Tigers Roar into Top Spot

By Dan Scamozzi

Nine consecutive victories means Claremont (Reserves) have moved one win clear on top of the ladder after demolishing Peel Thunder by 111 points at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

The Tigers won every quarter and led at every change in their 21.16 (142) to 4.7 (31) rout of the hosts, as the team posted its highest score and biggest win for the season.

Claremont took a 38-point lead into half-time after keeping Peel goalless in the second term, but stepped it up a gear in the second half, kicking 14 goals to two.

The Tigers had a number of key contributors in the win, as the team recorded 28 more inside 50s and 26 more scoring shots.

Jack Beeck (32 disposals, eight inside 50s, two goals) and Keifer Yu (30 disposals, six tackles, nine inside 50s) responded to their League omissions with dominant performances, while Justin Speed and John Williams were also outstanding.

Jack Richardson (21 disposals, 10 marks) kicked three goals and had a hand in several others, while Gerrick Weedon also booted three and was one of 12 Claremont goal kickers.

Isaac Devitt-Boyd, Harry Sinclair and Cameron Palmer led a resolute Claremont defence, while Eddie Simpson provided a presence in the ruck and around the ground.

Keegan Power and Corey Morris won their share of the ball for Peel, while Nicholas Merritt and Luke Shepherd each kicked two goals, however, they were the only goal kickers for the hosts.

Goals to Richardson and Weedon gave Claremont a fast start to the game, before Shepherd replied for Peel at the nine-minute mark of the opening term.

Chris Oakley then followed up a great tackle with a clever goal as the Tigers took a 13-point lead, before Simpson kicked truly following some precise and patient ball movement from half-back.

A desperate spoil by Palmer highlighted the Tigers’ early intent, before Merritt kicked the first of his two goals for Peel just before quarter-time.

The result was a 14-point lead to Claremont, as coach Kepler Bradley praised the team’s opening 15 minutes but lamented the next 10, particularly at clearances, in which the Tigers needed to improve their hardness at the ball.

A second goal to Richardson followed a high-flying mark to Ben Higgs and gave the Tigers a quick start to the second term, before a goal-saving mark to Simpson at the other end prevented Peel from gaining a quick reply.

Goals to Bailey Banfield and debutant Keanu Shandley followed as the Tigers took a commanding lead into half-time, although, overuse of the ball and inaccuracy in front of goal were areas in need of improvement.

A goal to the hard-working Beeck gave Claremont first blood for the third quarter in a row, before Merritt kicked his second for Peel.

This stung the Tigers into action as Anton Hamp capitalised on some fine work from Richardson to kick truly, before the prominent Richardson went from provider to scorer by kicking his third goal after being involved on the wing just moments earlier.

Weedon quickly added his second, before Higgs got in on the act to give the Tigers four in a row.

A second goal to Shandley and major to J. Speed, on the three-quarter-time siren, gave Claremont seven for the quarter as the Tigers took a commanding 74-point lead into the final change.

Weedon then ensured Claremont kicked the opening goal in each quarter with his third to start the final term, before Higgs and Simpson joined the multiple goal kickers’ list.

Matthew Ehlers and J. Speed (second) then got in on the act, before Toby Plant and Beeck (second) kicked truly to give the Tigers 13 goals in a row.

Shepherd added his second for Peel, however, Claremont ran out comprehensive winners in a dominant display and, in the process, restricted its opposition to less than 10 goals for the seventh time in its last nine matches.

The Tigers will now turn their attention to Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in Round 20.

Meanwhile, Claremont continued its pursuit of a top-two finish in the Colts after recording consecutive wins with a 74-point hammering of Peel Thunder, 15.14 (104) to 4.6 (30).

CLAREMONT 4.3 7.10 14.13 21.16 (142)

PEEL THUNDER 2.1 2.2 3.5 4.7 (31)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. RICHARDSON, G. WEEDON, 2 B. HIGGS, J. BEECK, E. SIMPSON, K. SHANDLEY, J. SPEED, 1 T. PLANT, M. EHLERS, B. BANFIELD, C. OAKLEY, A. HAMP.

PEEL THUNDER: 2 N. MERRITT, L. SHEPHERD.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. BEECK, K. YU, J. RICHARDSON, E. SIMPSON, J. SPEED, J. WILLIAMS.

PEEL THUNDER: K. POWER, C. MORRIS, N. MERRITT, A. LEROY.