IN the final round of the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Colts competition, Claremont defeated Swan Districts by one point at Leederville Oval.

In next week’s first finals, Claremont will take on West Perth, while Swan Districts will now take on East Perth in what is shaping up to be a terrific finals series.

Claremont’s Cameron Anderson, Jye Clark, Anthony Davis, Liam Henry, Harry Saggers and Leno Thomas did not partake in the game, while for Swan Districts, Matthew Brock, Dylan Brockbernd, Jermarl Daly, Atem Deng, Riley Garcia, and Zane Trew did not play.

Despite these gun prospects being absent, a host of other players stood tall throughout the game, with the best highlighted below.

CLAREMONT:

#5 Ronin O’Connor

Stationed on the half-back flank, O’Connor was excellent for the Tigers. Behind the play, O’Connor was setting up his fellow defenders, and when the ball was in his area, he attacked it with vigour and intent. His skills off half-back were also solid as he was able to set up plenty of forward opportunities for his team. He finished with 13 possessions, three marks, three clearances, two tackles and two rebounds.

#8 Jack Buller

The Christ Church Grammar student was exceptional at centre half-back for the Tigers. He was aggressive in the aerial contest, always competed strongly when the ball was in his vicinity and he was neat with his kicking skills. He finished with 12 possessions, three marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and two rebounds.

#9 Nicholas Crump

The two-time WA U15s MVP and dual U15s All-Australian put together his best outing for the Tigers this year. Against the Swans, Crump accumulated 13 possessions, took four marks, produced four one-percenters, recorded two inside 50s and two rebounds in a lively performance.

#12 Joel Western

The Fremantle Next-Generation Academy member showed why he is such a highly rated prospect for next year’s draft with a sizzling display. He accumulated 27 possessions, took six marks, won five clearances, recorded five inside 50s and three rebounds. He used his speed and his skills to penetrate the Swans’ defensive zones and set up plenty of attacking opportunities for the Tigers. The highlight of Western’s game came in the third quarter when he took a strong contested pack mark.

#14 Jack Cooley

The 2016 WA U15s State Schoolboys’ representative was phenomenal in the midfield for the Tigers. He accumulated 19 possessions, won seven clearances, recorded three inside 50s, laid two tackles and kicked a goal in brilliant performance. The highlight of his game came in the third quarter, when he received a handball from Charlie Malone, and then banged through a goal from beyond 50 metres out. As a big-bodied inside midfielder, Cooley may receive interest as a rookie or late national selection.

#16 Anthony Davis

The former AFL-AIS Academy member was excellent on the half-back line for the Tigers. He finished with 17 possessions, four marks, three tackles and three inside 50s in an exceptional performance. His positioning, skills and decision-making were all features of his game.

#25 Callum Jamieson

The North Beach junior was excellent for the Tigers, using his smarts in the ruck to give his midfielders first use of the ball. He gathered 20 possessions, won 24 hit-outs, took nine marks, won two clearances and recorded two rebounds. He is shaping up to be a rising tall prospect in this year’s AFL Draft pool.

#27 Charlie Malone

The Scarborough junior continued his excellent form for the Tigers with another dominant display, this time against Swan Districts. Against the Black Ducks, Malone accumulated 12 possessions, recorded five inside 50s, took three marks and kicked three goals in a lively performance. He finished the year second to Peel’s Ben Middleton for the WAFL Colts Leading Goalkicker Award.

#29 Jake Willson

Playing off a wing, Willson provided plenty of run-and-carry for the Tigers, linking up well between defence and attack. In this accomplished outing, he accumulated 16 possessions, recorded four inside 50s, took three marks, laid three tackles and kicked a goal.

#38 Isaiah Butters

The Fremantle Next-Generation Academy member was lively for the Tigers rotating between the wing and the forward line. He accumulated nine possessions, laid five tackles, took four marks, recorded two inside 50s and kicked a goal. The highlight of his game came in the final quarter when he nailed a goal from 45 metres out on a tight angle that put the Tigers up by seven points with just a couple of minutes remaining in the game.

SWAN DISTRICTS:

#1 Kade Wallrodt

The South Bunbury product was powerful in the midfield for the Swans, racking up 24 possessions, taking five marks, recording four rebounds, laying three tackles, recording three inside 50s and winning two clearances in a masterful performance.

#7 Ben Taylor

The younger brother of GWS’ rising star Sam Taylor, Ben was rock solid in defence for the Swans, thwarting a host of the Tigers’ attacking entries. He finished with 12 possessions, five one-percenters, three tackles, two rebounds and two marks.

#11 Ashley Brockbernd

The 2017 WA U16s State Academy member was excellent in the midfield for the Swans, often throwing his body into stoppages to win the hard ball for his team. He accumulated 19 possessions, won seven clearances, recorded five inside 50s, laid five tackles and kicked a goal in a sensational performance. Late in the second quarter, Brockbernd snapped through a goal that extended Swans’ lead by 17 points.

#16 Max Chipper

The 2019 WA U16s State Academy member showed he has the potential to be a gun prospect for the 2021 AFL Draft. Against the Tigers, Chipper accumulated 17 possessions, took four marks, recorded two rebounds and laid two tackles while playing off a wing. His kicking is a real feature of his game as he is able penetrate the opposition’s defensive zones with his skills.

#18 Jake Pasini

The National Combine invitee showed why he is considered to be one of the best key defenders with a sensational display against the Tigers. He was very strong with his spoils and was very strong with his overhead marking. When rebounding out of defensive 50, Pasini was always cool, calm and composed even under duress and he always spotted up the best option coming out of defence. He finished with 22 possessions, nine rebound, five marks, and four one-percenters.

#24 Sebastian Bright

The High Wycombe junior was a brute in the midfield for the Swans, crashing-and-bashing his way through stoppages to get the ball to his outside runners. He accumulated an equal game-high 27 possessions, won a game-high eight clearances, recorded a game-high six inside 50s and laid seven tackles to arguably be his team’s best player.

#28 Jack Allen

The 2018 WA U16s State Academy member was a key focal point in attack for the Swans, with his leading patterns, and overhead marking both real features of his game. He gathered eight possessions, took four marks, won four hit-outs, and kicked two goals, showing plenty of promising signs.

#31 Ethan Nordahl

The South Bunbury junior was prolific in the midfield for the Black Ducks, often trying his best to win the hard ball for his team. He finished with 26 possessions, nine marks, three clearances, two tackles, two inside 50s, two rebounds and two goals. The highlight of his game came in the first quarter when he snapped through a goal out of a pack.

#59 Ty Sears

The 2018 WA U16s State Academy member was excellent on the half-back line for the Swans, providing plenty of energy from the defensive half. He collected 12 possessions, laid four tackles, took three marks, produced two one-percenters and recorded two rebounds.