Waterman Bag Sets Up Win Over Eagles

John Townsend

Alec Waterman got a player award after the recent West Perth win that might have been more about recognising commitment and inspiring effort rather than rewarding impact on the field.

But there was no question about his impact on Saturday when his career-equalling four goals delivered an anticipated but, nonetheless, demanding 51-point victory over West Coast.

Facing ladder-leaders South Fremantle in the annual NAIDOC match this Saturday is a juicy prospect for the second-placed Tigers but they could not afford to look too far ahead; the Eagles were in last place but their only win this season came against the Bulldogs and their 13 AFL-listed players meant they could not be taken lightly.

So it turned out.

Claremont set up the 13.18 (96) to 6.9 (45) win, their fifth in a row, by taking full advantage of their midfield dominance when they played their best football in the second and last quarters at Mineral Resources Park.

But the Tigers were stretched in the opening term, when they had to fight hard to overcome an early two-goal deficit, and again in the third when West Coast kicked three goals to double their score.

The class difference was evident with the most glaring examples in Claremont’s forward line where the power and might of Waterman (four goals), Kieran Gowdie (three), Jaiden Hunter and Zac Mainwaring (two apiece) exposed the opposition.

One of the most pleasing features was the fluid ball movement that enabled Claremont to land three end-to-end goals from kick-ins.

The returning Callan England was the catalyst for the first two.

Hunter’s first goal came when England found Waterman with a long kick, before the hard-running Talon Delacey and Mainwaring got the ball to the big forward.

Then Waterman got his fourth major from a sharp lead to Jye Bolton whose kick inside 50 was aided by an Ollie Eastland handball after Hunter had found the ruckman from the England kick-in.

Several of the same names were involved in the dying moments of the match when Bolton’s kick-in found Delacey before Ben Elliott and Ronin O’Connor, in his most effective display since returning from twin pectoral ruptures, linked the chain for Mainwaring to finish the job.

Claremont’s ability to combine offensive and defensive elements was demonstrated in the second term when they held West Coast to a solitary behind and scored five goals themselves from 10 shots.

Half of Claremont’s 35 disposals inside 50 were won in contests in that term, the big forwards all claimed contested marks and Waterman and Gowdie kicked multiple goals.

Eastland is probably the most influential player in the league and confirmed his standing with another prolific effort against three AFL-listed ruckmen.

Gowdie and Max Minear provided occasional relief but Eastland, whose 36 hit outs – 11 to the clear advantage of a team-mate – contributed to Claremont’s six goals directly from stoppages, loomed over the contest like no other player.

Elliott is flourishing in a midfield containing three Sandover medallists and his eight clearances, a return matched by Eastland and Bailey Rogers, provided Claremont with numerous chances to get the ball into their scoring zone.

A substantial pressure test awaits at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday, particularly as South Fremantle were the last team to beat the Tigers, but Claremont’s stars are shining, the chemistry is strong and the team is humming.

CLAREMONT 3.4 8.9 9.14 13.18 96

WEST COAST 3.3 3.4 6.6 6.9 45

GOALS – CLAREMONT: Waterman 4; Gowdie 3; Hunter, Mainwaring 2; O’Connor, Alvarez.

WEST COAST: Burke 3; Barnett, Champion, Long.

BEST – CLAREMONT: Eastland, Waterman, Rogers, Eastland, Elliott, Gowdie, O’Connor, Peace, Alvarez.

WEST COAST: Bazzo, Gross, Eastough, Chesser, Burke.