Claremont’s scoring spree

By Ken Casellas

Memories of a scoring spree by the Claremont reserves side against Perth at Lathlain Park 21 years ago came flooding back at Perth’s home ground last Saturday when the Tigers careered away to a 154-point victory over the Demons.

The 26.12 to 2.2 win eclipsed Claremont’s 131-point victory over the Perth reserves side (18.24 to 0.1) on July 10, 2004, when it appeared certain that Claremont would keep the home side scoreless until the final moments of the contest when Claremont’s lanky ruckman Nick Dunin thumped through a rushed behind.

What followed that runaway win was a memorable league match in which Claremont got away to a flyer with a 10.2 opening quarter before winning by 158 points — 28.18 to 4.4.

Then, last Saturday Perth turned the tables with a brilliant first quarter in the league match in which the home side scored 9.3 and held the Tigers to 1.1. This followed Claremont’s first quarter score of an identical 9.3 in the reserves match, against Perth’s solitary major.

The Claremont reserves side’s scoring blitz was somewhat unexpected after Steve Miller, switched to full-forward after shining at centre-half-back in the side’s previous four matches, led fast and held a fine mark in the left pocket in the opening minute of the game before his shot sailed out of bounds on the full.

And a couple of minutes later Miller took another mark on the left flank and his shot registered only a behind. But it was only a matter of the powerfully-built Miller to getting his radar on target, and he ended the quarter with three goals.

For good measure Miller took a turn in the ruck during the quarter to give West Love a spell, with the side’s No. 1 ruckman Kalin Lane out of action with the ‘flu. The 24-year-old Miller shone with six decisive ruck knocks in the quarter, most of them coming at centre bounce-downs.

Miller finished the match with a tally of 6.1 — and a sore knee after being dumped in a strong tackle. Also shining in attack for Claremont was 20-year-old Sam van Rooyen, who booted nine goals straight without a point in a splendid exhibition of intelligent leading, high marking as well as a couple of clever snaps from close range.

Van Rooyen took eight marks and had 17 kicks, while Miller took 11 marks and had 15 kicks. The inside 50m statistic was a lop-sided 67 to 18 in favour of Claremont.

The Claremont reserves, coached by Kepler Bradley, also restricted the opposition to small scores in the side’s three previous matches, with Subiaco managing 0.5, East Fremantle 1.3 and Peel Thunder 1.7.

Claremont sits on top the premiership table with 13 wins and two losses from 15 matches and boasts a massive percentage of 242.5.