Colts Grand Final Recap

CLAREMONT'S dominance of the WAFL Colts competition has continued with the Tigers making it back-to-back premierships completing a standout 2024 season with a 35-point Grand Final win at Optus Stadium against Swan Districts.

Claremont came into the Grand Final on Sunday afternoon having won the colts premiership of 2023 and then having a dominant season in 2024 winning all but two games and then advancing to the decider with a 63-point second semi-final win over Subiaco.

Swan Districts last won a colts premiership in 2021 and after two three-win seasons since, finished the 2024 home and away campaign in fourth place before three straight come from behind finals wins over Perth, West Perth and Subiaco to make a Grand Final.

The stage was set for an exciting contest and on the back of the momentum from the last three weeks, Swan Districts started on fire with a goal inside 45 seconds to Colby McDonald.

Claremont did steady with the next two from Will Malajczuk and Jett Sibosado before both teams added another each before quarter-time where Claremont were leading by nine points.

Swans again made a fast start to the second term with a goal to usual defender Tom Cathcart who again was sent forward as he was to great effect in the first semi-final against West Perth.

Lucas Ravenhill responded with his second for the Tigers and then Cathcart also kicked a second and by half-time it was Claremont clinging to a six-point advantage.

Claremont kicked a quick goal this time through Cody Curtin to start the second half before Luke Pynes and Tom Cossom added majors with the lead out to 27 points.

Swans did get one just before three quarter-time from Chayse Martinson to stay in touch, and then were back within 17 points to start the last term with a quick goal to Otis Harvey.

However, Claremont took charge from there with three goals in six minutes from Rory Luscombe, Ravenhill and co-captain Austin Van Der Struyf which secured the 11.16 (82) to 7.5 (47) triumph to give the Tigers a 19th colts premiership since a first in 1976.

Hamish Davis has suddenly become one of the most exciting young prospects in Western Australia after a starring role at league level with Claremont in the finals, and now coming back to the colts and co-captaining the Tigers to a premiership.

He also won the Mel Whinnen Medal in the Grand Final finishing with 30 possessions and seven inside-50 entries.

Lucas Ravenhill kicked three goals in the win for Claremont with Will Malajczuk adding two.

Hugh Boxshall also gathered 30 possessions, Jaxon Douglas 16, Jett Sibosado 16, Will Hayes 16, Austin Van Der Struyf 16 and ruckman Aiden Riddle 17 to go with 30 hit outs and five marks.

Tom Cathcart finished with two goals for Swan Districts while Blake Kelly picked up 20 possessions, Luke Cotellessa 20, Lucas Andrews 19, Otis Harvey 18 and Chayse Martinson 14 to go with five tackles and a goal.

WAFL COLTS GRAND FINAL 2024

CLAREMONT            3.4    4.8    7.13    11.16 (82)
SWAN DISTRICTS        2.1    4.2    5.2    7.5 (47)

CLAREMONT: Goals – Ravenhill 3; Malajczuk 2; Sibosado, Van Der Struyf, Luscombe, Cossom, Pynes, Curtin.
Best – Davis, Boxshall, Riddle, Ravenhill, Sibosado, Douglas, Angove.

SWAN DISTRICTS: Goals – Cathcart 2; Harvey, Martinson, Cotellessa, McDonald, Oliver.
Best – Cotellessa, Andrews, Harvey, Kelly, Cathcart, McDonald.

MEL WHINNEN MEDAL: Hamish Davis (Claremont)