Round 23 Saturday WAFL ResultsSaturday, August 30, 2014 - 8:01 PM - by Chris Pike

THE last two WAFL premiers Claremont and West Perth might not be playing finals in 2014, but both farewelled retiring stars in style on Saturday to open the last round of the season with South Fremantle also continuing its winning run to close out the campaign.

Reigning premiers West Perth were farewelling star forward Anthony Tsalikis and defender Dan Hunt at Lathlain Park, and scored a thumping 21.18 (144) to 9.8 (62) win over Perth.

The 2011 and 2012 premiers Claremont was farewelling Luke Blackwell, Trinity Handley, Andrew Foster and Matt Orzel, and also did so in winning fashion knocking off the minor premiers East Perth 12.12 (84) to 11.11 (77) at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

Saturday's other Round 23 fixture saw South Fremantle beat Peel Thunder 14.20 (104) to 10.14 (74) at Fremantle Oval.

The round will conclude on Sunday at Medibank Stadium with the second-placed Subiaco hosting the third-placed East Fremantle.

West Perth might be disappointed to not be playing finals coming off last year's premiership, but at least finished 2014 off in convincing fashion thumping Perth by 82 points to hand the Demons a 14th consecutive loss to finish off the year with.

As well as Hunt and Tsalikis playing their final games for West Perth, Chris Keunen was scheduled to play his 150th for the club but was a late withdrawal with a severe migraine missing the chance to bring up his milestone, and play in the farewell appearances for his long-time teammates.

However, Hunt and Tsalikis certainly made sure they enjoyed their last appearances in the WAFL kicking four goals apiece and that's par for the course for one of them, but very much a surprise for the other.

Coming into the game, Tsalikis had kicked 332 goals in his career and needed one more to become outright third on West Perth's all-time goalkicking list and he achieved that comfortably booting four majors from 31 possessions and 13 marks.

Hunt, though, had kicked just two goals in his 168 previous matches but went forward from the second quarter onwards and despite a couple of close calls, ended up kicking four final quarter goals to take his career tally to six.

Marcus Adams also booted four goals for the Falcons, Steve Potente three and Seva Martin two.

West Perth finished the game with 475 disposals to just 290 from Perth with Shane Nelson leading the way with an incredible 52 possessions, 12 marks and eight inside-50 entries.

Aaron Black also had 39 disposals and 18 marks, Rohan Kerr 38 touches and 15 marks, Potente 24 possessions and Laine Rasmussen 24, Matt Guadagnin 23, Kris Shannon 21 and Ray Bartholomew 21.

It was a disappointing way for Perth to end a horror season with Callum Collard kicking three goals and Aidan Tropiano collecting 29 possessions, Michael Florio 24, Dene White 22 and Michael Sinclair 22.

Experienced defenders Jared Risol and Nick Kane also announced that it would be their last games with the Demons.

Claremont might not have been a chance to make finals still, but the Tigers have been in scintillating form in the second half of the season and also had the motivation to send off greats of the club in Blackwell, Handley, Foster and Orzel with a victory.

The task ahead of them was the minor premiers East Perth so it wasn’t going to be easy, but the Tigers got off to scorching start with seven goals to one in the opening quarter to at one stage lead by as much as 41 points.

However, the Royals were always going to hit back and kicked the only four goals of the second term to be within 16 points at the main break, and then it was a tight second half throughout but it was Claremont to hold on for a thrilling seven-point victory.

Blackwell was once again outstanding for Claremont in his final appearance finishing with 27 possessions while Handley had 19 to go with seven marks and three goals. Foster finished with 14 touches and a goal, and Orzel 11 disposals and a goal.

Jack Bradshaw also booted three goals for the Tigers, Mitch McGovern two and Mark Seaby two to go with 17 possessions and 29 hit outs.

Ryan Neates also gathered 26 disposals, Jake Murphy 24, Matthew Davies 23, Corey Yeo 21 and Ben Daniher 20.

East Perth was always going to finish on top of the ladder no matter the result but there was still finals positions to play for individuals so there was plenty at stake.

Jackson Slater and Steven Wityk kicked two goals each for the Royals while Steven Payne gathered 28 possessions, Dean Cadwallader 23, Brendan Lee 22 and Freddie Clutterbuck 21. Ruckman Paul Johnson finished with 18 disposals and 22 hit outs.

South Fremantle finished its season off with five straight wins but had to bounce back from conceding the first four goals of the match against Peel before dominating the last quarter with six goals to two to end up winning by 30 points.

Ben Saunders kicked another five goals for the Bulldogs to just about 100 per cent guarantee his second Bernie Naylor Medal in three years while Haiden Schloithe, Shaun Bewick and Josh Pullman all kicked two goals each.

Ashton Hams had another day out for South Fremantle with 33 possessions and seven tackles while Adam Guglielmana racked up 28 disposals, Toby Bairstow 26, Tim Kelly 24, Brendan Verrier 23, Bewick 22 and Schloithe 20. 

Michael Apeness kicked three goals for Peel and Kristin Thornton two, but the Thunder's task of winning was made all the tougher with Clancee Pearce and Anthony Morabito off injured after half-time.

Matt de Boer did all he could do earn a call up for Fremantle during the AFL finals with 35 possessions for Peel while Brendon Jones finished with 32 disposals, Jacob Ballard 30, Eddie Dann 28, Tom Sheridan 24 and Jonathon Griffin 20 to go with 28 hit outs.

ROUND 23 WAFL RESULTS
LEAGUE
East Perth 11.11 (77) lost to Claremont 12.12 (84)
South Fremantle 14.20 (104) defeated Peel Thunder 10.14 (74)
Perth 9.8 (62) lost to West Perth 21.18 (144)

RESERVES    
East Perth 6.6 (42) lost to Claremont 16.8 (104)
South Fremantle 18.13 (121) defeated Peel Thunder 12.7 (79)
Perth 8.7 (55) lost to West Perth 18.13 (121)

COLTS
East Perth 4.3 (27) lost to Claremont 13.22 (100)
South Fremantle 21.10 (136) defeated Peel Thunder 3.9 (27)
Perth 5.4 (34) lost to West Perth 15.13 (103)