Round 18 WAFL Men’s Match Report

The conditions were tough but Swan Districts held Claremont to just the one goal in the first half in their last home game on Saturday before ending up falling to the second placed Tigers by 22 points.

Swan Districts hosted Claremont on Saturday in their last home game at Steel Blue Oval for the 2026 WAFL Men’s season and it was a big test against a Tigers team trying to consolidate their hold on a top two position.

But Swans started well with the only goal of the first quarter and then to still be leading by eight points at half-time before Claremont kicked six goals to one in the second half to end up winning 7.9 (51) to 3.11 (29).

Leigh Kohlmann kicked another two goals for Swan Districts with the spearhead now having kicked 26 goals in 12 appearances this season.

Clint Hinchliffe amassed another 28 possessions for Swan Districts while Blake Kelly finished with 28 disposals, Jesse Turner 26, Josh Cipro 24, Brandon Erceg 21, Luke Cotellessa 21, Chase Loftus 19, Jarvis Pina 17 and Bryce Watson 17.

Swan Districts did start well to kick the only goal of the first quarter at the 15-minute mark thanks to spearhead Leigh Kohlmann and that saw the home team go into the quarter-time break with the nine-point lead.

It took another 12 minutes for a goal to be kicked in the second quarter and that went the way of Claremont before Caleb Ernst responded for the Swans and that saw the home side head into the half-time break leading by eight points still having held the Tigers to one goal.

Kohlmann did kick a second goal in the third quarter for Swan Districts but Claremont managed four themselves and that saw them holding a 13-point lead by three quarter-time.

The Tigers also went on to kick the only two goals of the last quarter to secure the 22-point victory.

It was the Colts contest that got things underway on Saturday morning at Steel Blue Oval and that saw Claremont end up defeating Swan Districts 8.9 (57) to 4.7 (31).

Claremont started the game with three goals to one in the first quarter before Swan Districts did kick the only goal of the second term to cut the half-time deficit back to six points.

The Tigers then managed two goals to one in the third quarter and three more to one in the fourth to secure the 26-point victory.

The result leaves Swan Districts sitting in sixth position in the Colts with two rounds of the season remaining with a 5-9 record but still just a game behind the fifth placed West Perth.

Kalum Smith kicked two goals in the game for the Swans with Alon Berman picking up 26 possessions, Ethan Scharenguivel 19, Jaxon Ozanne 18, Noah Harfouche 18, Jake Mills 17, Hayden Young 17 and Tate Johnson 17.

That led into the Reserves match up and it was a thriller with Swan Districts holding on despite a goalless last quarter for the 9.8 (62) to 8.8 (56) victory against Claremont.

Swans made a flying start with four goals to one in the first quarter and then were still holding a 14-point advantage heading into the half-time break.

Swan Districts then kicked four goals to two in the third term to be leading by 23 points at three quarter-time before holding out the Tigers for the six-point win despite just the one behind in the final stanza.

The result leaves Swan Districts clear on top of the Reserves with a 13-1 record and guaranteed of the minor premiership with a three-game gap on East Perth with just two rounds remaining.

Lewis Zolnier-Owens kicked three goals in the win with Latrell Yarran adding two while Luke Kelly finished with 28 possessions and 17 tackles.

Tyrone Virgo also racked up 29 disposals, Ayden Cartwright 26, Ned Reiger 22, Soren Feast 21, Will Collins 20 and Jai Debono 17.