Seton A Ray Of Sunshine | Round 9 Colts Match Report

It was a morning of missed opportunities when Claremont struggled to score in the match against Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval on Saturday.

Managing a mere five goals from 44 entries inside the attacking 50m zone was a shocking result for effort, but a ray of sunshine emerged from the morass of a heartbreaking 39-point defeat. And that came in the form of 16-year-old Sam Seton, a livewire rover who delighted the sparse crowd with his poise, his balance, his deft skills and uninhibited confidence.

Seton, from Halls Creek and a student at Clontarf College, possesses many of the attributes which help to develop a youngster into a highly-competent senior player. Complementing his natural talent was a willingness to tackle. He finished with a team-high five tackles and did well to gain three clearances from stoppages and he also delivered the ball inside his side’s 50m attacking zone three times.

Another youngster to catch the eye was towering 16-year-old schoolboy Jeremy Goddard in his debut for the Tigers. The 203cm Goddard was the dominant ruckman in the match and it was largely due to his spirited performance that enabled Claremont to gain 31 clearances from stoppages, two more than the Swans total.

The Tigers also led the inside 50 count, 44-34, they took more marks (72 to 67) and had more kicks (196 to 189). But Swans were better organised and played a superior brand of football, which enabled them to defeat the Tigers, 12.7 to 5.10.

Swan Districts are the trendsetters in the competition and are unbeaten after eight matches. They have 32 points and lead from South Fremantle (28) and Subiaco (20). Claremont have 16 points and are clinging to fourth spot ahead of East Perth and East Fremantle by virtue of a superior percentage (141.45) to East Perth’s 86.55 and East Fremantle’s 71.65.

Goals were a precious commodity in the first term, with the first major coming after ten minutes of play off the boot of talented Swan Districts full-forward Nelson Ansey. It took the Tigers 23 minutes to open their account, with captain Harry Wilkinson soccering the ball off the ground at right half-forward and Alex Manual taking the mark. But only a point resulted.

However, a minute later centre-half-forward Adam Volaric combined with forward pocket specialist Russell Wynne and wingman Jack Prendiville to get the ball to Nic Reid for a goal which left the Tigers only seven points behind at the first break.

 But it took Claremont 17 minutes to score their first goal of the second quarter. It came after Seton took a mark at centre-half-back and combined with Matthew Cairns and Wynne to get the ball to Scott Trickey. Trickey’s shot fell short and one of the umpires called for a bounce down to relieve congestion close to goal Jack Watson gained the knock for Swans, but the wily Wynne pounced and snapped truly.

A minute later the hard-working Sam Humphry passed accurately to Trickey, who took the mark and then was awarded a 50m penalty. Another goal was the result and Claremont went into the half-time break only three points in arrears.

Seton began the third quarter in spectacular style as he had three kicks in the opening two minutes of the second half. But his efforts to lift the side were not rewarded with scoring shots.

Then the Tigers went to sleep and Swans set up their victory by scoring 5.3 for the quarter and keeping the Tigers down to just two behinds, each of them forced.

Early in the final term the busy Wynne passed to half-back flanker Harry McCracken, who sent the ball forward where Goddard soared to take a wonderful contested mark. Goddard met with interference in the marking duel and a Swans player was reported and Goddard made the most of a 50m penalty to score his side’s fourth major.

Humphry won the centre clearance and delivered to Josh Barty (switched from defence to attack) handballed to Alex Manuel, but only a point resulted. Soon after that a wonderful low, spearing pass from Seton was marked by Jacob Delaporte. Again, only a point resulted.

Swans booted the next three goals before Claremont got a consolation goal in the final minute of play. Trickey initiated an attack from the left wing and Volaric and Barty got the ball to Manuel for Claremont’s fifth goal on a disappointing morning.    

by Ken Casellas  

Details:

Swan Districts 12.7 (79) beat Claremont 5.10 (40)

Scorers---SWAN DISTRICTS: N. Ansey 4.3; R. Mostert 3.2; C. Daniels, A. Dean, M. MacKenzie, J. Shaw, T. Yarra 1.0; L. Murray 0.1; 1pt forced. CLAREMONT: A. Manuel 1.3; N. Reid 1.1; J. Goddard, S. Trickey, R. Wynne 1.0; J. Delaporte 0.2; 4pts forced.

Best---SWAN DISTRICTS: J. Turner, A. Dean, N. Ansey, E. Maguire, J. Kelley, R. Mostert, T. Yarran, J. Watson. CLAREMONT: J. Prendiville, S. Seton, H. Wilkinson, R. Wynne, S. Humphry, H. McCracken, J. Delaporte, A. Manuel, A. Volaric.