By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont’s finals chances are all but over after the Tigers suffered a frustrating 32-point loss to South Fremantle at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

Deplorable kicking, both in general play and at goal, and turnovers marred the 8.13 (61) to 14.9 (93) defeat, which leaves the team two wins and percentage outside the top five with just two rounds of the home-and-away season remaining.

Skills and decision making are two areas the Tigers desperately need to improve in, and this was highlighted in the opening 17 minutes, when the Bulldogs slammed on six goals, mostly from Claremont turnovers, to effectively seal their eighth consecutive win.

Despite working their way back into the game with the breeze at their backs in the second term, the Tigers could only manage a wasteful return of 4.6, before the Bulldogs put their foot down once again in the third term, kicking five goals to nil.

Matt Guelfi (two goals) continues his rapid progression into an elite player and won the players’ player award, while Bailey Banfield (10 marks, seven tackles) spent large parts of the game opposing South Fremantle’s Tim Kelly.

Ryan Murphy (33 disposals, 12 marks, one goal) returned from a calf injury for his first League game since round 15 and gave the Tigers plenty of rebound from defence before being thrown forward, while Jared Hardisty laid a game-high nine tackles.

As they did at the same venue in round 16, Anton Hamp and Haydn Busher blanketed South Fremantle’s Mason Shaw and Ben Saunders respectively, while Ian Richardson kicked a team-high three goals.

The Bulldogs were well served by Jarrod Garlett, Dylan Main (eight tackles, one goal), Cory Dell-Olio (four goals) and Tom Vandeleur (two goals).

The Tigers will aim to rebound when they face Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in round 22.

CLAREMONT 1.3 5.9 5.10 8.13 (61)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 6.1 8.1 13.7 14.9 (93)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 I. Richardson, 2 M. Guelfi, 1 O. Eastland, Z. Langdon, R. Murphy.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 4 C. Dell-Olio, 2 B. Johnson, T. Vandeleur, 1 A. Hams, D. Main, T. Kelly, S. Verrier, S. Bewick, B. Saunders.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Guelfi, B. Banfield, R. Murphy, J. Hardisty, A. Hamp.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: J. Garlett, D. Main, C. Dell-olio, R. Cook, T. Vandeleur.