Swans-Claremont draw sets up rest of 2010 season

By Chris Pike

SWAN Districts' clash with Claremont at Steel Blue Oval didn’t disappoint on Saturday finishing in a thrilling draw with some standout performances for the black-and-whites from Andrew Krakouer, Michael Walters and the back-line.

Ever since Swans beat Claremont by 33 points back in Round 8, the WAFL world has been looking forward to the top-two sides doing battle once again and the match didn’t disappoint with the most physical and intense contest of the season to date.

Both sides would have went away feeling they had chances of winning, but in the end the draw leaves everyone salivating over the return clash at Claremont Oval in a fortnight and then the likely second semi-final meeting.

Dawson has no doubt it was a great spectacle for those in attendance at Steel Blue Oval, but it was just as intense in the coaches' box.

"I'm sure everyone in the crowd went away happy with the spectacle they had seen. It was a pretty torrid affair and both sides were going hammer and tongs at it," Dawson said.

The Swans Womens Football Team hits the big stage this week as they take on Balmain Football Club in the Curtain Raiser to the Fremantle Dockers & West Coast Eagles Derby at Subiaco, 12:20pm Sunday. 

‘This is a great opportunity for the Swan Districts Football Club to showcase our great young female football talent,’ Assistant Coach Angela Doyle said. ‘It gives our players a taste of what it’s like to play at the elite level.’

The Swan Districts Womens Division 1 team remains undefeated in this year’s competition. With only two games left in the home & away season they are looking forward to finals as they chase their first ever WAWFL Premiership.

‘Our focus continues to be on player development and building a strong female program for the years to come.’

Female football continues to grow in the Swans District with over 350 registered female junior, youth & open age players.

Swans too good for Thunder

Peel Thunder gave its best shot and led at half-time but Swan Districts piled on 16 goals to six in the second half to record a 58-point win at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium on Sunday.

The 25.14 (164) to 16.10 (106) win for Swan Districts keeps it in second spot on the ladder and Peel last following Saturday's results that saw East Perth beat East Fremantle by 53 points, West Perth down Subiaco by 50 and Claremont hold off Perth by 28.

Peel hit back hard kicking to the scoring end in the second quarter turning a 16-point quarter-time deficit into a one-point half-time advantage after a terrific term where the home side kicked eight goals to five.

However, Swans hit back hard in the third with eight goals to three, and then another eight to three in the last to run out comfortable 58-point winners ahead of next Saturday's clash with the league-leading Claremont.

West Coast's Tony Notte was dumped to the reserves after some poor form and kicked four goals meaning the forwards in the league side had to perform and they all did. Josh Pullman was the star with seven goals, while Justin Simpson added four and Tim Geappen three.