WAFL Match Report: Round Twenty v Claremont

by Liam Maher

The final home and away fixture proved to be a good contest and a great preview for what will be an exciting match-up in the first week of finals. It was a close battle, but ultimately an undermanned East Perth team fell short on the day, going down by nine points (12.8 – 80) to (13.11 – 89). The Royals showed patches of their best football and at times looked like they might control the game, but mistakes in key moments ultimately cost them against a disciplined Claremont outfit.

The game had a unique feeling from the outset, with both teams sizing each other up and looking to establish control. The rivalry between East Perth and Claremont was evident early as the opening minutes were tight, contested, and low-scoring. Opportunities at goal were rare, but East Perth managed to hit the scoreboard through Sebit Kuek and Jayden Peak. Neither side gained a real advantage, and at the first break just one point separated the teams in a hard-fought opening quarter (2.3 – 15) to (2.2 – 14).

The contest opened up in the second term, with East Perth’s young brigade and debutants (Brody Delaney, Jake Soutar, and Darcy Miller) stepping up to show they were ready for the challenge. Corey Watts and Riley Saunders colided heavily in the defensive fifty, with the former heading off the field and not returning. The Royals’ high-energy, hard-running style was on full display as they pushed forward. Early majors from Zac Raykos and Scott Jones gave them a handy buffer, before debutant Brody Delaney slotted his first goal for the club just before the break.

That strike gave East Perth all the momentum heading into half time, with the Royals holding a strong 26-point lead (8.6 – 54) to (4.4 – 28). The excitement among the East Perth supporters was clear, as the young side showed they could mix it with one of the League’s toughest outfits.

Momentum shifted dramatically after the major break, with Claremont lifting their intensity around the contest. East Perth struggled to generate forward entries as the opposition dominated possession and territory. The Royals’ defence worked overtime under constant pressure, managing to restrict Claremont from running away completely, but the scoreboard damage was still telling.

Despite not playing their best footy, East Perth held on as best they could, though their lead was whittled down to just five points at the final change (9.7 – 61) to (8.8 – 56). It set the stage for a gripping last quarter, with both teams still well in the contest.

East Perth needed a spark to respond, but it was Claremont who struck first within the opening two minutes to grab the lead for the first time since early in the match. From there, the Tigers controlled the contest. The Royals appeared fatigued, opting for a slower and more cautious style that went away from their usual high-pressure, high-energy brand.

Defensively, they started to break under the weight of repeated inside-50 entries from the opposition. Two late goals from Sebit Kuek gave the Royals a glimmer of hope and lifted the crowd, but Claremont’s discipline and composure in the final term proved decisive. In the end, East Perth fell short by nine points in a tough loss (12.8 – 80) to (13.11 – 89).

It wasn’t meant to be for East Perth on this occasion, but there were standout efforts across the ground. Liam Tedesco starred in midfield, finishing with 32 disposals, 11 marks, six tackles, and a goal in a commanding display. Zac Raykos continued his strong form with 29 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles, and two goals. Scott Jones once again dominated the ruck, gathering 9 disposals, four marks, an incredible 47 hit outs, and a goal. Up forward, Sebit Kuek was back to his dangerous best, booting home four goals.

East Perth’s season ended with three straight defeats, finishing the regular season in third place on the ladder with 11 wins, seven losses, and a percentage of 128.43%. The Royals have shown enough across the season to know they can challenge the competition’s best. Attention now turns to finals, where they will return to Revo Fitness Stadium to once again face Claremont in a blockbuster clash.

Finals bring a different intensity, and East Perth will need to bring their absolute best to progress further. The Qualifying Final is set for Saturday, August 30th at 2:10 pm. Our Reserves side are also playing finals for the first time since 2019, taking on Perth in an Elimination Final at 11.25am at Revo. Come down and support our Mighty Royals sides as they look to progress deep into the finals series.