By Sebastian Hasluck

Match Day Reporter

Claremont and East Fremantle battled to a low scoring draw beneath the historic WACA lights on Saturday night in a wet and windy encounter.

There was some feeling in this game, both on and off the field, as the Tigers and the Sharks clashed in the highly anticipated second grand final rematch of the 2023 season. With previous victories in the opening round and last year's grand final, the Claremont Tigers held the advantage over their rivals, intensifying the stakes of the encounter.

The highly contested match remained intense to the very end, with a frantic fourth quarter marked by both sides' desperate attempts to transition and score. Despite their best efforts, neither team managed to secure a goal in the last quarter, resulting in both sides registering a single point and ultimately leading to a tied score when the final siren sounded.

Nevertheless, the Tigers maintain their unbeaten record in the 2023 season, proudly occupying the top position on the ladder after Round 9.

The final score line of the day read 2.4 (16) Claremont to 2.4 (16) East Fremantle.

Despite winning the disposal count and having more possession of the ball, Claremont's overuse of it became a contributing factor for not emerging victorious in this match.

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The Tigers recorded 46 more disposals and 52 more handballs than their opponents, which often resulted in them being caught holding the ball. This is reflected in East Fremantle being awarded 12 more free kicks, (23-11). While an uneven free kick count is typically viewed as unfair, in this case, some of the frees were warranted due to Claremont's overhandling of the ball.

The wet weather conditions didn’t help this issue leading to several holding-the-ball decisions being paid against Claremont, particularly in the dying minutes of the game.

Despite these challenges, most aspects of Claremont's game structure remained solid. With a few things going their way, the outcome of the match could have been different.

Matilda Sergeant was undoubtedly the standout player for the Tigers today, making significant contributions across all aspects of the game and filling her stat sheet. With 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, and 1 goal, Sergeant showcased her versatility and impact on the match.

Notably, she displayed her defensive strengths in the crucial last quarter when the Sharks were pressing for a potential match-winning goal. Sergeant's ability to break lines and apply pressure was evident as she successfully locked the ball in the Tigers' forward 50, creating scoring opportunities that, unfortunately, were not capitalised on.

Despite the drizzly and wet conditions throughout the game, Claire Ortlepp managed to take an impressive 9 marks, the highest number by any player on the ground. The next closest player from the opposition recorded 5 marks.

Ortlepp's presence in the backline provides valuable structure, as she is willing to fill the hole and has the freedom to float off her opponent. Although this approach carries some risk, it proved to be successful for Ortlepp as she consistently provided rebound off half back, showcasing her ability to generate run and carry.

In addition to her impressive marking display, Ortlepp tallied 17 disposals, 2 tackles, and 3 inside 50s, further highlighting her impact on the game.

Ella Slocombe was the first goal scorer in today's match whilst also a skilful force across the ground. Her remarkable speed and endurance stood out as she maintained a high level of intent and effort throughout all four quarters. This proved crucial against a defensively strong East Fremantle team.

Slocombe's overall contribution included 17 possessions, 3 tackles, and 3 Inside-50 entries, in addition to her goal.

Despite Adele Arnup's goal-scoring streak coming to an end in this game, she showcased flashes of her exceptional talent in the final quarter. One of the standout moments was her ability to execute multiple 360-degree spins around opposition players, demonstrating her agility and skill.

Another notable play was Arnup’s unselfish decision to pass the ball to Claire Ortlepp, who had a much easier scoring opportunity compared to Arnup's challenging angle.

Although Arnup may not have had the desired goal-scoring impact in this particular game, she gradually worked her way into the match in what was an already low-scoring affair.

This weekend, Claremont Tigers will take on Peel Thunder at Lane Stadium at 12pm, following the Rogers game. Despite not needing to respond directly due to their strong intent displayed in the draw, Claremont aims to continue their successful season by seeking a dominant performance this weekend.

In contrast to East Fremantle, who ended Claremont's winning streak, Peel Thunder finds themselves struggling at the bottom of the ladder, making them a comparatively easier opposition for Claremont Tigers this week.

Claremont Goal Scorers:

Matilda Sergeant, Ella Slocombe

Claremont Best:

Matilda Sergeant, Ella Slocombe, Claire Ortlepp, Matilda Dyke, Adele Arnup, Kobi Nichols