Round 21 League Report - Another narrow defeat

Another narrow defeat

By Ken Casellas

Claremont’s season of frustrating defeats by narrow margins continued when the side fought valiantly before losing to West Perth by one point at Joondalup on Saturday.

This ended Claremont’s remote hopes of squeezing into the finals and the side, with two qualifying-round matches (against East Fremantle and Peel Thunder) remaining, will finish seventh or eighth on the premiership table.

This heartbreaking loss followed defeats by three and seven points at the hands of West Perth earlier in the season, during which Claremont lost eight matches by fewer than nine points, these margins being: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (twice).

And to compound Claremont’s woes, much-loved champion Beau Maister was knocked unconscious in the final stages of a thrilling contest after his head crashed into the ground after he had taken a splendid contested mark near the left behind post.

There was less than two minutes remaining, with the Tigers trailing by seven points. There was a stoppage of about eight minutes before Maister was taken from the field on a stretcher. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, suffering from concussion, before he was released on Sunday. Thankfully, he is making a satisfactory recovery.

It was a spirited, hard-fought match which saw the lead change hands ten times and the scores level twice in the first three quarters. In the first half the Falcons scored 8.3 to Claremont’s 8.2 and in the second half each side added 9.3.

Captain Jake Murphy returned to action after injury and he led the Tigers grandly, with his two inspirational on-the-run goals in the space of 80 seconds in the final quarter lifting the side off the canvas.

In an interesting tactical ploy West Perth coach Bill Monaghan decided not to assign Dean Munns the task of tagging Claremont’s superb midfielder Jye Bolton, whose influence in two previous encounters with West Perth this season was greatly restricted by the diligent and vigilant Munns.

Instead, Jay van Berlo lined up on Bolton, and during the course of the game van Berlo was relieved of his duties, at times, by Aaron Black, Corey Chalmers, Aidan Lynch and Trent Manzone.

Bolton was not fazed by the c lose attention and he maintained his tremendous form and was an influential player throughout the contest, having 15 kicks and making 18 effective handpasses. He gained a match-high tally of 11 clearances from stoppages and drove the ball inside his side’s 50m attacking zone five times.

The Cardinals fell into the trap of being a bit too physical against Bolton and Murphy, with the umpires awarding Bolton four free kicks and Murphy five. Claremont won the free-kick tally, with 22 to West Perth’s total of eight.

Typifying Claremont’s determination was the evergreen Mitch Andrews, who dominated the ruck duels and finished with 48 hit-outs. His wholehearted endeavours constantly inspired his teammates. 

After an early goal to West Perth sharpshooter Max Duffy, the Tigers replied with a major to half-back flanker Jack Beeck at the six-minute mark. Alex Manuel pounced on a West Perth fumble and handpassed to Zac Langdon, who handballed to the running Beeck.

Langdon was under notice with some fearless tackling and Manuel was to the fore again with a handpass to Ian Richardson, who took two bounced before popping through his side’s second goal.

It took 14 minutes for Claremont’s third goal, with Harry McCracken handpassing to Richardson, who drove the ball forward where Maister met with interference in a marking duel with Tyler Keitel.  Maister made the most of the free-kick and notched the first of his three goals for the afternoon.

The Cardinals went into the quarter-time break with a handy 14-point lead before Langdon booted a major five minutes into the second term. Winger Morgan Davies found Darcy Cameron with a typically precise pass and Cameron passed to Langdon, who received a free-kick after interference in a marking duel.

Claremont then drew to within two points of West Perth with Maister snapping cleverly from the left pocket after some good work from Manuel. Chris Keunen replied with a goal to the home side.

Six minutes later Anton Hamp and Matt Guelfi worked hard in defence and started an excellent passage of play, involving Andrews, McCracken, Tom Shanahan, Matt Davies, Bolton, Jared Hardisty, Langdon and Murphy, whose shot from 55m out fell short.

The ball rolled out of bounds in the right pocket. Maister then signalled to Andrews that he would contest the boundary throw-in. Big Beau gained the knock and, showing great agility, he collected the ball off the ground and snapped Claremont’s sixth goal.

Manuel got Claremont’s next goal two minutes later after some good work from Hardisty, Ryan Lim, Bailey Rogers, Cameron, Maister, Richardson and Langdon. But West Perth replied immediately with a goal to Steven Potente to regain the lead by two points.

The Tigers got in front again three minutes later after a fine sortie down the left flank, with Richardson clearing the ball from defence, Cameron taking a tumbling mark, Matt Davies holding a contested mark and, finally, Jake Waterman pulling down a strong contested mark in the left pocket before kicking truly to give the Tigers a two-point advantage.

A late goal to Steven Browne enabled the Falcons to go into half-time with a one-point lead. Claremont midfielder Shanahan had been stunned by a powerful tackle and was unable to resume in the second half, suffering from concussion.

Goals to Kody Manning and van Berlo early in the third term saw West Perth back in front by seven points. But the Tigers hit back, with Lim delivering to Murphy and Murphy getting g the ball to Manuel, who held a juggled mark before notching his second major.

West Perth replied with goals to Andrew Strijk and Duffy, but the frittered away several scoring chances with erratic disposal. Three West Perth shots at goal late in the quarter sailed out of bounds on the full in the space of 80 seconds.

In the time-on period Richardson notched his second goal after handpasses from Morgan Davies and Bolton. But Michael Lourey replied with a goal at the 29-minute mark. This was followed by a behind from Manzone and the home side led by 15 points at three-quarter time. Lourey’s goal was his second in a match which saw him manage just two kicks. He was kept well in check for most of the afternoon by Anton Hamp.

Van Berlo got West Perth away to a flyer with a goal early in the final term. But the Tigers were not to be denied. Handpasses from Morgan Davies and Lim resulted in Hardisty booting the ball forward where McCracken contested a mark with Ben King. The ball went to ground and McCracken cleverly eluded his opponent in the left pocket before dribbling the ball through the big sticks for a sensational goal.

Duffy replied immediately with a clever screw kick for West Perth’s 14^th goal and then from a stoppage Browne snapped another for the hoke side. This saw West Perth leading by a comfortable 26 points, 15.6 to 11.4, at the 11-minute mark.

Three minutes later a Morgan Davies pass was marked by McCracken for his second goal. Again it was Duffy who replied for West Perth, this time with a soccered kick.

Waterman, in defence, passed to Justin Speed and Maister held a tumbling mark. But only a behind was the result. It was tough, unrelenting football as the combatants threw themselves into the fray. Cameron was awarded a free-kick after interference. Lim pounced to take the advantage free-kick and his well-weighted short pass was marked by Richardson, whose third goal boosted the spirits of the Claremont faithful.

Bolton received a free-kick at the resultant centre bounce. The ball went forward and after a stoppage Murphy gained possession and burst forward to boot a team-lifting goal. Just over a minute later Richardson got the ball to Murphy for the captain’s second major in almost a blink of an eye.

Two minutes later stout-hearted defender Haydn Busher soared to take a mark over West Perth’s Rohan Kerr and he handpassed to the mercurial Richardson, who drove the ball to the square where Cameron took a flying mark. His goal brought the margin to a solitary point.

Andrews won the knock at the centre bounce. But the Cardinals were resolute in defence and the ball went into their attacking zone where Duffy received a free-kick after receiving a front-on tackle. He was 45m out and his sixth major gave West Perth a seven-point lead at the 28-minute mark.

Two minutes later Morgan Davies passed to Richardson and his long kick forward saw Maister take a strong mark in the left pocket, close to the behind post.  But he crashed to ground heavily and was motionless, sending the Claremont medical staff rushing to his aid. Finally, he was placed on a stretcher and was carried from the ground.

Tom Ledger took the kick and curled in a clever goal to reduce West Perth’s lead to one point. Players from both sides fought desperately in the remaining hectic 90 seconds. The Tigers had a few opportunities to score. But there was to be no miracle ending.

Details:

West Perth 17.6 (108) beat Claremont 17.5 (107)

Scorers---

WEST PERTH: M. Duffy 6.1; S. Browne, M. Lourey, K. Manning 2.0; R. Kerr, A. Strijk, J. van Berlo 1.1; C. Keunen, S. Potente 1.0; T. Manzone 0.2. 

CLAREMONT: B. Maister 3.2; I. Richardson 3.0; A. Manuel 2.1; H. McCracken, J. Murphy 2.0; J. Beeck, D. Cameron, Z. Langdon, T. Ledger, J. Waterman 1.0; J. Hardisty, J. Speed 0.1.

Best---

WEST PERTH: R. Kerr, A. Black, M. Duffy, K. Manning, B. Wilhelm, A. Lynch, J. van Berlo, A. Strijk, T. Manzone. 

CLAREMONT: J. Murphy, J. Bolton, I. Richardson, R. Lim, M. Andrews, J. Hardisty, B. Maister, J. Speed.