Tigers Searching For Answers

By Daniel Scamozzi

If the defeat against in-form East Perth in round 14 was a reality check, then the 49-point mauling against West Perth in glorious conditions at Revo Fitness Stadium in round 15 was bitterly disappointing.

Bitterly disappointing because Claremont entered the contest four wins ahead of West Perth on the ladder but never fired a shot during the listless performance as the Falcons prevailed 17.12 (114) to 9.11 (65).

The Tigers have now suffered their first home defeat of the season and consecutive losses for the first time.

They also have another injury concern, after inspirational captain and midfielder Dec Mountford, who entered the game in career-best form, suffered a heavy knock in a contest involving West Perth's Noah Pegoraro in the opening term.

With vice-captain Ronin O'Connor suffering a shoulder injury against the Royals, it leaves the Tigers with two key players and leaders on the sidelines with finals fast approaching.

Coach Ash Prescott instructs Claremont to be bold and unconditional, and preaches offence on the back of defence, but until the Tigers can adhere to these instructions on a weekly basis and play the way they're capable of playing, inconsistency will continue to plague them.

Ben Elliott, Joel Western and George Graham were all omitted, yet the Tigers are still trying to work out their best team after losing seven of their past eight quarters of football.

And it doesn't get any easier, with away games against fellow top-five teams East Fremantle and Peel Thunder to come after their final bye of the home-and-away season in round 16.

But all is not lost, and the Tigers will give everything they have during the final four games before launching an assault on the finals.

Utility Bailey Rogers (team-high seven inside 50s) is building towards his best form as he continues to split his time between midfield and the forward line and was named best player, while reliable defender Jack Lewsey battled manfully.

Ruckman Oliver Eastland (25 disposals, seven marks, game-high eight tackles, game-high 34 hit-outs, one goal) continued his career-best form with another strong performance around the ground, while forwards Anthony Treacy and Zac Mainwaring each kicked two goals.

West Perth were well served by powerful midfielder Luke Meadows (game-high 32 disposals, game-high nine inside 50s, one goal) and speedy wingman Joe Hinder, while full-forward Tyler Keitel kicked a game-high five goals.

The Falcons also had 11 goal kickers on the back of recording six more inside 50s and nine more scoring shots during a dominant performance.

Midfielder Finn Moloney and wingman Menno Inverarity made their debuts and key forward Steve Miller lined up for his first League game of the season as Mountford elected to kick to the Claremont end of the ground in the opening term, defenders Anthony Davis and Dec Hardisty lining up in their 50th and 100th games respectively.

West Perth's Griffith Julian kicked the first goal before key forward Max Minear replied for Claremont and Jye Bolton (team-high 31 disposals) snapped out of the pack to give the Tigers an eight-point lead.

Keitel then grabbed the ball out of the ruck and snapped truly at the other end, Mainwaring producing repeat efforts and finishing with aplomb to kick Claremont's third goal.

West Perth co-captain Aaron Black suffered a concussion which left both teams a player down on the interchange bench, Shane Nelson and Pegoraro kicking truly to edge the Falcons in front by five points before Treacy limped from the field in another worrying sign for the Tigers.

Keitel kicked his second goal after the quarter-time siren to increase West Perth's lead to 10 points at the first change, goals to the returning Sasha Kernutt and Darcy Dixon extending the margin to 23 in the seventh minute of the second term.

Forward Ty Smallwood kicked Claremont's fourth goal before Pegoraro replied with his second to make it a 22-point lead for the Falcons at half-time.

The opening 12 minutes of the second half were a disaster for Claremont, with West Perth slamming on four more goals to increase their lead to 47 points, a brave Treacy kicking his first goal after returning to the field with strapping on his upper left leg.

Mainwaring soon added his second goal before Keitel replied with his fourth, Eastland kicking truly after gathering the crumbs on the goal line to trim the margin to 38 points at the final change.

A passionate Prescott urged the Tigers to work for each other and not go into self-preservation mode, West Perth's Nathan Alexandre stretchered from the field in the early stages of the final term after suffering a knee injury.

Three more goals gave West Perth a game-high 55-point lead before Treacy replied with his second goal and fellow forward Alex Manuel kicked his first,  a fifth major to Keitel rounding out a comprehensive victory for the Falcons on a day where the Tigers were unable to draw motivation from the 30-year premiership reunion of their 1993 win against the same opponent.

Claremont face East Fremantle at the WACA in round 17.

CLAREMONT 3.3 4.7 7.8 9.11 (65)

WEST PERTH 5.1 8.5 13.10 17.12 (114)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 A. Treacy, Z. Mainwaring, 1 J. Bolton, O. Eastland, A. Manuel, T. Smallwood, M. Minear.

WEST PERTH: 5 T. Keitel, 2 C. Lynch, N. Pegoraro, 1 L. Meadows, N. Murray, S. Nelson, M. Peirce, K. Todd, S. Kernutt, D. Dixon, G. Julian.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Rogers, J. Lewsey, O. Eastland, J. Bolton, D. Hardisty.

WEST PERTH: Z. Guadagnin, L. Meadows, J. Hinder, N. Pegoraro, C. Lynch.