Bulldogs lose preliminary final by a point

CLAREMONT and South Fremantle played out a classic WAFL colts preliminary final on Sunday morning in a rematch of last year’s grand final with the Tigers holding on to win a thriller by a point.

Claremont beat South Fremantle by six points in a thrilling WAFL colts grand final in 2013 and the two again met on Sunday in the preliminary final for the right to meet Swan Districts in next Sunday’s grand final at Patersons Stadium.

South Fremantle finished the home and away season in third position but qualified for the preliminary final by beating East Perth in the first semi-final also at Medibank Stadium.

Claremont, meanwhile, lost another tight contest in the second semi-final against Swan Districts with the Tigers now having the chance to win back-to-back colts premierships while the Bulldogs missed the opportunity to qualify for a fourth consecutive grand final.

Little separated the two teams right throughout the game with the Tigers leading by six points at quarter-time on the back of a three-goal to two opening term.

Claremont then booted four goals to three in the second quarter with the Tigers opening up a 14-point advantage by half-time.

However, the Bulldogs closed that gap with three goals to one in the third quarter to be within four points of the Tigers at three quarter-time.

It was then a nail-biting finish despite two goals to open the final quarter by Claremont giving the Tigers a handy advantage after a crucial goal from a 50-metre penalty.

South Fremantle wasn’t done with yet, though, despite time running out.

South Fremantle got one goal back to get within eight points with a terrific kick from Callum Ah Chee deep in the pocket and then with less than a minute left on the clock, Kade Stewart kicked a goal from a set shot straight in front and the margin was one solitary point.

However, by the time the ball was bounced there was only time for South Fremantle to grab the ball from the middle and get a mark inside the forward 50.

That was the aim anyway but there was a centre square infringement paid against South Fremantle and then time expired and the siren sounded with Claremont recording the one-point victory to book in a grand final contest with Swan Districts next Sunday.

West Coast’s likely father-son pick Alec Waterman led from the front for Claremont finishing with 24 possessions, nine clearances and a goal.

Jared Hardisty also finished with 24 touches, eight clearances and eight inside 50s for the Tigers while Nick Reid had 22 disposals and Ryan Lim 20.

Sam Bevan kicked three goals from 16 possessions and eight marks with Harrison Court also booting three majors for Claremont.

Ruckman Billy Frampton did all he could for South Fremantle finishing with 18 possessions, eight marks and 31 hit outs.

Jarrod Pickett, Stewart and Alex Robinson all kicked two goals each for South Fremantle with Pickett adding 23 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and five clearances, Stewart 18 possessions and Robinson 13 to go with seven inside 50s.

Bailey Matera also picked up 22 possessions for South Fremantle, Matthew Ah Siu 21 and Braden Fimmano 20.

COLTS PRELIMINARY FINAL
CLAREMONT            3.2    7.6    8.11    11.14    (80)
SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.2    5.4    8.7    11.13    (79)

CLAREMONT – Goals: Bevan, Trickey 3; Waterman, Prendiville, Gajewski, Jones, Watson.
Best: Waterman, Bevan, Hardisty, Reid, Lim, McCracken, Prendiville.
SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Robinson, Stewart, Pickett 2; Loersch, Florenca, Salmon, Ah Chee, Dragovich.
Best: Frampton, Pickett, Ah Siu, Matera, Garlett, Robinson, Stewart.