Swans say only they can challenge Tigers
Swan Districts are the only team standing in the way of a third consecutive Claremont premiership, according to captain Tallan Ames.
Swans go into the final round of the home-and-away season in third spot courtesy of a 14.19 (103) to 12.8 (80) win over East Fremantle at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.
Both sides went into the game with 10 wins and needing a victory to enhance their chances of playing in September.
Though the victory gave Swans the advantage, they still require another win over West Perth on Saturday to guarantee their spot in the finals.
The Sharks are fifth and need to beat Claremont to be any chance of dislodging Swans or East Perth from the four.
In a season which has seen them play some brilliant football but also be ordinary on other occasions, Ames said Swans were getting closer to figuring out how to maintain their best football.
As one of only two sides to beat Claremont this season, the veteran said Swans felt it was up to them to keep the reigning premiers honest in September.
"From a Swan Districts perspective, if we don't make the finals I reckon you could bet your bottom dollar that we hand a flag to Claremont," Ames said.
"At the start of last week we knew that we have to win games of football to go deep into September, and that's what we're setting ourselves on.
"We just have to get the job done every week, go in with 100 per cent intensity because our intensity at the right level will beat any other side.
"We're looking to stay in the four, especially for Claremont to have a bit of a shake in their boots."
Swans started Saturday's match in a blaze of glory and despite a strong challenge from the Sharks in the third quarter always looked comfortable.
Most of the home side's wins this season have come on the back of potent forwards Tim Geappen and Dayle Garlett, but it was diminutive tackling mach- ine Charlie Cameron who stole the limelight. Cameron, 19, kicked five goals and piled on the pressure in a performance sure to catch the attention of AFL recruiters.
Aaron Elari, Tom Roach and Matt Riggio combined brilliantly in the midfield for Swans, extracting the ball from stoppages and feasting on the clever work of young ruckman Rory Lobb.
Eagle Andrew Embley started the game as a one-out forward for Swans and showed he could add something in finals with a better radar - he kicked 1.7.
For the Sharks, captain Mark McGough again took the responsibility of giving his team a spark, while Brett Peake produced one of his best games of the season with three goals off a wing.
