CLAREMONT wrapped up the minor premiership for 2012 with a big win over Subiaco in Round 24 of the WAFL on Saturday with Swan Districts, East Fremantle and West Perth also recording victories.Claremont finish the 2012 season as minor premiers for the third straight season after beating Subiaco 23.13 (151) to 7.8 (50) at Claremont Oval.
Swan Districts secured second spot with a 14.16 (100) to 12.9 (81) win over Perth at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium with East Fremantle beating Peel 18.15 (123) to 10.9 (69) at Bendigo Bank Stadium and West Perth downing East Perth 14.14 (98) to 12.12 (84) at Medibank Stadium.
Claremont came out on fire against Subiaco with seven goals in the first 18 minutes and that set up the eventual 101-point victory that sees the Tigers finish the season on top of the ladder with a 15-5 record.
Kane Mitchell was outstanding all day for Claremont finishing with 35 possessions and three goals while Jake Murphy picked up 34 disposals, Luke Blackwell 26 and Andrew Browne 24. Ian Richardson kicked five goals, Tom Lee four and Rory Walton three.
The 101-point defeat for Subiaco was equal with its loss to East Fremantle in Round 16, 1998 and is the Lions' biggest loss since a 128-point defeat to the Sharks in Round 14, 1997.
Third-gamer Dominic Sheed worked hard for Subiaco with 21 possessions and two goals with Brant Chambers booting three and Joseph Daye, Darren Rumble and Antoni Grover particularly strong workers in defence.
West Perth got the early jump on East Perth and maintained that advantage all day despite a strong finish from the Royals. The Falcons led by 41 points at three quarter-time, and even though the Royals booted six goals to one in the last term, West Perth still ran out 14-point winners.
West Perth couldn’t make finals, though, and finishes its season on a 9-10 record with one draw.
Dual Simpson Medallist and premiership player Brent LeCras kicked 1.4 in the last game of his decorated career for the Falcons with Jason Salecic, Mark Hutchings, Matt Guadagnin and Quinten Lynch all kicking two goals each. Hutchings picked up 34 disposals and Shane Nelson 30.
It was a tough way for East Perth to gear up for its finals campaign next week against East Fremantle, but the Royals were without Josh Smith, Michael Swan, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Kyle Anderson.
Garry Moss spent much of the game forward and booted five goals with Jayden Pitt adding two and Aaron Sweet gathering 27 disposals.
Perth started brightly against Swan Districts leading by four points at quarter-time, but Swans had gained the ascendancy just by half-time and while they never could fully shake the Demons, they ran out 19-point winners.
Swans now head into the finals from second position with a double chance but will still be sweating on the fitness of gun full forward Ash Hansen after he didn’t take his place in the side against the Demons due to tightness in his hamstring.
In his absence, Murray Newman returned to kick three goals with Marlon Motlop, Tony Notte, Ray Daniels and Adam McKinlay adding two apiece. Wingmen Shaun Hildebrandt and Tom Roach both racked up 28 possessions each with Adam Faulkner, Wayde Twomey and Josh Roberts collecting 25.
Perth finishes its season in eighth position with a 6-14 record following the 19-point loss to Swans. Fraser McInnes, Michael Edwards, Simon Tunbridge and Nick Lower all kicked two goals for the Demons with West Coast's Ashley Smith picking up 28 possessions.
East Fremantle geared up for its home first semi-final next week against East Perth with a 54-point victory over Peel at Bendigo Bank Stadium.
The Sharks kicked 4.5 to nothing in the first quarter and even though Peel did well to kick six goals to three in the third, East Fremantle finished strongly with six goals to two in the final term to run out 54-point winners.
Veteran Leith Teakle kicked four goals with 19 possessions and 12 marks for East Fremantle after announcing that he will be retiring at season's end. Brad Dick also kicked three goals for the Sharks with Russell Gabriel playing his best game of the season with 26 possessions and 23 hit outs.
Brad Holmes kicked three goals for Peel with Jamason Daniels and Kristin Thornton adding two each. Captain Brendon Jones racked up 28 possessions.
