Tigers pounce on semifinals

By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont’s Colts are one win away from the grand final after defeating South Fremantle by 32 points in the qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Saturday.

Claremont led at every change in their 10.11 (71) to 6.3 (39) win, as the Tigers recorded consecutive victories on the back of outstanding team pressure, intensity, tackling, an appetite for the contest and nine goal kickers.

Claremont’s ability to lock the ball in its forward half for long periods of the game resulted in 20 more inside 50s and 12 more scoring shots, while the team laid 71 tackles, including 26 in the third term.

Bailey Banfield was sensational in and around the contest to finish with 32 disposals, five tackles and six inside 50s, while Jacob Sideris provided run-and-carry and applied pressure to finish with 20 disposals, nine tackles and one goal.

Jeremy Goddard (51 hit outs, one goal) dominated the ruck and had a presence around the ground, while Sam Petrevski-Seton (25 disposals, six tackles, eight inside 50s) and Matt Guelfi (six tackles, two goals) were outstanding.

Jake Waterman led Claremont’s forward line and also worked up the ground to finish with eight marks and 1.3 despite being double-teamed at different stages of the game, while the lively Chris Oakley (one goal) and Sebastian Bentley each laid six tackles.

South Fremantle’s Shai Bolton kicked four goals and caused Claremont’s defence constant headaches, however, he was the Bulldog’s only avenue to goal.

Goals to Sideris and Dylan Wallam got the Tigers off to a flyer and meant a 14-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the opening term, however, a hamstring strain ended Wallam’s game prematurely.

With all of the play taking place in the Tigers’ forward half due to manic pressure and tackling, a goal to Guelfi extended the lead to 20 points, before Bolton made the most of a rare forward entry to get the Bulldogs on the board.

A great pass by Waterman allowed Jake Patmore to kick Claremont’s fourth goal, before Bolton replied with his second to trim the Tigers’ lead to 15 points at quarter-time.

15 inside 50s highlighted Claremont’s dominance thus far, however, South had kicked two goals from their three entries.

Claremont coach Ross McQueen implored the Tigers to hit the short kick when it presents and not just bomb the ball into the forward line, as Oakley kicked the team’s fifth goal at the eight-minute mark of the second term to push the margin out to 23 points.

A booming clearance by Guelfi allowed Waterman to kick truly and give the Tigers consecutive goals, before a desperate smother by Oakley reaffirmed Claremont’s desire and willingness to apply pressure on the opposition.

A goal to Zane Sumich saw South respond, before Oliver Eastland turned on a dime to leave two opponents in his wake and finish with aplomb from the left-forward pocket.

That resulted in Claremont’s seventh major and gave the Tigers a 30-point lead at half-time.

A goal to Goddard gave Claremont first blood for the third term in a row and a 36-point lead in the second half, before Bolton replied with his third major.

39 tackles for the term ensured that they were the only goals kicked, as a stalemate engulfed the contest and saw Claremont take a 33-point lead into the final change.

A clever snap by the hard-working Josh Bennett gave Claremont the first goal in every term and extended the lead to 38 points at the five-minute mark of the final term, before Bolton hit back with his fourth major.

Guelfi kicked his second after being found by Banfield to reply for Claremont, before a late goal to Antionne Forrest-Yarran provided little more than consolation for South on a memorable occasion for the Tigers.

Claremont now face Perth in the 2^nd semifinal at Medibank Stadium on Sunday where a win will secure a place in the grand final.

CLAREMONT 4.3 7.6 8.9 10.11 (71)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.0 3.0 4.0 6.3 (39)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 M. GUELFI. 1 C. OAKLEY, O. EASTLAND, J. BENNETT, D. WALLAM, J. SIDERIS, J. PATMORE, J. WATERMAN, J. GODDARD.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 4 S. BOLTON, 1 A. FORREST-YARRAN, Z. SUMICH.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. BANFIELD, S. PETREVSKI-SETON, J. SIDERIS, M. GUELFI, J. GODDARD, J. BENNETT.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: S. BOLTON, B. FAULKNER, K. RUSSELL.