Development Report - Four-Star Tigers Bury Demons

By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont’s Reserves’ stunning form has continued, with the Tigers defeating Perth by 27 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Saturday to record their fourth consecutive win.

The 15.14 (104) to 12.5 (77) victory was set up by a six-goal-to-one second term and moves Claremont ahead of Perth and into second position on the ladder.

73 more disposals, 11 more inside 50s, 12 more scoring shots and 11 goal kickers reflected Claremont’s control of the match, after the Tigers trailed by 14 points at quarter-time.

Ben Higgs (27 disposals, seven marks) continued his outstanding form since being moved back to defence to finish as Claremont’s best player and deservedly took home the players’ player award, while Eddie Simpson (nine marks, two goals) continues to provide a strong focal point in the forward line.

Jacob Sideris (22 disposals, five inside 50s) continues to put his hand up for a League debut with his hard running and attack on the ball, while Jeremy Goddard’s marking and impact around the ground goes from strength to strength.

Corey Mitchell (three goals, four tackles) and Chris (CJ) Oakley (two goals) continue to terrorize the opposition with their pace, pressure and ability to hit the scoreboard, while Fraser Gilbert continues to provide a cool head and composure in defence.

Coach, Kepler Bradley paid tribute to Jack Bradshaw, Aaron Holt, Tom Ledger and acting captain Morgan Davies, after the quartet were omitted from the League team but displayed a positive attitude and played their part in the win.

Perth were led by Guy Piggott (six goals) and Kurtis Chester (34 disposals, one goal), but had no answer to Claremont’s run of seven consecutive goals either side of half-time and slumped to consecutive defeats.

Goals to Josh Burke and Piggott gave Perth an 11-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the opening term, before a great chase and tackle saw Higgs win a free-kick and was an early sign of what was to come from the prominent Tiger.

Oakley then kicked the Tigers’ first goal, before majors to Blake Johnson and Chester saw Perth take a 14-point lead over an inaccurate Claremont (1.5) at the first change.

Bradley implored Claremont to take their chances and improve in clearances and on the spread, but paid tribute to Bradshaw (eight disposals) and encouraged his teammates to help the Tiger break his tag.

A 50m penalty saw Josh Bennett kick Claremont’s second goal and pull the Tigers to within seven points, before Piggott replied with his second.

However, it would be all Claremont in the next 24 minutes of play, with the Tigers taking complete control of the match through hard work and the ability to apply scoreboard pressure.

Goals to Bradshaw, Simpson and Ben Musitano gave Claremont the lead for the first time, before Mitchell made it four in a row.

Ledger then went bang from 50m, before Oakley thrilled the crowd with a high-flying mark in front of the members’ stand, with the popular Tiger leaping spectacularly and getting a further boost from his opponent to pull down one of the marks of the season.

That capped off a scintillating quarter and a second consecutive six-goal second term in seven days, as Claremont took a 19-point lead into half-time.

A second goal to Simpson saw Claremont extend the lead to 25 points at the eight-minute mark of the third term, before Oakley lit up the contest once more, with the speedy Tiger hitting a pack at full speed, gathering the ball and sending a checkside through the big sticks to make it seven consecutive goals.

With Claremont threatening to rip Perth to shreds, goals to Piggott (third) and Shaun Smith saw the Demons briefly respond, before Holt replied for the Tigers.

Some sloppiness in Claremont’s defence then allowed Piggott to kick his fourth, before a late goal to the previously unsighted Callum Papertalk gave Perth two in a row and saw the Demons trim the deficit to 12 points at the final change.

Bradley paid tribute to Claremont’s forward line and their pressure, however, a fifth goal to Piggott in the early stages of the final term saw the Tigers’ lead cut to just five points and reminded the hosts that their work was far from complete.

A dashing run and handball by Sideris allowed Nick Winmar to kick truly and break a run of three consecutive goals to Perth, before a second to Mitchell gave Claremont some breathing space.

Oliver Eastland then hauled in his first mark of the game after a series of near misses to give Claremont three goals in a row, before majors to Mitchell (third) and Matt Palfrey sealed the team’s fifth win of the season.

The Tigers will look to make it five consecutive wins when they face West Perth at HBF Arena in round 10.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts made it consecutive wins, with a 65-point drubbing of Perth, 12.19 (91) to 3.8 (26).

CLAREMONT 1.5 7.9 10.10 15.14 (104)

PERTH 4.1 5.2 9.4 12.5 (77)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 C. Mitchell, 2 C. Oakley, E. Simpson, 1 A. Holt, J. Bennett, M. Palfrey, O. Eastland, N. Winmar, T. Ledger, J. Bradshaw, B. Musitano.

PERTH: 6 G. Piggott, 3 C. Papertalk, 1 B. Johnson, S. Smith, K. Chester.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Higgs, E. Simpson, J. Sideris, J. Goddard.

PERTH: G. Piggott, K. Chester, S. Smith, C. Papertalk, C. Marshall.