South West WAFL Watch: Bunbury-born Bailey Rogers helps Claremont to first grand final in 10 years

Bunbury-born Bailey Rogers looks set to help Claremont contest for their first WAFL league premiership since 2012 after putting in a stand-out performance during the preliminary final.

A number of South West-raised players featured in the WAFL preliminary final which saw Claremont pull off a convincing 10.11 (71) to 6.7 (43) win over East Fremantle.

With a grand final berth against West Perth up for grabs, Claremont were not about to let the opportunity slip having lost preliminary finals in 2019 and 2021 to South Fremantle.

The Tigers have won at least one final in each of the past five years following last week’s semifinal win against Peel Thunder but continue to be on the hunt for their first premiership since 2012.

Rogers, who was named one of Claremont’s best for the match, managed a goal from a long kick on the run during the early stages of the third quarter and finished with 21 disposals, three marks, four tackles and four inside 50s.

Following the match, the reigning Sandover medallist backed Fremantle-listed Peel ruckman Lloyd Meek to be a contender for the competition’s best and fairest award if his teammate Jye Bolton doesn’t claim his third medal.

Rogers told The West if Bolton or any of his teammates didn’t win the Sandover, it would be Meek.

“Jye Bolton will be up there again, but outside of Claremont I think Lloyd Meek can give it a good shake,” he said.

“Everything I’ve seen of Lloyd has been a good performance, so hopefully he can poll a few votes and be up the top.”

Meanwhile, former Augusta-Margaret River Hawk Jonathon Marsh was kept quiet up forward for East Fremantle, managing only a minor score during the Sharks’ losing effort.

Marsh finished with 11 disposals, three marks, a tackle and four inside 50s.

Bunbury-raised teammate Michael Tassone was a modest contributor, finishing with 16 disposals, four marks, two tackles and an inside 50.