WAFLW ROUND 11 V CLAREMONT REVIEW

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.5 (23) lost to CLAREMONT 8.4 (52)

Claremont stamped its authority on the top-of-the-table clash with South Fremantle kicking the game’s opening five goals to set up the eventual 29-point victory.

Claremont and South Fremantle both came into the contest in scintillating form with the Tigers having the chance to further consolidate their hold on top spot while the Bulldogs had the chance to heat up the race for the minor premiership.

The Tigers put their foot down from the outset on Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Community Bank Oval and kicked the only four goals of the first quarter while holding the Bulldogs to just the one behind.

South Fremantle hit back with three goals in the second term, but that would be the only goals they kicked for the game with Claremont running out 8.4 (52) to 3.5 (23) victors.

What it does for Claremont is virtually lock up the minor premiership with the Tigers now sitting clear in top spot with nine wins and a draw.

South Fremantle stays second but is now two games and a huge percentage behind Claremont while still a game and-a-half clear of the third placed Swan Districts.

Rachel Ortlepp has spent most of the season across half-back for Claremont but she spent more time forward on Saturday and it proved a masterstroke by coach Jack Schwarze. She ended up kicking two goals to go with 12 possessions and five marks.

Jacinta Valentini also kicked two goals for the Tigers as did Georgia Webb from her two kicks for the afternoon.

Jayme Harken continued her standout form in the midfield for Claremont finishing with 24 possessions, four marks and four tackles.

Matilda Sergeant also gathered 20 disposals for the Tigers, Claire Ortlepp 17, Andie Payne 16, Kobi Nichols 13, Ella Slocombe 12 and Sarah Viney 12 to go with six tackles.

Molly O’Hehir kicked two of the three goals for South Fremantle on the day with Zoe Huggett the other goal scorer to go with her 12 touches, nine hit outs and four marks.

Ariana Hetherington has been such a revelation this season crossing from being the Rockingham Flames captain in the NBL1 West to leading the ruck at South Fremantle. She had another 14 touches, 27 hit outs, five tackles, three marks and three inside-50 entries.

Charlie Wicksteed also had 12 disposals for the Bulldogs, Lauren Vecchio 11, Kloe Bassett 10 and Kahra Sprlyan nine along with two tackles and two inside 50s.

The two top teams in the competition came into the game in impressive form with Claremont trying to all but secure first place and South Fremantle to stay in the hunt, and it was the Tigers who had the better of the start at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Claremont kicked the game’s first goal in just over two minutes thanks to Adele Arnup before Jacinta Valentini added another in the seventh minute. Valentini added another just before quarter-time as did Rachel Ortlepp.

Those four goals to one behind from South Fremantle gave Claremont the blistering opening in the battle of the WAFLW’s top two teams.

The Tigers then also kicked the first goal of the second quarter through Eva O’Donnell and they had the first five goals on the board to have made quite the statement away from home.

South Fremantle steadied from there and had a terrific four-minute period of kicking three goals including the first two from Molly O’Hehir. Zoe Huggett soon added another and the Bulldogs had cut the Tigers lead back to 11 points.

Claremont did close the half with a steadying goal to Georgia Webb and that saw the reigning premiers leading by 18 points at the major break.

There were only two scores between the two teams in the third quarter and they were a goal to Claremont for Ortlepp and then a behind for South Fremantle to Huggett which meant the Tigers were still 23 points on top by three quarter-time.

Claremont would go on to kick the only goal in the final quarter as well and that was from Webb at the 15-minute mark with the Tigers securing the 29-point win to all but guarantee the minor premiership for 2023.