Swan Districts win 2014 WAFL colts premiershipSunday, September 21, 2014 - 12:08 PM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts was the best team in the WAFL colts all season and prevailed over Claremont in the grand final on Sunday morning at Patersons Stadium by 20 points, but the Tigers made them work for it.

Swans lost just two matches all season and then advanced straight to the grand final with a thrilling second semi-final win over Claremont before the Tigers advanced to the decider with a one-point nail-biting victory over South Fremantle in the preliminary final.

Swan Districts led all day in the grand final, though, kicking four goals into the breeze in the opening quarter and then dominating the last term with the advantage of the wind and in the driving rain to end up winning 11.9 (75) to 7.13 (55).

The triumph is Swan Districts' first premiership at any level since the 2010 league flag while it is Swans' first colts premiership since back-to-back successes in 2007 and 2008.

The grand final loss for Claremont means that the Tigers will be without a premiership in any grade for the first time since 2008. Claremont won colts premierships in 2009 and 2013, reserves flags in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and league premierships in 2011 and 2012.

Jason Daniels was outstanding for Swan Districts and was awarded the Mel Whinnen Medal for best afield for his 26 possessions.

Chad Daniels also had 19 disposals to go with his two goals for Swans with Sean Fletcher, John Shaw and Rob Mostert all kicking two goals apiece.

Jack Clarke Medal winner Albert Dean finished with 19 possessions, 11 tackles and five clearances as well while Ethan Maguire had 18 touches, five clearances and five inside 50s.

Levi Ridley also had 18 disposals and seven tackles with Jacob Coniglio finishing with 17 possessions.

Alec Waterman was outstanding for Claremont particularly in the second half finishing with 24 possessions, nine clearances, seven tackles and five inside-50 entries.

Jared Hardisty also was terrific for the Tigers with 26 possessions, eight clearances and six tackles.

Harrison McCracken kicked two goals for Claremont while Ryan Lim had 20 possessions, Sam Petrevski-Seton 20, Bailey Rogers 18 and Sam Humphry 16.

Claremont had the advantage of the breeze in the first quarter and did have the most opportunities, but couldn’t capitalise kicking just three goals from their seven shots while at the other end Swan Districts was able to kick four straight goals to turn at quarter-time ahead by two points.

Swans then had the breeze in the second quarter and piled on four more goals while the Tigers managed just the one with the black-and-whites opening up a handy 18-point half-time advantage.

Claremont then lifted with the aid of the breeze in the third quarter and with Waterman in particularly lifting the Tigers through the middle, they found their way back into the contest.

Twice Claremont got within 10 points during the third term but goals to Fletcher and Mostert for Swans steadied them on both occasions.

However, when McCracken booted his second goal of the quarter in style with a snap from out near the boundary the Tigers were within 10 points again and then eight by three quarter-time.

Swans had the advantage of the breeze, but the rain was coming down heavy by that point making conditions difficult for both sides to keep possession of the ball and create goal scoring chances.

However, the combination of the wind and rain made things too difficult for Claremont in the final quarter with Swan Districts dominating term with the only seven scoring shots.

That only resulted in one goal courtesy of Shaw, but in the end that was enough to secure the 20-point victory and the premiership.

SWAN DISTRICTS        4.0    8.1    10.3    11.9    (75)
CLAREMONT            3.4    4.7    7.13    7.13    (55)

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: C Daniels, Fletcher, Shaw, Mostert 2; Whitsed, Murray, Ansey.
Best: J Daniels, C Daniels, Fletcher, Dean, Maguire, Ridley, Coniglio.
CLAREMONT – Goals: McCracken 2; Petrevski-Seton, Prendiville, Court, Gajewski, Bevan.
Best: Waterman, Hardisty, Lim, Petrevski-Seton, Humphry, Rogers.

MEL WHINNEN MEDAL – Jason Daniels (Swan Districts)