THIS weekend saw the second part of the split round conclude with the top two teams returning to competitive action after a week off in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Colts. Despite just the two games being played, there were plenty of storylines to come from the fixtures.

WAFL Colts wrap – Round 10:

Peel Thunder 15.8 (98) defeated South Fremantle 7.8 (50)

A six-goal to one opening term blitz was the catalyst behind Peel Thunder’s 48-point victory against South Fremantle on Saturday evening, which saw the Mandurah based club record their seventh win of the season.

The home team have built their success in 2019 on an even spread of contributors and once again this was a key factor with eleven goalkickers on the evening, icluding six multiple goal scorers and six players amassing 20 disposals or more. Jack Sears led the way with 28 disposals, five marks and four inside 50s while Isiah Winder kicked two goals to go along with 27 disposals six marks and three inside 50s. The work-rate of Andrew Buttler was certainly noticeable with eight tackles to go along with 10 disposals, three inside 50s and one goal.

South Fremantle did manage to win the second and fourth quarters, but the damage was well and truly done in the first and third terms when they were outscored by 12 goals to two. Ira Jetta was a shining light with 18 disposals, three inside 50s and two goals.

Claremont 5.11 (41) defeated Swan Districts 5.8 (38)

Claremont proved once again to be the fly in the ointment of the top two sides after inflicting the first defeat on Swan Districts for 2019 with a thrilling three-point win over the Black and Whites at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday morning.

The Tigers have had a topsy-turvy campaign to date and after four games were languishing with a 1-3 record. A sterling come from behind win over the previously unbeaten Peel Thunder in round six seemed to be a catalyst and they have managed to gain considerable confidence from that victory and with this win over Swans, they now sit half a game inside the top five.

The game itself didn’t reach any great heights, but as a contest it was gripping with the margin not exceeding eight points throughout the four quarters. This season Swan Districts have built their success on a dominant 30 minutes of football where they have just left their opponents in their wake. However in this game, the Tigers did not let their opponents get away in any sense. The home team held a slender three point lead at the long break, but Claremont had their most productive quarter in an attacking sense during the third term, kicking 3.3 to 2.2 to take a four-point lead into the last term.

Swan Districts still would have fancied their chances with one quarter remaining, but Claremont defended for their lives, handing Swan Districts only their second goalless quarter of the season to date. While the Tigers also were unable to put the ball between the big sticks, they wouldn’t have cared one bit as they picked up their fourth win for 2019.

Callum Jamieson was a colossal figure for the Tigers in this game where he collected 18 disposals, eight tackles, seven marks and 39 hit-outs. Fremantle NGA candidate Joel Western continued his impressive season with 25 disposals and five tackles, while Jye Clark kept up his accumulating ways with 28 disposals, eight tackles and four inside 50s. The big guns for Swans still managed to have a sustained impact with Ethan Nordahl (29 disposals and six tackles), Brenton Hilton (28 disposals and five marks) and Kade Wallrodt (23 disposals, 7 marks and a goal) all contributing.

With the defeat, The Black and Whites lead Peel only on percentage (9.8%) and their much awaited first meeting of the season is looming on the horizon in two weeks time. Before that, Swans face another stern challenge against third placed West Perth on Saturday and after controlling a great majority of their round four encounter before falling just short in the final term, the Falcons will certainly not be lacking any confidence.