Gajewski Plays His Part | Round 17 Colts Match Report

Tall forward Sam Bevan continued his goalkicking spree with five majors against top side Swan Districts at the Showgrounds on Wednesday night, but he had to share the limelight in attack with pocket-sized Tom Gajewski when Claremont caused a major upset in racing away to a most impressive 60-point victory.

For Swans this was just their second defeat this year in 15 matches as they were restricted to 4.7. The Tigers scored 13.13 in a delightful display of positive, pressure football to take their season’s record to nine wins and six losses. 

Swans head the premiership table with 52 points, with Claremont in second spot with 36 points and a percentage of 140.26. South Fremantle, with a percentage of 132.21, also have 36 points, but have played one fewer match than Claremont.

Gajewski, a 17-year-old Scotch College student, sparkled in a forward pocket in his third appearance for the Tigers. After the winter school holiday period he will have school football commitments before being able to resume with the Tigers in the final few qualifying-round matches.

The lightly-framed Gajewski, who played a part in Claremont’s first and final goals, kicked two in the space of just under two minutes late in the third term and he finished the match with seven marks and 17 kicks, including four inside 50s.

For Swans it was an unexpected defeat. But Claremont supporters are fully aware that the boys from Bassendean will be a far more formidable opponent in the finals. Swans were without several star performers, including Nelson Ansey, Robert Mostert , Connor Blakely, Aiden Anderson, Dylan Nelson and Yestin Eades.

However, the Tigers also went into the contest under lights without many top-flight players, including Jared Hardisty, Ryan Lim, Harry Taylor, Harry Court, Lawrence Evans, Harry Wilkinson and Greg Colbung.

Statistics revealed a staggering difference between the sides, with Claremont finishing with 127 marks to 80 by Swans, having 252 kicks to 169 and making 122 effective handpasses to 95. Claremont had an advantage in the clearances, 28 to 20, and went inside their 50m attacking zone 46 times to 39 by the visiting side.

That Swans were able to score only 4.7 from 39 forward 50m entries reflects great credit on the Tigers defence, in which Harry McCracken, Nick Reid and Matt Cairns were outstanding. Added to that, Claremont’s midfielders also ventured deep into the Swans forward lines and provided great defensive pressure.

Bevan, who played at full-forward and centre-half-forward, followed his six-goal haul against Peel Thunder at Rushton Park on Saturday night with five goals. His tally of 5.1 (31) equalled the Swans score of 4.7 (31). He took ten marks, had 17 kicks and was involved in several of his side’s goals.

A free-kick to Gajewski in the opening minute of the match saw him pass to Aaron Birch for Claremont’s first major. Then a shot from Alex Manuel hit the post and Bailey Rogers marked the kick-in before his shot from 30m veered to the right for another behind. It took Swans seven minutes to penetrate their 50m attacking zone for the first time, and they took full advantage of this with a goal to Chad Daniels.

Alec Waterman and Manuel combined to deliver the ball to Bevan for his first goal and Swans kept in close touch with a quick reply from Lindsay Murray.

The versatile Francis Watson was shining on a wing and the Tigers were also getting grand service from midfielders Jack Prendiville, Waterman, Isaac Baum and Humphry. Reid was a tower of strength in defence where McCracken, Nick Barrow, Darby Hanbury and Adam Volaric also were prominent.

The Tigers led by two points at quarter time before they assumed control in the second term when they added 3.5 to 1.1. Bevan scored the opening goal after receiving a pass from Matt Palfrey and not long after that ruckman Will McSweeney marked a Swans clearing kick and passed to Humphry for another.

Six minutes elapsed before the next goal. Josh Barty earned a free-kick at centre-half-forward and he unselfishly handpassed to Barrow, running past. Barrow’s long kick was marked by Bevan, who used his body astutely against Swans defender Kane Bumann to take the ball on his chest before kicking his third.

The only goal scored for the remaining 12 minutes of the quarter came shortly before half-time from Swans Ben Whitsed. The home side led by 18 points at the break.

It was mostly one-way traffic in the third term, with Claremont adding four goals and conceding only one. Again it was Bevan who opened the scoring, marking a kick from Waterman near the right point post and kicking truly. Waterman and Bevan were in the act again when some of their good work resulted in a goal to Bailey Rogers from a free-kick.

Watson went forward and Prendiville replaced him on a wing and both men and the rest of the side kept up the pressure and continued to dominate proceedings. However, Swans got the next goal, off the boot of Dylan Smith.

The quarter ended with two goals in the final couple of minutes to Gajewski. First, he received a handpass from Barty, following some strong work from Palfrey. And then clearance king Humphry sent the ball forward from the centre bounce and Gajewski posted his second.

Watson, Baum, Rogers, Waterman and Prendiville were prominent early in the term, but it took ten minutes for the Tigers to break through for their tenth goal, with a leading Bevan accepting a Waterman pass after he had received from Prendiville.

And then Palfrey made full use of an advantage free-kick for another goal. A handpass from Rogers set up a goal to Matt Guelfi and the final goal came two minutes from the end when Hanbury handballed to Gajewski, whose pass found Barty.

It was a four-goal quarter to the Tigers, who restricted the opposition to two behinds. Defender Aden Wilkins struck a purple patch in the final quarter, during which he took six marks, had five kicks and made eight effective handpasses. Hanbury also enjoyed himself in this quarter with three kicks and eight effective handpasses.

By Ken Casellas

Details:

Claremont 13.13 (91) beat Swan Districts 4.7 (31)

Scorers---CLAREMONT: S. Bevan 5.1; T. Gajewski 2.1; J. Barty 1.2; M. Palfrey, B. Rogers 1.1; A. Birch, M. Guelfi, S. Humphry 1.0; I. Baum, A. Manuel, J. Prendiville 0.1; 4pts forced. SWAN DISTRICTS: D. Smith 1.2; C. Daniels, L. Murray, B. Whitsed 1.0; J. Cipro 0.2; C. Cranenburgh, W. Wilson 1.1; 1pt forced.

Best---CLAREMONT: S. Humphry, S. Bevan, N. Reid, T. Gajewski, I. Baum, A. Waterman, H. McCracken, J. Prendiville, B. Rogers, D. Hanbury, M. Cairns. SWA DISTRICTS: B. Gillard, L. Ridley, J. Watson, A. Dean, C. Cranenburgh, L. Murray, J. Daniels, D. Smith, J. Shand.