, Turner, Howlett.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Lee 5; Richardson, Bradshaw, Beeck, Bennett, Treacy, Oakley.
Best: Mitchell, Lim, Goddard, Ledger, Hamp, Lee, Bolton, Mountford.