Round 7 Reserves Report

by Dan Scamozzi

Claremont (Reserves) have risen to fourth position on the ladder after defeating West Perth by 19 points at HBF Arena.

The Tigers lead at every change in their 13.16 (94) to 11.9 (75) win, and have now recorded consecutive wins for the second time in five games.

Tom Shanahan and the returning Rowen Powell lead the way for Claremont, while Gerrick Weedon (four goals) and Ben Higgs (three) provided focal points in the forward line.

John Williams marshalled Claremont’s defence, while Harry Sinclair won his fair share of the ball and locked down on the opposition when needed.

West Perth were best served by Mitchell Peirce and former Tiger Keegan Knott (three goals).

With Powell lining up for his first game since round one after returning from an ankle injury, and Ian Rowe and David Ehlers  coming into the team who defeated Peel Thunder eight days earlier, Matthew Palfrey (League), Eddie Simpson (injured) and Zachary Lynn all made way.

After three straight behinds, Mason Whitehead showed his teammates how it’s done when he kicked Claremont’s and the game’s first goal at the 14-minute mark of the opening term after being found by Hugo Breakey.

A second goal quickly followed when Justin Speed lived up to his surname with a blistering run through midfield to set up Higgs, before Ashley Fitzgerald added a third to give Claremont an 18-point lead.

Knott then responded with two quick goals for West Perth, before Weedon gave Claremont a 12-point lead at quarter-time after some great passes by Alex Manuel and Higgs.

Claremont coach Kepler Bradley implored his troops to lower their eyes when going forward, but lauded the efforts in contested ball.

Consecutive posters to Lawrence Evans and Higgs opened the second term, before Weedon grabbed his second goal and gave the Tigers a 20-point buffer.

Martin Geraghty replied for the Falcons, before Higgs grabbed his second and Evans kicked truly from a 50m penalty.

A late goal to West Perth’s Tyson Moulton cut Claremont’s lead to 20 points at half-time, before a third to Weedon gave the Tigers a 26-point advantage at the start of the third term.

Angus Innes replied for West Perth courtesy of a 50m penalty, before Higgs kicked his third goal.

Ben Mountford pulled West Perth to within 23 points, before goals to Weedon (fourth), Rowe and Manuel, on the three-quarter-time siren, had Claremont leading by 42 points at the final change.

Bradley paid tribute to Sinclair’s efforts on the dangerous Peirce, and Williams’ long kicking, while also highlighting the Tigers’ pressure and tackling.

Despite West Perth kicking the first five goals of the final term, J. Speed ensured Claremont took home the points and recorded their fourth win with a late major.

Claremont will look to make it three consecutive wins when it hosts South Fremantle at the Show Grounds in round eight.

CLAREMONT 4.3 7.8 12.12 13.16 (94)

WEST PERTH 2.3 4.6 6.6 11.9 (75)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 G. WEEDON, 3 B. HIGGS, 1 I. ROWE, L. EVANS, A. FITZGERALD, A. MANUEL, M. WHITEHEAD, J. SPEED.

WEST PERTH: 3 K. KNOTT, 2 M. GERAGHTY, T. MOULTON, 1 A. INNES, B. MOUNTFORD, M. ANTONIO, M. ALEXANDER.

BEST

CLAREMONT: R. POWELL, T. SHANAHAN, B. HIGGS, G. WEEDON, H. SINCLAIR, J. WILLIAMS.

WEST PERTH: M. PEIRCE, K. KNOTT, C. LYNCH.