Dominant Rogers puts Eagles to the sword

John Townsend

It is a football mystery that not one of the 18 AFL clubs has found a way to put Bailey Rogers on its list.

Producing a two-hour masterclass on Sunday against an undermanned and outclassed West Coast team being overseen by a group of full-time AFL development coaches and recruiters, the 2021 Sandover medallist underlined why there is no substitute for class and talent when it comes to winning football matches.

Rogers was the stand-out performer at Revo Fitness Stadium when Claremont put the Eagles to the sword so effectively that the 111-point win steered the Tigers to the top of the WAFL ladder.

The match showcased 18 players currently or formerly on AFL lists with 401 games at that level between them, but no one won more of his own ball than Rogers, no one used it better, no one scored more with it nor had more impact on the result and the way the contest unfolded.

Rogers’ 33-disposal, four-goal contribution was the single greatest factor in Claremont piling on 23.16 (154) to West Coast’s 6.7 (43) in the club’s highest score and biggest win since their last premiership season in 2012.

The magnitude of the victory may be critical in the months ahead with West Coast’s three consecutive triple-figure thrashings skewing the percentage record in favour of their early opponents.

It is likely the Eagles will become more competitive as their injured senior players return to action, making Claremont’s eight-goal to none last quarter an important element in the finals race.

Rogers underlined his versatility by spending the first three quarters on the ball, with 13 possessions in the third helping negate West Coast’s most spirited effort, before being stationed inside the forward 50m arc while Ben Edwards and Ollie Sheldrick had the chance to shine in the middle.

His four goals came in various ways.

 A turgid error-riddled period late in the first half was extinguished when the utility pounced on a loose ball outside 50 and drilled home a long shot, he kept a ground ball alive under extreme defensive pressure on the goal-line and found enough space to dribble it through, he revealed a cool head to make space in heavy traffic before snapping on his left foot and curled a 45m strike on the run.

Rogers’ clinical finishing contrasted with his muscular ball-winning and strong high-marking that saw 18 of his possessions collected in contests.

In a game featuring Claremont’s past five Sandover medallists in various guises, the Tigers started brightly and took little time to demonstrate much greater intensity than in the loss to Subiaco a week earlier.

Rogers (2021) and Jye Bolton (2016 and 2018) were highly influential four-quarters stars while their former team-mate Kane Mitchell (2012) answered an SOS to be one of West Coast’s best in a one-off return.

And this year’s ball legend Luke Blackwell (2011) and assistant coach Anthony Jones (2007) maintained the Sandover royalty while radio caller Steve Malaxos (1984) and past players’ president John Parkinson (1967) added to the lustre.

Bolton and fellow half-back Lachlan Martinis appeared on track for a record-breaking day when they each had 14 disposals in the first term and repeatedly set up attacking moves.

Their impact diminished as Claremont took control of the match though Bolton (40) and Martinis (35) combined to touch the football more than the 10 least prolific Eagles.

 Claremont’s radar was askew early with the first 10 shots producing just one goal but when Zac Mainwaring converted the first of his three majors, it appeared to spark a change in efficiency and accuracy.

The biggest turnaround came from big forward Max Minear who had to shoulder a greater load in the absence of Jack Buller (corked calf).

Minear started the season with eight consecutive behinds but his first major of the year, a tough 45m set shot after an excellent contested mark, provided a confidence boost at the start of the second half.

And as his confidence increased, so too did his impact.

Minear attacked the ball in the air in similar fashion to his missing team-mate, hauled in four strong marks in a vibrant burst as his team-mates looked for him, and soon had the first three-goal game of his short career.

Ollie Eastland maintaining his strong early-season form to outpoint two bigger AFL-listed, albeit less experienced, ruckman.

Eastland (34 and 16) had more hit-outs and possessions than Callum Jamieson (18 and 10) and Harry Barnett (9 and 4) combined while his ground work was impressive with six tackles and a series of team-lifting blocks and chases.

CLAREMONT 4.7 9.8 15.13 23.16 154

WEST COAST 1.1 2.4 6.6 6.7 43

GOALS – CLAREMONT: Rogers 4; Mainwaring, Minear 3; Treacy, Edwards, Delacey, Western 2; Mountford, Miles, Eastland, Carter, Smallwood.

WEST COAST: Burke 2; Dewar, Downsborough, Hansen, Lucassen.

BEST – CLAREMONT: Rogers, Eastland, Edwards, Bolton, Martinis, Sheldrick, Western.

WEST COAST: Hansen, Mitchell, Browne, Lloyd, Nelson.