CLAREMONT has capped off two years of being the dominant team in the WAFL by winning its first premiership since 1996 with a 56-point victory over Subiaco at Patersons Stadium.
For the second straight season, Claremont won the minor premiership and qualified for the grand final following a big second semi-final victory, but on this occasion the Tigers put behind them the grand final losses of 2004, 05, 07 and last year to run out 19.13 (127) to 10.11 (71) winners.
Beau Wilkes was awarded the Simpson Medal for his five goals from nine strong marks in Claremont's forward-line. The premiership was also the perfect way for captain Clancy Rudeforth to call an end to his 170-game WAFL career.
Tom Swift picked up 29 possessions for Claremont to go with seven marks, five tackles and six inside-50 entries. Sandover Medallist Luke Blackwell had 28 disposals and eight entries inside-50.
Kane Mitchell hurt his ribs just before half-time, but fought his way through and picked up 27 touches and laid eight tackles.
Byron Schammer worked hard as well for 21 possessions, Jake Murphy (who came in to replace Jack Bradshaw who was best on ground in the reserves' win) 18 and Alroy Gilligan 17 to go with three goals.
Mitch Andrews dominated in the ruck with 47 hit outs and Ian Richardson and Trinity Handley kicked two goals apiece.
Subiaco put in a brave effort after qualifying for the grand final on the back of nine straight victories, but lost Clancy Wheeler in the first minute, Adam Cockie hurt his knee and Ben Randall his ankle before half-time.
While Wheeler and Cockie still came back on, they were clearly hampered and Randall didn’t return after half-time.
It was also the final game of the careers of Allistair Pickett and Des Headland, after ruckman Michael Rix also retired following hurting his knee in the first semi-final win over South Fremantle.
Jason Bristow was Subiaco's best all day in the midfield and compiled 30 possessions. Kyal Horsley picked up 23 touches with Headland and Bernie Naylor Medallist Blake Broadhurst kicking three goals. Pickett kicked two goals in his final game as well.
Rob Forrest had a good duel with Richardson in defence while Darren Rumble, Aidan Parker and Kane Bloxsidge all battled hard in an under siege back-line.
Claremont put its stamp on the contest early physically when Brett Jones nailed Wheeler with a big, but fair, bump that left the Subiaco ruckman in big strife and helped off the ground.
With Rix out with a knee injury, having Wheeler off inside the first minute was hardly the start the Lions were after. Claremont then got off to a good start on the scoreboard with the opening goal through Andrew Foster after he earned a free-kick.
Subiaco answered right back, though, and former AFL veteran and premiership player Headland snapped through two goals within two minutes to give life to the Lions' premiership assault.
Claremont gained control from that point on, though, and kicked the next three goals through Gilligan, Gerrick Weedon and Wilkes to open up a 12-point advantage.
Subiaco worked its way back into the contest and got a goal through pressure in the forward 50. However, Wilkes replied for Claremont as did Richardson on the siren after Pickett was able to get one out the back for Subiaco.
The Tigers led by 12 points at quarter-time and even though the Lions got the first goal of the second term though veteran Pickett when he soccered it through, Claremont took control from there.
Subiaco had no answer for Wilkes up forward and he took three more strong, contested marks to kick two more goals to have four for the half. Schammer and Handley also kicked goals for the Tigers as they opened up a 24-point advantage at the long break.
The Lions were down to 21-men after half-time with defender Randall off with ankle complaint and even though Wheeler bravely re-emerged, he was clearly still hampered from his big knock despite competing up forward.
The Lions did show signs of getting back into the contest during the third quarter and were just 20 points behind after Broadhurst goaled, but the Lions blew a chance at another when Pickett's kick that would have led to an open goal was 
smothered by Lewis Stevenson.
Wilkes went on to kick his fifth of the game and the Tigers led by 33 points at three quarter-time. While Broadhurst managed his third goal early in the last quarter, Claremont managed to put its stamp on the contest and the season with six final term goals.
Fittingly Crawford kicked the last goal before the siren ironically at the same time that he goaled late in last year's grand final that almost proved a winner before Andrew Krakouer's heroics. Gilligan then booted his third after the siren as Claremont won by 56 points.
CLAREMONT 6.3 10.7 13.12 19.13 (127)
SUBIACO 5.5 6.6 8.9 10.11 (71)
CLAREMONT – Goals: Wilkes 5; Gilligan 3; Rudeforth, Handley, Richardson 2; Crawford, Lee, Schammer, Weedon, Foster.
Best: Wilkes, Blackwell, Mitchell, Andrews, Gilligan, Swift.
SUBIACO – Goals: Broadhurst, Headland 3; Pickett 2; Kerr, Stevenson.
Best: Bristow, Horsley, Bloxsidge, Forrest, Headland, Kerr.
Simpson Medal: Beau Wilkes (Claremont).
