League Report: Manuel leads the way for Tigers

By Dan Scamozzi

A best-on-ground performance from Alex Manuel helped Claremont record consecutive wins after smashing Perth by 59 points at Lathlain Park.

The hard-working Tiger, in just his ninth League game, finished with 27 disposals, seven marks and five goals as well as having a hand in several others to take home the players’ player award following the 22.15 (147) to 13.10 (88) victory.

The Tigers won every quarter, recorded 19 more inside 50s, 14 more scoring shots and had nine goal kickers as they continued their dominant start to the season and left the Demons winless.

Claremont’s final score was also their highest since round 24, 2012.

Bailey Banfield set the tone for Claremont’s 11-goal-to-six first half and starred with 27 disposals and seven inside 50s, while Jack Richardson got better as the game wore on to finish with a career-high five goals.

Jesse Laurie and Haydn Busher (25 disposals, nine marks) led the way in defence, while ruckman Mitch Andrews (47 hit outs) put on a clinic and gave Claremont’s midfield first use of the ball.

Beau Maister did a mountain of work to finish with eight marks, all inside the 50m arc, and 4.6, while Zac Langdon continued his fine start to the season with 22 disposals, eight inside 50s and one goal.

Ryan Lim was another key performer and finished with 26 disposals, six inside 50s and two goals.

The only sour note for the Tigers was a first-term knee injury to Ryan Neates.

Perth were led by ruckman Christian Eyres, Laine Wilkins and Brennan Stack (five goals) while Spencer White kicked four goals, however, the hosts had no answer for the Tigers’ fire power in captain Clint Jones’ 300^th senior game of football.

After a bye in round two, the Tigers got off to a fast start in perfect conditions when Tom Lee kicked truly to pick up where he left on in round one, before a spearing pass from Langdon enabled Maister to double Claremont’s advantage.

Neates was then assisted from the field after going down in the centre circle and would not return, before Manuel gave the Tigers three consecutive goals.

Perth briefly hit back through Kurtis Chester and Stack, only for Lim to kick truly from 50m before turning provider for Lee’s second major.

A booming clearance and goal from Langdon gave Claremont a 25-point lead at quarter-time after a six-goal term, 34 more disposals, 11 disposals to Banfield and 15 hit outs to Andrews, as coach Darren Harris paid tribute to the team’s run-and-carry and encouraged them to keep taking the game on.

Goals to Stack (second) and Sam Garstone gave Perth first blood in the second term and reduced Claremont’s lead to 13 points, before the Tigers steadied through majors to J. Richardson and Matt Guelfi.

Then, in a scintillating passage of play, Andrews expertly tapped the ball behind his head to a perfectly-positioned Langdon who found Ian Richardson, allowing the star Tiger and vice-captain to kick his 350^th League goal.

Stack replied for Perth with his third after capitalising on an error in Claremont’s defence, before White gave the Demons consecutive majors.

A high-flying mark to Manuel and brilliant snap from Jye Bolton saw Claremont respond, before Manuel capped off a great first half from the Tigers by kicking truly after the half-time siren to extend the lead to 34 points.

A second goal to Maister saw Claremont start the second half in no mood to rest on their laurels, before Manuel quickly added his third major following some great efforts from Guelfi.

Maister then did likewise, before J. Richardson gave the Tigers a 58-point lead with his second and Claremont’s sixth consecutive goal.

Perth hit back through majors to White and Wilkins, before fourth and third goals to Manuel and J. Richardson respectively saw Claremont turn for home with a 57-point lead.

Three of the first four goals, including a fourth to J. Richardson and fifth to Manuel, gave Claremont a great start to the final term, before J. Richardson quickly added his fifth after jarring tackles on the opposition from Bolton and Jake Murphy.

Maister then added his fourth, with the Tigers now threatening to blast Perth into oblivion.

Despite Perth kicking the final four goals, it proved little more than consolation for the hosts, as the Tigers recorded consecutive wins to start the season for the first time since 2013.

Claremont will look to make it three in a row when they face East Perth at Medibank Stadium on Friday night in round four.

CLAREMONT 6.4 11.9 17.12 22.15 (147)

PERTH 2.3 6.5 8.9 13.10 (88)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 A. Manuel, J. Richardson, 4 B. Maister, 2 R. Lim, T. Lee, 1 Z. Langdon, M. Guelfi, J. Bolton, I. Richardson.

PERTH: 5 B. Stack, 4 S. White, 1 A. Tropiano, L. Wilkins, K. Chester, S. Garstone.

BEST

CLAREMONT: A. Manuel, B. Banfield, J. Richardson, J. Laurie, H. Busher.

PERTH: C. Eyres, L. Wilkins, B. Stack, C. Jones, G. Narrier.