Claremont withstand brave Swans fightback to win back-to-back WAFLW flagsSunday, August 24, 2025 - 4:47 PM - by Jordan McArdle

Claremont are the queens of the WAFLW once again after withstanding a strong fightback from Swan Districts to prevail by one point in Sunday’s stunning Grand Final at Mineral Resources Park.

The Tigers made it back-to-back WAFLW premiership and their third in four years, prevailing 3.6 (24) to 3.5 (23) over a fast-finishing Black Ducks in front of nearly 3000 supporters who braved the tough conditions.

Swan Districts had a shot from the boundary to win it in the final minute but it went across the face of goal and missed everything as Claremont held on in an epic finish to a finals series which had a total margin of just five points across four games.

Two-time Dhara Kerr medallist Jayme Harken added a second Lou Knitter Medal to her ever-growing trophy resume after a best-afield performance through the midfield.

Harken finished with 20 disposals, a staggering 18 tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s to lead the Tigers to victory alongside midfield partner in crime Matilda Sergeant (21 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances and a goal).

 

 

 

 

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Harken and Sergeant finished with six votes apiece in the Lou Knitter Medal with the field umpires’ three votes to Harken the tie breaker.

Young gun Juliet Kelly (18 disposals and eight tackles) did her AFLW draft chances no harm with an important performance, while Mackenzie Webb was solid as a rock in defence.

Top-10 AFLW draft prospect Carys D’Addario (25 disposals and nine tackles) was Swan Districts’ best alongside fellow midfielder Jaime Henry who laid a whopping 22 tackles to go with as many disposals, with classy goalsneak Summer Yarran providing a spark up forward with three goals.

It was a low-scoring affair to start in slippery conditions after a pre-game downpour.

Swan Districts missed a few first-quarter chances, with Claremont skipper Rachel Ortlepp delivering the first goal of the contest in a massive moment.

The Tigers did the bulk of the attacking to finish the first term and held onto a four-point quarter-time buffer as Harken ran riot with nine disposals and three clearances.

Quick thinking from Sarah Viney provided the Tigers’ second goal shortly after the break as the minor premiers stretched their advantage to 10 points.

 

 

 

 

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D’Addario, who was best afield in last Sunday’s Preliminary Final, started to swing the momentum in Swan Districts’ favour with a strong second quarter in the midfield.

Yarran was the beneficiary of the Black Ducks’ midfield resurgence, converting a close-range free-kick to cut the margin back to seven points at half-time with D’Addario up to a team-high 12 disposals and game-high six clearances to go with five tackles.

D’Addario’s pinpoint delivery inside 50 midway through the third term resulted in Yarran’s second goal, a brilliant set shot from 40m out, as the underdogs continued their charge.

Claremont’s lead was cut back to just one point before a clutch snap from former Docker Matilda Sergeant in the dying seconds of the third term made it a seven-point game with a quarter to play.

It was a one of several team-lifting efforts from Sergeant who was up to 18 disposals and a whopping 12 tackles by three-quarter time.

Yarran was it at once again to start the final term, booting her third to reduce the deficit to a solitary point.

That was the only goal of a heart-stopping last quarter as Claremont held on for a memorable victory under immense pressure.

In the Hart Sport Rogers Cup decider, West Perth made it a hat-trick of premierships with an 18-point victory over Claremont.

Falcons young gun Tayah Nicholson won the best-on-ground medallion after an impressive display.

WAFLW Grand Final scoreboard

Claremont 1.1 2.4 3.6 3.6 (24)

Swan Districts 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.5 (23)

GOALS – Claremont: S Viney, M Sergeant, R Ortlepp. Swan Districts: S Yarran 3.

BEST – Claremont: J Harken, M Sergeant, M Webb, J Kelly, S Viney. Swan Districts: C D’Addario, S Yarran J Henry, E Gelmi, S Adjuk.

Umpires: A Cooper, E Moles, C Giglia-Smith

Crowd: 2920 at Mineral Resources Park