WAFL Round 15 Match Report

Swan Districts never stopped fighting but couldn’t quite overcome Claremont on Saturday in Round 15 of the WAFL setting up a fascinating run to the end of the season following this weekend's bye.

It was always going to be a crucial game for both teams on Saturday at Revo Fitness Stadium with Claremont coming into the clash in fourth position and Swan Districts in fifth.

The Tigers were able to open up a 30-point lead late in the second quarter and that ended up proving to be a match-winning advantage.

Swan Districts continued to fight hard throughout the second half but couldn’t quite overcome Claremont who went on to win 10.12 (72) to 9.9 (63).

Following the result, Swan Districts slips to sixth position on the ladder with an 8-6 record with the bye to come in Round 16 before finishing the season against West Coast, East Fremantle, West Perth and Peel Thunder.

Darcy Jones had a debut he'll never forget for Swan Districts kicking two goals from 13 possessions and four marks while Aidan Clarke also kicked two to go with 28 touches and nine marks.

Jesse Turner collected another 23 possessions for Swans while Jehb O'Donohue finished with 22 touches, Josh Cipro 21, Jarvis Pina 20 and Sam Fisher 20.

After a couple of Claremont misfires, it was Swan Districts who kicked the first goal of the game courtesy of Victorian recruit Ryan Kemp.

The Tigers immediately responded through Jye Bolton before the two teams continued to trade goals with Josh Cipro kicking truly for Swans, and Jack Buller doing the same for the home team.

Bailey Rogers then added another for the Tigers just before quarter-time to give them a 10-point lead.

A second goal to Buller early in the second term pushed the Claremont advantage to 17 points before Oliver Eastland added another and it was a 23-point advantage.

It took another 14 minutes for the next goal and that also went the way of the Tigers thanks to Ronin O'Connor to see the lead grow to 30 points.

Swans were able to pull a couple of goals back before half-time with Aidan Clarke and Jarvis Pina kicked truly, but Claremont were still four goals to the good at the main break with a late goal from big man Kieran Gowdie.

Swans needed a good start to the second half to get back into the contest and that's exactly what they got with the opening two goals from debutant Darcy Jones and Brayden Noble.

However, Claremont responded with the only other two goals of the third quarter to Tyron Smallwood and Lachlan Martinis to keep the home side in charge with the four-goal lead.

Swans kept in touch early in the fourth quarter when Jones kicked the second goal in his debut appearance. The black-and-whites continued to pepper the goals and eventually kicked another courtesy of Seb Bright to make it a nine-point ball game at the 14-minute mark.

Claremont got a steadier early in time-on through Lawrence Evans and that proved enough for them to hold on for the 10.12 (72) to 9.9 (63) win despite a late Swans goal from Clarke.

The colts contest started the day at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday with Claremont beating Swan Districts 12.14 (86) to 4.8 (32).

Evan Smith kicked two goals for Swan Districts along with nine touches, seven marks and 26 hit outs. Jack Saunders gathered 30 possessions, Otis Harvey 18, Bailey Jenkin 16 (10 tackles) and Tom Cathcart 16.

It was then a thrilling reserves victory on Saturday for Swan Districts as they beat Claremont 6.13 (49) to 7.4 (46).

Warrick Wilson kicked two goals for Swans with Elijah Hewett gathering 31 possessions, Ayden Cartwright 24, Nelson Waite 23, Ben Hewett 22, Greg Ottaviano 21, Lewis Tester 19 and Hudson Babich 19.