Round 19 Match Report v Claremont

Swan Districts might not have quite been able to keep its winning run going against a Claremont team who was fighting to stay in the top five on Saturday, but there were still once again plenty of positives for the black-and-whites.

Swan Districts came into the clash at Revo Fitness Stadium in the second last round of the 2023 WAFL season on an impressive four-game winning streak coming up against a Claremont team who had lost its past four matches.

However, the Tigers had to win to remain inside the top five heading into the last round and they were able to defeat the Swans 18.15 (123) to 14.7 (91).

The result leaves Swan Districts sitting on an 8-9 record now this season with one game to go this coming Saturday against a Peel Thunder team also needing a win to guarantee a finals place when they do battle at Steel Blue Oval.

Tom Edwards had another impressive afternoon up forward for Swan Districts kicking four goals from 13 possessions and five marks with Lachlan Riley chipping in with three goals and Jackson McLachlan two to go with 25 disposals and six tackles.

Aidan Clarke put together another strong performance in the midfield for Swan Districts finishing with 29 possessions, six inside 50s, five marks and a goal with Jesse Turner also gathering another 29 disposals.

Josh Cipro added 26 possessions, Lawson Humphries 17, Brad Lynch 16 and Tobe Watson 15.

Claremont needed the win to stay inside the top five after losing its last four matches and the Tigers made the perfect start with three goals in just over the opening the six minutes, the first to Alex Manuel and then a couple to Callan England.

Swan Districts did get on the board shortly after thanks to Lachlan Riley before adding another through Josh Cipro.

The goals in the opening term kept on coming with another couple for Claremont to Manuel and Jye Bolton before Tom Edwards got one back for Swans to keep them in touch with just the 11-point deficit.

Manuel kicked a third goal already of the game just over a minute into the second quarter and then Claremont's lead was out to 23 points when Talon Delacey added another.

Swans were keeping in touch, though, and got a goal back from Brayden Noble but when Zac Mainwaring pushed the lead for the Tigers back out to 25 points.

Again Swan Districts responded to stay in touch with goals to Jackson McLachlan and Aidan Clarke, but the Tigers did finish the first half strongly with a fourth goal to Manuel and a second to Bolton to go into the half-time break leading by 26 points.

It took more than nine minutes for the first goal of the second half and that again went the way of Claremont thanks to Bailey Rogers.

Swan Districts did respond through Brad Lynch, but the Tigers closed the third term with goals to Oliver Eastland, Sam Alvarez and Rogers again to open up a game high 51-point advantage.

The game might have been out of reach, but Swans did dig keep in the final quarter starting with the opening two goals from Edwards and Jesse Palmer.

When Edwards added another later in the quarter with Riley and McLachlan also adding a second, the black-and-whites did get back to within 26 points but Claremont did enough to steady and claim the crucial 32-point victory.

The Round 19 Colts action began on Saturday morning at Revo Fitness Stadium with Claremont defeating Swan Districts 13.13 (91) to 7.6 (48).

Tristen Burgess kicked four goals for Swan Districts with Riley Hardeman picking up 28 possessions, Luke Kelly 27 (12 tackles) and Chayse Martinson 25.

Round 19 in the Reserves began with Claremont defeating Swan Districts 9.9 (63) to 8.8 (56) at Revo Fitness Stadium with the Tigers keeping their hopes alive of a top three finish while Swans missed the chance to stay in the race of top spot.

Lewis Zolnier-Owens and Brayden Jones kicked three goals apiece for Swan Districts with Max Chipper collecting 26 possessions, Mitch Bain 24, Ben Hewett 22, Sam Fisher 22, Kane Hughes 21 and Matthew Germs 13 to go with 47 hit outs.