Swans Lose But Finals Destiny Still In Own Hands

SWAN Districts was unable to overcome Claremont at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday but the black-and-whites remain in fourth position with their finals destiny in their own hands entering the last round.

The equation was relatively simple coming into Saturday's clash at Steel Blue Oval with a win to book in Swan Districts to play finals in 2017 and ending Claremont's slim hopes in the process.

But it wasn’t to be with Claremont in control for much of the afternoon and then making up for an inaccurate first half with nine goals to four after half-time to come away with the 13.17 (95) to 11.5 (71) victory.

That means that not only are Swans not yet guaranteed of a return to finals in 2017 but that the Tigers do remain in hunt at the same time.

Swan Districts stays in fourth position but now must beat East Fremantle back at Steel Blue Oval this Saturday to play finals or face the prospect of being leapfrogged by East Perth and West Perth if both win their games respectively this Saturday.

Claremont can now beat West Perth at home on Saturday and if that happens and East Perth loses to Subiaco, there's every chance the Tigers end up making the finals despite having so far only won eight games and two of their past seven.

It was a dominant performance in most aspects by Claremont and had the Tigers converted better than the 13 goals from 30 scoring shots, the margin could have been greater than the eventual 24 points.

Claremont finished the game with 154 more possessions than Swan Districts, 27 more marks, 19 extra inside-50 entries and then the 30 scoring shots to 16.

Ricky Cary returned for Swan Districts and made the most of his rare chances in attack kicking five goals from seven kicks.

This gives the tall forward 39 goals on the season for the black-and-whites after his second five-goal haul of the season with the other in Round 7 also coming against Claremont at Steel Blue Oval.

Emerging small forward Taryce Stewart also grabbed his chances kicking three goals from five kicks to give him 29 goals in 2017 for the black-and-whites.

Adam Faulkner worked tirelessly against the tide in the midfield for Swans ending the afternoon with 33 possessions and five tackles.

Corey Gault was again impressive in the ruck with 20 disposals and 34 hit outs opposed to Claremont's state ruckman Mitch Andrews who did have 44 hit outs himself.

Jesse Turner also gathered 19 possessions for Swan Districts while laying seven tackles with Jamie Bennell having 18 touches and returning co-captain David Ellard 17 and five tackles.

Tobe Watson had a strong league debut for Swans with 10 possessions and seven tackles while former West Perth player Ben McGillivray also did well in his first league appearance for Swan Districts with 13 disposals and five marks.

Swans' cause wasn’t helped with an ankle injury to co-captain Tallan Ames in his 260th game for Swans with Matt Riggio, Xavier Ellis, Freddie Clutterbuck and Matthew Rogers already among those sidelined.

Claremont was kicking the aid of the breeze in the opening quarter and had plenty of opportunities creating nine shots on goal. But the Tigers kicked just two goals through Ian Richardson and Oliver Eastland either side of a major to Ricky Cary.

Swans then had the breeze in the second term and played some tremendous football. Cary kicked two goals in the opening six minutes and then Jake Nuich added another for the black-and-whites to put them seven points in front.

Claremont drew back level soon after with a goal to Matt Guelfi but Swans remained on top for the quarter with goals to Ryan Crowley and then two to Stewart as they led by 17 points and then still 11 by half-time.

But it was all Claremont in the third quarter with the Tigers piling on the only six goals thanks to Mitch Andrews, Jared Hardisty, Matthew Palfrey, Palfrey again and Richardson. When Palfrey kicked his third of the third term, Claremont was well on top leading by five goals at the last change.

Swans did have the breeze again in the last quarter and managed to kick four goals to three, but all that did was cut Claremont's final winning margin to 24 points.

The colts contest started the day at Steel Blue Oval with Claremont beating Swan Districts 5.8 (38) to 3.4 (22).

Swan Districts goals came courtesy of Joseph Hinder, Brendan Shand and Atem Deng.

Jack O'Sullivan racked up 25 possessions for the black-and-whites, Gregory Ottaviano 24, Lochie Huntley 24, Riley Garcia 20, Graydon Wilson 19, Gregory Humphries 16 and Jarred Cameron 16.

Oskar Matthews worked hard in the ruck with 14 touches, five marks, four tackles and 27 hit outs.

Then in the reserves clash at Steel Blue Oval, Claremont also prevailed downing Swan Districts 10.11 (71) to 8.10 (58).

Brayden Noble and Ethan Maguire kicked two goals apiece for Swans with Maguire also collecting 22 possessions.

Jackson Slater ended up with 27 disposals as well for Swans, Brandon Erceg 22, Chad Daniels 20, David McKay 17, Brayden Hackett 16, Jacob Ness 16 and Troy Yukich 55 hit outs.

Everything is on the line now on Saturday for Swan Districts against East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval with a win required to guarantee a finals place for 2017.

SWAN DISTRICTS  1.1 7.2 7.3 11.5 (71)
CLAREMONT   2.7 4.9 10.15 13.17 (95)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Cary 5; Stewart 3; Wityk, Nuich, Crowley.
Best: Faulkner, Gault, Stewart, Cary, Turner, T Watson, McGillivray.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Palfrey, Richardson 3; Hardisty, Guelfi 2; Lim, Andrews, Eastland.
Best: Bolton, Busher, Richardson, R Murphy, Palfrey, Banfield, Hardisty.

By Chris Pike.