Ledger works hard in losing cause

By Ken Casellas

Tom Ledger continued in stellar form at the Showgrounds on Saturday and he was supported in fine style by fellow midfielders Jake Murphy, Ryan Lim and Jared Hardisty. But Claremont failed to swing into gear for much of the first half of the match against Perth and suffered a disappointing four-point defeat after a spirited second-half revival.

In a contest which certainly could not be regarded as one for the ages, the lead changed hands ten times and the scores were level on four occasions.

In a hectic final quarter Perth prevailed to win, 10.16 (76) to 11.6 (72) to notch the club’s fifth win from 13 matches this season and retain seventh spot on the premiership table.

This was Claremont’s tenth loss from 13 matches and the side is languishing in eighth place. It was the side’s eighth loss from its past nine matches. Six of Claremont’s defeats have been by narrow margins ---three, four, five, six, seven and eight points.

It was a sad result for the watching 13 life member former players --- John O’Connell, Denis Marshall, Les Mumme, Lorne Cook, Wayne Harvey, Ken Mann, John Parkinson, Graham Moss, Warren Ralph, Robbie Melville, Mark Hann, Darren Kowal and David Crawford ---  who played a combined total of 2253 league matches for the Tigers, booted 2516 goals and collected 14 fairest-and-best awards.

On a bright note, it was heartening to watch diminutive CJ Oakley, an 18-year-old forward from the club’s Kimberley zone, make his league debut after a string of fine performances in colts and reserves ranks this season. The exciting pocket rocket celebrated the occasion by snapping a clever goal with his first kick in senior ranks.

The Tigers were somewhat fortunate to be in front by six points at quarter time after Perth had peppered away at goal for much of the first term, but were dogged by erratic shooting. Several comparatively easy shots were off-line and others sailed out of bounds on the full.

Occasional exuberance by some Claremont players proved costly and this was reflected in the free-kick count at quarter time --- ten to Perth and four to Claremont, as well as a couple of 50m penalties to the Redlegs.

In a sign of things to come Lim won the clearance at the opening bounce, but it took seven minutes before the first goal, which came after Francis Watson had taken an excellent mark in defence. Watson passed to Ledger and the move ended with a goal snapped by Ian Richardson.

Perth replied with a major to Laine Wilkins and four minutes later a move involving Jye Bolton, Murphy and Dylan Ross resulted in a pouncing Oakley snapping truly from the right pocket.

Watson fell heavily in a marking duel on the members’ wing and had to leave the field for treatment to a leg. Supporters sighed with relief when he was able to resume in the second quarter.

Tom Shanahan foiled a Perth forward sortie with a crunching tackle on Aidan Tropiano and a highlight was a grand effort by Ross, who chased fiendishly to lay a great tackle on Sam Garstone as he was about to shoot for goal from point-blank range.

After a powerful ruck knock from Mitch Andrews, Keifer Yu snapped a goal as the siren was sounding to give the Tigers the lead, 3.1 to Perth’s wasteful 1.7, at quarter time. 

Early goals in the second term to Brennan Stack and Clint Jones saw the Demons move to a six-point lead. Jones appeared likely to add another as he was poised to take a mark about 65m out at right half-forward. But a tremendous effort by Jack Richardson halted the Demons. Richardson effected a great spoil, and sent the ball forward where Beau Maister’s goal brought the scores level.

Two minutes later Maister took a wonderful mark on the left wing. Perth repulsed the attack and soon afterwards a free-kick to Tropiano gave the Demons their fourth major. Then Oakley showed his worth with a great smother off the boot of Matthew Taylor in the centre of the ground.

Perth then asserted their authority and scored the next couple of goals to go into the half-time break with a handy 22-point advantage.

Claremont came out with greater energy and urgency and goals early in the third quarter to Watson and Higgs reduced the deficit to ten points before Cody Leggett’s goal gave the visitors some breathing space.

Haydn Busher was working strongly in defence for the Tigers and eight minutes passed before the next goal when good work from Oakley, Hardisty and Darcy Cameron ended with Ian Richardson notching his second major.

A long shot at goal by Perth’s Brent Edmonds saw a leaping Watson touch the ball on the line for just a behind. Claremont then moved the ball swiftly downfield where Lim scored Claremont’s eighth goal. Perth hit back with a major to Lennon Marlin.

Robust defender Jack Beeck, who started the match as a forward, was on the ball and he gained the clearance from the resultant centre bounce, enabling Lim to snap a goal at the 28-minute mark. Then in the dying moments of the quarter the Tigers had a lucky reprieve when Perth’s Brett Wolfenden, under no pressure, ran in to an open goal, but missed from 30m out. His behind gave Perth a seven-point lead.

The scores were locked together five minutes into the final quarter after Jack Richardson marked a Lim snap in the goalsquare and kicked truly. Bolton gained the centre clearance and his kick was marked by Higgs. But his shot veered to the left for just a behind.

Claremont were back in front. But the Demons hit back with a long goal from Julian Jacobs. It was thrilling stuff as an inspired Beeck gained the centre clearance, surged forward and watched as his long kick was marked in grand style by Darcy Cameron.

Cameron’s goal again had the Tigers in the lead at the ten-minute mark. Six minutes later a goal to Spencer White put the Demons back in front. This was the final goal of the match, with players from both sides hurling themselves into the fray in the final 13 minutes, during which time Maister lifted superbly and thrilled the crowd with two marvellous captures, the first a grand one-handed mark and the second a high-flying mark from a Murphy kick.

The Tigers were attacking relentlessly and after Maister’s second mark Perth scrambled the ball through for a forced point. However, the siren sounded moments later with Claremont still deep in attack.

Details:

Perth 10.16 (76) beat Claremont 11.6 (72)

Scorers---PERTH: B. Stack 2.5; C. Leggett, L. Marlin, L. Wilkins 1.1; K. Cary, J. Jacobs, C. Jones, A. Tropiano, S. White 1.0; L. Dennis 0.2; R. Brookes, B. Edmonds, J. Irons, B. Wolfenden 0.1; 2pts forced. CLAREMONT: R. Lim 2.1; I. Richardson 2.0; B. Higgs, B. Maister 1.1; D. Cameron, C. Oakley, J. Richardson, F. Watson, K. Yu 1.0; J. Beeck, T. Ledger 0.1; 1pt forced.

Best---PERTH: C. Jones, A. Tropiano, C. Leggett, L. Dennis, T. Gianatti, L. McKenna, L. Marlin, B. Stack, J. Jacobs, M. Sinclair. CLAREMONT: T. Ledger, R. Lim. J. Murphy. J. Hardisty, H. Busher, J. Beeck.