By Dan Scamozzi

An outstanding team performance saw Claremont’s Reserves record a thumping 92-point win over a listless Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Saturday.

The 22.15 (147) to 8.7 (55) victory gave Claremont three consecutive wins, and was built on the back of manic pressure, a will to work for each other, sublime skills by hand and foot and an ability to punish the opposition on the scoreboard as the Tigers recorded their biggest score and win since round 19, 2016, which also came against the Thunder.

113 more disposals, 32 more marks, 17 more tackles, 25 more inside 50s, 22 more scoring shots and 10 goal kickers reflected the Tigers’ dominance from a statistical perspective but, even more pleasing, was the intent to put in a four-quarter performance in sublime conditions.

On a day where every single Tiger brought into the team cause and played their role, Alex Manuel responded to his League omission in the best possible way to finish with 38 disposals, seven tackles, eight inside 50s and four goals, while Aden Wilkins (21 disposals) was his consistent and composed self in defence.

Jacob Sideris (34 disposals, five tackles) continues to get better every week after an injury-interrupted pre-season, while Lachlan Martinis (30 disposals, five inside 50s) and Josh Bennett (29 disposals, two goals) were strong performers.

Matthew Palfrey (23 disposals, four tackles, eight inside 50s, four goals) set the tone with his attack on the football, ability to bring teammates into the match and deadly finishing, while acting captain, Eddie Simpson (nine marks, four goals) won the players’ player award and Fraser Gilbert restricted Peel’s Michael Apeness to a paltry one mark and one behind.

In further good news, Chris (CJ) Oakley (eight tackles, six inside 50s) returned for his first match since round four and displayed his trademark pressure and pace, while Matthew Ehlers kicked two goals in his first outing since round three.

Corey Mitchell kicked Claremont’s and the match’s first goal following a tough and contested start from both teams, before Matthew Piggott replied for Peel.

A strong mark from Simpson following a kick-to-advantage by Manuel allowed the big Tiger to restore Claremont’s six-point buffer, before Ehlers kicked the team’s third major, with Oakley involved several times in the build-up.

Two goals to Palfrey, with the second resulting from a terrific tackle inside 50, saw Claremont out to a 23-point lead, before the left-footer went from scorer to provider with a well-weighted-pass to Simpson as the Tiger kicked his second and the team’s sixth major at the 21-minute mark of the opening term.

With the Tigers’ foot skills already at a high level, a smother by the hard-working Mitchell reaffirmed the team’s appetite for the contest as the side took a 33-point lead into quarter-time.

With Manuel, Palfrey and Martinis all leading the way, coach, Kepler Bradley lauded the team’s ability to play for each other and take the game on.

A great snap by Manuel following some great work from Bailey Bennett extended the Tigers’ lead to 38 points in the second term, before a second goal to Ehlers made it 46.

Great pressure in the forward half then allowed Nick Winmar to kick Claremont’s ninth goal, before a booming finish from Ben Higgs and second goal to Mitchell saw the team out to a 64-point lead.

A great finish from J. Bennett following a big mark by Goddard and great ball movement from defence put the full stop on a scintillating first half by Claremont and resulted in a 70-point lead at half-time.

A third goal to Palfrey, in between two majors to Peel’s Calvin Thorne, occupied the first six minutes of the second half, before a left-footed snap by Manuel saw the hard-working Tiger kick his second and the Tigers’ 14^th goal.

J. Bennett then capped off some contested work by Palfrey to extend the lead, before Thorne kicked his third major.

A fine finish by B. Bennett then saw the Tigers take an 80-point lead into the final change.

With the team in no mood to rest on their laurels, a pair of goals to Simpson (fourth) saw the lead out to 91 points, before two goals to Peel briefly halted the team’s dominance.

A booming finish by Manuel gave the Tiger his third goal and Claremont a quick reply, before Palfrey kicked his fourth in between two more majors to Peel.

Brett Wilson added his name to the Claremont goal-kicking list, before a fitting finish to the game, after the siren, saw Manuel kick his fourth goal and cap off a fine team performance.

The Tigers will look to record their fourth consecutive win when they host Perth at the same venue in round nine.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts returned to the winners’ list with a 21-point win over Peel Thunder, 10.10 (70) to 7.7 (49).

CLAREMONT 6.4 12.8 16.13 22.15 (147)

PEEL THUNDER 1.1 1.4 4.5 8.7 (55)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 E. Simpson, A. Manuel, M. Palfrey, 2 C. Mitchell, M. Ehlers, J. Bennett, 1 B. Higgs, B. Bennett, B. Wilson, N. Winmar.

PEEL THUNDER: 4 C. Thorne, 1 K. Bumann, M. Humble, N. Hura, M. Piggott.

BEST

CLAREMONT: A. Manuel, A. Wilkins, J. Sideris, L. Martinis, J. Bennett, M. Palfrey.

PEEL THUNDER: B. Walsh, C. Thorne, C. Wrigley, M. Humble, N. Hura.

Related articles:

Round 8 League Report- read here