TOPIC:

Did Jye Bolton really rack up 51 disposals? If só must have been a lot of junk in the defensive half as I barely noticed him pushing forward of centre today. 

Disposal efficiency in this game was abysmal on a perfect day for footy. Really happy to see our game plan has evolved from that yellow stuff we displayed v EP. We look so much better when we attack the game with forward handball. For whatever reason Claremont really weren’t on song today - they seemed to lack genuine run which is unusual for the Tiges- so extremely pleasing we took advantage of that with a brand of footy that can win games. Aside from being demolished at centre clearances we deserved this win. 

also love to know what the prez was chatting to coach about at the back end of the half time break - looked like he was seeing something specific !!!!

Yes he did get 51, a lot of them were uncontested behind the ball ones. I double checked this on the WAFL footyfacts website which is much more reliable than the official WAFL site. Also the free kicks were 21-18 in Claremonts favour so somehow the WAFL site doubled them.

Well done Swans.

I did think 42 free kicks seemed excessive........even for Claremont! 

And despite all the media (#Townsend) hoohaa about Bolton should be playing afl the player with the genuine afl skill set at Claremont imho is Ben Edwards, he has genuine leg speed, dash both ways, kicks well with both feet and over lines and is only 21.

Watching on TV was again very difficult between these two sides because of the jumper clash, from behind the only difference in the two uniforms is the shorts colour.
Yes, the umpiring was poor, but both ways. The attempted rushed behind by Swans in the last couple of minutes which went out of bounds to not be called deliberate was a real shocker, we could have had a one point game with a minute remaining.

Why have Claremont moved to all navy blue socks instead of the old navy blue & gold hoops, ditto getting rid of the large gold sash across the front of the jumper for a smaller CFC monogram?
Surely when they play SD it would be advised to wear that as not too clash as from the back of the jumpers both sides are almost identical?

The classic non decision was just after that TOO with the high tackle on Bain for Swans who was almost decapitated to all and sundry bar the 3 umpires who said play on as his head was still attached to his neck....only after picking it up off Guildford Rd and reattaching it! 

I know that people will say I am biased but what better place for a fan to spend a sunny autumn Saturday afternoon than at Bassendean watching a competitive game of football?  The atmosphere was fantastic yesterday. There was a decent crowd who were getting involved in what was an exciting game albeit not a great standard of football. Lots of kids (big and little) kicking footys around the place at the breaks. The Claremont supporters made their presence felt in the Billy Walker stand and on the grass banks. Of course the Swans supporters are always loud and boisterous, a few ratbags but very much in the minority. 

For me there is also something else about this ground which almost takes on a religious significance. I have been coming to see football at Bassendean since I was a small lad in the late 1960s  and when I see the old stands, the scoreboard and the picket fence, it reminds me of the rich history and football heritage of the club.

t takes me back to the glory days of a bygone era when the WAFL was the premier footy competition in the state and it was not unusual to have the ground packed with 10000 people or more. I was there on the day that Billy Walker played his 300th game for Swans, when Stephen Michael played his 200th at Bassendean and we spoiled his party and when over 22000 people rocked up for a game against West Perth in 1980. I also remember all the jubilant premiership celebrations at Bassendean. Of course there are lots of times I have walked away from there disappointed and frustrated but as the saying goes there is always next week.

Every time I go to Bassendean now I am reminded of this past but I still love watching the current team do their stuff. 

Well said Mike.
Agree with everything you have posted above. 
Bassendean Oval and Fremantle Oval are now really the only 2 reminders of the great traditional WAFL grounds we all grew up going too every Saturday depending on what era you are from (myself being the 1980s era) and that suburban warfare that would take place there each weekend, it was exhilarating to me growing up and the young kids of today would have no idea about!

Just had a look at the Channel 7 replay of the last quarter and I noticed that there was some unpleasant interaction between Bolton and a few of the Swans players during the handshakes after the final siren and Bolton ended up pushing one of the Swans guys. Was anyone close enough to notice what happened there?

mikeh wrote:

I know that people will say I am biased but what better place for a fan to spend a sunny autumn Saturday afternoon than at Bassendean watching a competitive game of football?  The atmosphere was fantastic yesterday. There was a decent crowd who were getting involved in what was an exciting game albeit not a great standard of football. Lots of kids (big and little) kicking footys around the place at the breaks. The Claremont supporters made their presence felt in the Billy Walker stand and on the grass banks. Of course the Swans supporters are always loud and boisterous, a few ratbags but very much in the minority. 

For me there is also something else about this ground which almost takes on a religious significance. I have been coming to see football at Bassendean since I was a small lad in the late 1960s  and when I see the old stands, the scoreboard and the picket fence, it reminds me of the rich history and football heritage of the club.

t takes me back to the glory days of a bygone era when the WAFL was the premier footy competition in the state and it was not unusual to have the ground packed with 10000 people or more. I was there on the day that Billy Walker played his 300th game for Swans, when Stephen Michael played his 200th at Bassendean and we spoiled his party and when over 22000 people rocked up for a game against West Perth in 1980. I also remember all the jubilant premiership celebrations at Bassendean. Of course there are lots of times I have walked away from there disappointed and frustrated but as the saying goes there is always next week.

Every time I go to Bassendean now I am reminded of this past but I still love watching the current team do their stuff. 

Sorry Mike, I don't want to sound like a naysayer here but you answered your own question in the first sentence. Yes, you are biased which is not a criticism as I'm biased towards Subi too but for mine Bassendean is a shit hole and Swans are over-represented by dickhead supporters.  I stopped going there a couple of seasons ago mainly because it's not a nice experience and also it's a million miles from my place in North Coogee.  

Heritage listed grandstands might be quaint but they also don't make for a pleasant viewing experience case in point the one at Freo Oval and the optics around the old wooden fence aren't great either.  Living in the past might be good for old blokes like you and I, but we're trying to attract a younger crowd to the WAFL and playing venues need to keep pace with today's requirement for spectator comfort and updated facilities....Basso has neither.  

I really enjoy the passion WAFL supporters have for their respective clubs but it can at times, cloud reality.