Round 24 WAFL ResultsSunday, September 1, 2013 - 1:16 AM - by Chris Pike

EAST Fremantle did what it needed to keep its finals door open on Saturday beating Claremont but Swan Districts and East Perth slammed it shut by winning themselves in the final round of the 2013 WAFL home and away season.

Five teams were still alive to play finals heading into Round 24 action but the equation was simple for Swan Districts and East Perth – win their games and they are in while a loss could mean they make way for East Fremantle if the Sharks were able to beat the Tigers.

East Fremantle did just that beating Claremont 13.9 (87) to 11.11 (77) at East Fremantle Oval but it counted for nothing in the end with Swan Districts downing West Perth 10.13 (73) to 7.13 (55) at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval and East Perth overcoming Subiaco 11.16 (82) to 8.15 (63) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

The only game in the final round that had no finals implications took place at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium and Perth finished over the top of South Fremantle to win 17.13 (115) to 13.13 (91).

The results mean that Claremont, West Perth, Swan Districts and East Perth make up the WAFL's top-four for 2013 with the Tigers and Falcons to meet on Sunday in the second semi-final with a grand final berth up for grabs, and Swans host the Royals at Steel Blue Oval with the winner to make the preliminary final and the loser eliminated.

Outside of the top-four for 2013 were East Fremantle, Perth, South Fremantle, Subiaco and Peel Thunder.

Swan Districts secured its home first semi-final with a hard fought 18-point victory over the second-placed West Perth in difficult conditions at Steel Blue Oval.

Swans held a slender lead for the entire afternoon but could never break away from the Falcons leading by five points at quarter-time, seven at half-time and nine at three quarter-time, but early last quarter goals put the result beyond doubt for the black-and-whites.

Tim Geappen was terrific up forward for Swans with 15 possessions and three goals while Ryan Davis was outstanding with 18 disposals, eight tackles, five inside-50 entries and a goal. Dayle Garlett was also lively with 18 touches, five inside 50s and a goal.

Tony Notte worked hard as well for 19 touches and seven marks while Wayde Twomey gathered 25 possessions, Adam Faulkner 21, Blaine Boekhorst 21 and Kyle Hams 21 with Jamie Bennell leading the way as a small defender with 29 touches and nine marks.

West Perth had three prolific ball winners on the afternoon with Shane Nelson finishing with 42 possessions, Aaron Black 37 and Mark Hutchings 29 while Rohan Kerr kicked three goals from 20 disposals.

Shaun Marusic worked hard for the Falcons with 20 touches and six tackles while Steven Browne had 20 disposals and Ray Bartholomew 18.

East Perth then secured fourth position and a finals berth with a harder than expected 19-point win over Leederville co-tenants Subiaco.

Josh Smith returned after missing last week's loss to South Fremantle and kicked four goals for East Perth to secure the Bernie Naylor Medal as the league's leading goalkicker for 2013. Small forward Arthur Bennell also kicked three goals for the Royals.

Ruckman Paul Johnson was outstanding with 23 touches and 33 hit outs while Cale Morton picked up 30 possessions, Brendan Lee 27, Aaron Sweet 24 (in his 100th WAFL game), Mat Seal 21, Craig Wulff 21 and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls 19.

Nick Hay kicked his first two goals in league football with Subiaco to be the Lions' only multiple goalscorer on the day.

Captain Aidan Parker again worked tirelessly for 24 possessions, 10 marks, 15 hit outs and a goal with Brett Mahoney racking up 27 touches, George Hampson 26, Tristan Gum 21, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson 21, Daniel Leishman 20 and Charles Le Fanu 20.

Claremont started in dominant fashion with the first three goals of the game against East Fremantle, but the Sharks finished the first half with the last five goals to head into half-time with a three-point advantage.

It was a tight second half right the way through, but with the Tigers already looking forward to the second semi-final and the Sharks desperate to win to keep any hopes for finals alive, East Fremantle was the only team with something to play for and came away with the 10-point win.

James Depane, Brad Sheppard, Rob Young and Jack Perham all kicked two goals apiece for East Fremantle while Andrew Stephen was outstanding in defence with 17 possessions and six marks.

Captain Mark McGough racked up 35 possessions, Rory O'Brien 28, Richard Hadley 24, Aidan Tropiano 24, Scott Hancock 21 and Brad Cooper 20 while having a fascinating battle with Ian Richardson.

Richardson still kicked three goals for Claremont with Jack Bradshaw and Chad Jones adding two apiece.

Jake Murphy racked up another 29 possessions, Ryan Neates 25, Luke Blackwell 24, Andrew Foster 21 and Mark Seaby 18 to go with eight marks and 24 hit outs.

South Fremantle started on fire against Perth at Brownes Stadium racing out to a five-goal to nil advantage, but the Demons worked their way back into the contest and then kicked seven goals to two in the final term to end up winning by 24 points.

Brennan Stack kicked five goals from just eight kicks for Perth with Joel Leeson adding three goals in a tremendous performance to go with his 24 possessions.

Paul Bevan and Dene White also kicked two goals apiece for Perth with Kyle Reimers racking up 28 possessions, Brett Hodge 24, Daniel O'Sullivan 24 and Jackson Sketcher 21.

South Fremantle ruckman Sean Tighe was superb with 29 possessions, six marks, 36 hit outs and six inside-50 entries while Mitch Banner had 25 touches and kicked two goals.

Last year's Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders kicked another four goals for South Fremantle with second-gamer Blaine Johnson adding three and 298-game veteran Kris Miller two.

Adam Guglielmana finished with 24 disposals, Marlon Pickett 22, Ashton Hams 22, Dylan Ross 21, Warrick Andreoli 20, Nick Borovac 19, Adam McIntosh 19 and captain Ryan Cook 19.

ROUND 24 RESULTS
LEAGUE
Swan Districts 10.13 (73) defeated West Perth 7.13 (55)
East Perth 11.16 (82) defeated Subiaco 8.15 (63)
East Fremantle 13.9 (87) defeated Claremont 11.11 (77)
Perth 17.13 (115) defeated South Fremantle 13.13 (91)

RESERVES
Swan Districts 4.13 (37) lost to West Perth 5.13 (43)
East Perth 16.10 (116) defeated Subiaco 5.13 (33)
East Fremantle 9.5 (59) lost to Claremont 10.12 (72)
Perth 2.8 (20) lost to South Fremantle 16.15 (111)

COLTS
Swan Districts 10.9 (69) lost to West Perth 16.12 (108)
East Perth 9.4 (58) lost to Subiaco 10.12 (72)
East Fremantle 7.12 (54) lost to Claremont 9.7 (61)
Perth 12.6 (78) lost to South Fremantle 12.12 (84)