Claremont Start Season with Gripping Draw

By John Townsend

It could have been better; it could have been so much worse.

Claremont came from 29 points behind to draw their season-opener against reigning premier Peel on Saturday in a clear sign that the Tigers will be contenders again this season but need to improve their efficiency to stamp their authority on the competition.

Returning to the scene of their galling one-point loss in the first semi-final last season, when Blair Bell’s goal in the final seconds broke Claremont hearts, it was the inaccurate Tigers who charged home in the first game of the new season.

And they can thank debutant Austin van der Struyf for sharing the points at Rushton Park after his flying shot with 28 seconds remaining ensured scores were tied 10.19 (79) to 12.7 (79).

It was the first draw in coach Ashley Prescott’s nine-season tenure and just the 12th in Claremont’s 99-year league history.

The past four have been in grand final seasons, the most recent in 2010 when Claremont and Swan Districts played out a nail-biter several months before their even more nail-biting season decider.

As Sandover medallist Callan England led from the front to celebrate his 100th match for the club, Claremont had several chances to grab the lead in the final minutes but could not find the clear air required to overcome the tiring Thunder.

When Zac Mainwaring landed a cool set shot in time-on to cut the margin to just two points, it appeared that Claremont had the momentum to avenge the loss in the previous encounter.

But the returning Jack Lewsey was off-line after getting loose to mark in the forward 50, lively Jack Musika missed everything as he swooped on a loose ball in heavy traffic and Peel’s desperate defence kept Claremont at bay until van der Struyf found the ball in the remaining seconds.

Claremont’s 4.8 in the last term reinforced their ability to over-run a Peel team in which returning AFL regulars Hayden Young and Sean Darcy were prominent contributors, but also underlined their inability to take opportunities created by the tenacious players further up the field.

Claremont started brightly but were soon overtaken by a strong Peel outfit that extended the lead to 29 points late in the third term as Young and Will Brodie took advantage of Darcy and fellow Fremantle giant Liam Reidy being able to tag-team in the ruck against Olly Eastland.

The Peel pair doubled Eastland’s hit-out tally but could not combat his impact around the ground where the star Tiger gathered a game-high 18 contested possessions, 10 spoils and eight clearances to set his customary high standard of commitment and intensity.

Brodie (33 disposals) and Young (19 and three goals) were busy throughout but could not wield the influence exerted by England whose 32 possessions were a key element in the game being played mostly in Claremont’s forward half.

England’s strongest effort came in the second term, when Peel kicked six goals and threatened to blow the game apart as Young, premiership captain ben Hancock and State defender Michael Sellwood dominated general play.

But Claremont rallied and were able to play much of the rest of the match in their front half with their 29 scoring shots coming from 66 inside 50s while Peel’s 19 scores came from just 43 entries.

There were numerous good signs for Prescott who will welcome back regulars Sam Alvarez and Kieran Gowdie next week while Bailey Rogers is on the mend after Achilles tendon issues.

Gowdie was in excellent form in the pre-season before he had to serve a one-match suspension and should relish the chance to play alongside recruit Jaiden Hunter whose first goal for his new club came early in the game.

Hunter added another early in the last term as Claremont started their charge towards the finish line.

Claremont’s intensity in attack was a notable feature of their performance as they laid 18 tackles inside the forward 50, most supplied by the energetic Tyron Smallwood.

The seasoned Smallwood and fellow smalls Talon Delacey and Mainwaring have played together for the past four seasons and provide a valuable component to the Claremont make-up.

The spotlight is naturally drawn to spearheads such as Hunter but that trio, who average exactly a goal a game each between them, have become vital parts of the Claremont machine.

CLAREMONT 2.4 |4.5 |6.11 |10.19 || 79

PEEL 3.0 | 9.3 | 11.7 | 12.7 || 79

GOALS

CLAREMONT: Hunter, Elliott 2; Waterman, Bolton, England, Delacey, Minear, Mainwaring.

PEEL: Young, Tregenza 3; Tuia 2; Ahearn, Hancock, Sears, Riddle.

BEST

CLAREMONT: England, Eastland, Bolton, Smallwood, Davis, Elliott.

PEEL: Young, Brodie, Simpson, Narkle, Sellwood, Hancock.