WAFL Week 1 Finals RecapMonday, September 2, 2024 - 9:00 AM - by Chris Pike

SWAN Districts moved to within one win of a first Grand Final in 14 years with an impressive first up WAFL finals win on Saturday while Peel Thunder now hosts Claremont after the Tigers disposed of East Fremantle.

With East Perth having earned the week off having won the minor premiership at the end of the 2024 home and away season, the other four teams who qualified for finals were in action across the weekend.

In the end, Swan Districts won its way into the second semi-final against the Royals while Peel will have a second chance up against a Claremont team who were impressive in beating East Fremantle.

First up on the weekend was on Saturday afternoon at Lane Group Stadium and Peel made a fast start with five goals to three in the first quarter against Swan Districts with the advantage of the breeze.

From there Swan Districts took control with seven goals to two for the rest of the game to end up winning 10.5 (65) to 7.6 (48) for their first finals victory since 2017 to now be a chance of reaching a Grand Final for the first time since 2010.

Leigh Kohlmann kicked another four goals for Swan Districts with Brad Lynch and Jackson McLachlan adding two each.

Nik Rokahr racked up 33 possessions, Jye Chalcraft 28, Aidan Clarke 21, Jesse Turner 20 (prior to injuring a knee) and Nathan Blakely 18.

Peel managed just two goals over the last three quarters with Matt Taberner kicking three of the seven for the day.

Ruckman Liam Reidy finished with 65 hit outs with Neil Erasmus gathering 28 disposals, Will Brodie 27, Karl Worner 26 and Nathan O'Driscoll 25.

Two hot teams then did battle in the elimination final and despite East Fremantle finishing higher, Claremont got the home ground advantage at Revo Fitness Stadium and took full advantage to win 12.7 (79) to 7.13 (55).

It was a ferocious and efficient performance from the Tigers to advance to a first semi-final against Peel with 18-year-old Hamish Davis outstanding in just his sixth game with four goals from 21 possessions while Alex Manuel kicked two.

Bailey Rogers racked up 24 disposals, Callan England 24, Ben Elliott 21, Jye Bolton 19 and ruckman Oliver Eastland 22 to go with 38 hit outs and eight tackles.

Cody Leggett kicked three goals for East Fremantle and Harry Marsh two while Jack Cleaver gathered 21 possessions, Milan Murdock 20, Kyle Baskerville 19 and Tom Bennett 18 in their last game as reigning premiers.

WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – FINALS SERIES

QUALIFYING FINAL – PEEL THUNDER 7.6 (48) lost to SWAN DISTRICTS 10.5 (65)

ELIMINATION FINAL – EAST FREMANTLE 7.13 (55) lost to CLAREMONT 12.7 (79)