Round 14 WAFLW Match Report – Claremont Tigers vs Swan Districts:

By Sebastian Hasluck

Match Day Reporter

Claremont ended Swan Districts' seven-game winning streak in a dominant fashion, securing the 2023 minor premiership with two rounds remaining in the season.

The highly anticipated Sunday afternoon clash between the two top teams in the competition was fiercely contested from the opening bounce.

Claremont started the game with great hunger, quickly establishing a lead through their strong performance in the midfield. Their efficient offensive system, led by Adele Arnup, who kicked three goals, proved to be the key difference in the match.

The Tigers got off to a hot start, kicking the first two goals of the game. However, Swan Districts, equally determined, responded with two goals of their own in the second quarter, narrowing the margin to eight points by halftime.

With the game hanging in the balance, it was Claremont who showed their resilience and determination in the second half. With Kate Orme delivering a standout performance, leading by example and winning crucial possessions in pivotal moments.

The final score line saw Claremont triumph with a convincing 5.7 (37) to 2.4 (16) victory. This win took their season tally to 11 victories, an insurmountable lead for any other team. As a result, Claremont secured the minor premiership for 2023, granting them the best possible position heading into the upcoming finals series.

While the job is not finished yet, the Tigers can take pride in their highly competitive performance throughout the home and away season, as evidenced by their deserved minor premiership triumph.

Despite the unfavorable ruck matchup, Claremont's midfield was able to overpower Swan Districts' midfield with their excellent ball use and extensive sharing of disposals.

In today's match, Kate Orme led from the front, with Jayme Harken and Sarah Garstone assisting her with their ball winning ability. These three were frequently involved in moving the ball into the 50-meter arc. Today's strategy seems to be centred around getting the ball on the outside and trust these three midfielders with their running ability to stream down the wing.

Rachel Ortlepp was especially remarkable today, with her sprinting ability, allowing her to often run it inside 50 and hit up a player in the forward line. Capitalising on her speed and agility, Ortlepp swiftly kicked a goal on the run, adding to her impressive inside 50 tally and becoming one of the three goal scorers for Claremont in today's match.

Orme had an outstanding performance, tallying 25 disposals, 2 marks, and 3 inside 50s. Whilst Harken won heavily contested ball with 23 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, and 4 inside 50s. Similarly, Garstone had a solid performance with 22 disposals, 4 marks, and 4 tackles.

Making a remarkable debut, Bec Anderson had an outstanding game. While her goal undoubtedly stood out as the highlight, her seamless transition into league footy was equally impressive.

Despite the dominance of the more experienced Swan Districts ruck, Lauren Quaife, in the hitouts, Anderson showcased her ability to find the ball with 14 disposals. Notably, she excelled in manoeuvring through traffic and displayed exceptional skills by capping off a smooth Claremont chain with a goal.

Returning to her peak form, Adele Arnup displayed her exceptional accuracy in front of the goals by kicking three goals straight. Benefiting from excellent delivery from her midfielders, Arnup made significant contributions at crucial stages of the match, effectively putting Swan Districts at bay.

With her impressive performance, Arnup now shares the top spot on the 2023 goalkicking tally with Swan Districts' Courtney Zappara, who was stationed at the opposite end of the ground and failed to find the goals in today's game.

With two weeks remaining, the race for the title of the most impactful and damaging forward promises to be highly competitive between the two players.

Claremont is set to host another home game this Saturday, following the Rogers game, with a scheduled 2pm timeslot. Their opponents will be West Perth, currently placed sixth on the ladder, desperately striving to maintain a slim chance of keeping their season alive.

Having convincingly defeated the Falcons in their previous three matchups, Claremont aims to replicate their success once again. Whilst West Perth fights to keep their improbable season alive Claremont will tighten up their game and hopefully treat their supporters to a dominant performance.

Claremont Goal Scorers:

Adele Arnup (3), Rachel Ortlepp, Bec Anderson

Claremont Best:

Kate Orme, Rachel Ortlepp, Jayme Harken, Bec Anderson, Sarah Garstone, Adele Arnup