Waterman Leads by Example

By Ken Casellas

An electrifying first-quarter performance by dynamic forward Alec Waterman set a high standard for the Claremont Tigers in their battle against West Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.

The powerfully-built left-footer stole the show with his vigorous approach and his ferocious attack on the ball, and fellow forward Jack Musika also produced an outstanding four-quarter effort.

Waterman and Musika were shining lights on a generally disappointing afternoon when the Tigers bumbled their way to a 23-point victory to maintain their grip on second place on the league premiership table.

This was an important lesson that no side can afford to take the opposition lightly. West Perth came into the game with one victory from 15 matches this season, but the Falcons belied their lowly position by putting the Tigers under constant pressure.

And now Claremont will need to show marked improvement when they travel to Bassendean Oval next Saturday to do battle with Swan Districts, a competent side which cannot be underestimated, particularly on its home ground.

Much of Claremont’s play against Werst Perth was marred by poor disposal by hand and foot, frequent failure to hit targets, dropping simple marks and general fumbling.

It is possibly unfair to criticise Claremont’s wholehearted effort, but the Tigers cannot afford to be complacent with the finals rapidly approaching. The players need to improve their skills.

The Tigers received an immediate warning that the Cardinals meant business when Connor West gained the clearance from the opening bounce and booted the ball forward where Keegan Knott pounced and scored a goal 15 seconds after the opening siren.

At the one-minute mark Waterman took a strong contested mark 48m out. But his long shot crashed into the right goal post. Ben Elliott passed to Musika, who scored a goal at the five-minute mark, and five minutes later rebounding defender Anthony Davis delivered to Waterman, whose shot gave him his second poster.

Waterman kicked his first goal after marking a pass from Tyson Headland, and later in the term he scored his second after marking a pass from Dec Mountford, and this was followed moments before the quarter-time siren when Kieran Gowdie scored his side’s fifth goal from a goalmouth scramble, enabling Claremont to go into the break with a six-point lead.

In the remarkable first quarter of football from Waterman, he took four marks, had seven kicks, made one effective handpass, laid two tackles and scored 2.2. He continued to dominate, and he scored the third of his four goals two minutes into the second term after an Elliott handpass to Zac Mainwaring, and Mainwaring’s kick saw Waterman take yet another contested mark.

The 29-year-old Waterman is not simply a goalkicker. He is selfless and is an important organiser in the forward lines as well as being a valuable mentor to younger members of the side.

Key forward Sam van Rooyen made a welcome return to the league side and was rewarded for his hard work with four goals, while Max Minear reappeared after missing the side’s previous five matches as he recovered from a damaged hamstring.

Minear, who had played strongly in defence in matches earlier in the season, added valuable experience and height in attack, and he delighted his teammates when he scored his first goal of the season after marking a pass from Davis late in the third quarter.

Gowdie continues to perform strongly in the ruck while giving Ollie Eastland some respite from his duties as the side’s No. 1 ruckman. Gowdie also scored two goals while Eastland was a dominant ruckman with 36 hit-outs.

Musika, a lively small forward, is an extremely constructive player who chases and tackles hard and sets up many promising attacking moves. He excelled on Saturday when he took four marks, had 15 kicks, made ten effective handpasses, sent the ball inside the 50m zone six times and had a team high tally of ten tackles.

Mountford had a team-high total of eight inside 50s and continues to have a steadying influence on the team, while Bailey Rogers (12 marks, 20 kicks and eight handpasses) and Elliott (five marks, 11 kicks and 14 handpasses) worked effectively in the midfield battles.

Details:

Claremont 13.12 (90) beat West Perth 10.7 (67)

Scorers—CLAREMONT: S. van Rooyen, A. Waterman 4.2; K. Gowdie 2.0; J. Musika 1.1; Z. Mainwaring, M. Minear 1.0; T. Headland 0.2; O. Eastland, M. Spyvee 0.1; 3pts forced. WEST PERTH: K. Knott 3.2; H. Spawton-Guy 2.1; C. Rundle 2.0; K. Beven, N. Dimanlig, C. West 1.0; T. Keitel 0.2; C. Lynch 0.1; 1pt forced.

Best—CLAREMONT: A. Waterman, J. Musika, B. Rogers, B. Elliott, D. Mountford, A. Davis, S. Van Rooyen, O. Eastland. WEST PERTH: C. Lynch, C. Rundle, J. Rotham, C. West, T. Keitel, J. Rigoll, K. Knott, R. Sprigg.