Reserves Second Semi-Final Match Report

The last Swan Districts team still alive in 2025 might have lost on Sunday but the good news is the Reserves still have a chance to reach the grand final with a preliminary final clash to come.

The Swan Districts Reserves opened up the finals series the previous Sunday with a qualifying final victory against South Fremantle at East Fremantles Shark Park to set up the second semi-final clash with the minor premiers Claremont.

Swan Districts took on the Tigers at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday with the first place in the grand final at Optus Stadium on the line, but it was always going to be a big task against a Claremont team who had been remarkably dominant to end the home and away season.

The Swans had beaten them during the season, though, so had belief going into the second semi-final and they did make the perfect start with a goal at the three-minute mark to Ayden Cartwright.

Claremont responded with the next two and on the back of that the Tigers were narrow five-point leaders by quarter-time.

Once again Swan Districts started the second quarter well with an early goal to Lewis Zolnier-Owens with the goals then continuing to come throughout the term.

Swans also got goals from Henrique Alforque and Tom Smith, but Claremont kicked six themselves including four in the last eight minutes of the half to go into the main break leading by 24 points.

Claremont then kicked away further with the only six goals of the third quarter to be leading by 62 points at three quarter-time before the Swans did start the last term with a goal to Luke Kelly.

Zolnier-Owens also kicked his second of the game and Ned Reiger added another but it wasn’t enough to stop the Tigers winning 15.7 (97) to 7.5 (47).

Lewis Zolnier-Owens kicked two goals for Swan Districts from his three kicks for the game as the team’s only multiple goal scorer.

Luke Kelly finished the second semi-final with 25 possessions, seven tackles and a goal with Ethyn Kane gathering 17 disposals, Luke Cotellessa 17, Chase Loftus 15, Luke Taylor 12 and Connor Blakely 12 while Troy Yukich had 46 hit outs in the ruck.

Swan Districts are still alive this season in the Reserves, though, and will play East Perth in the preliminary final this Sunday at Leederville’s Sullivan Logistics Stadium with a place in the grand final the following Sunday at Optus Stadium on the line.