League Report: Tigers Hold off Falcons

By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont held off a fast-finishing and inaccurate West Perth to record their third consecutive win at Claremont Oval last Saturday.

West Perth’s Corey Chalmers had the chance to win the game for the Falcons after the siren, but saw his shot from a tight angle miss to the near side as the Tigers held on for a thrilling two-point win, 14.6 (90) to 12.16 (88).

The win leaves Claremont in sixth position on the ladder, however, the Tigers are now just one win from third-placed Peel Thunder, who they face in round 15.

Despite recording six less inside 50s and eight less scoring shots, the Tigers were best served by Matt Davies (19 disposals, five tackles, four inside 50s), who won the players’ player award after providing his usual composure and rebound from half-back and ensured West Perth’s Rudy Riddoch had no impact on the game, while Ryan Lim (32 disposals, five tackles) was at his ball-winning best in his 50^th League game.

Bailey Banfield (24 disposals, seven tackles) provided strength in the contest and had more inside 50s (five) than any other Tiger, while acting captain Ian Richardson (one goal) displayed his trademark kicking and was part of several scoring plays.

Jye Bolton (28 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) shrugged off the attention from the opposition and displayed his tremendous work-rate, while Haydn Busher blanketed West Perth’s Michael Lourey and played an outstanding game in defence.

Beau Maister (eight marks, three goals) and Zac Langdon (three goals) led Claremont’s forward line, while Matt Guelfi (five marks, two goals) worked tirelessly and marked strongly overhead.

Meanwhile, Mitch Andrews (52 hit-outs) put on a clinic in the ruck, with the big man giving Claremont’s midfield first use and consistently tapping the ball straight to his teammates, while Jared Hardisty laid a game-high eight tackles.

West Perth were best served by forward Tyler Keitel (four goals) and Shane Nelson (39 disposals, nine inside 50s), but were left to rue their inaccuracy and dropped to fifth position on the ladder.

On a glorious afternoon, Richardson won the coin toss and elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, as an unchanged Claremont kicked with the breeze at their backs.

Mark Hamilton gave the Falcons a great start with an early goal, before Alex Manuel replied for the Tigers after being found by Chris (CJ) Oakley.

Guelfi then gave Claremont consecutive goals after a spearing clearance by Bolton and pass by Langdon, before West Perth’s Kris Shannon levelled the scores at the 15-minute mark.

Maister then restored the Tigers’ lead after a neat chain of handballs in the build-up, before West Perth’s Aaron Black levelled the scores five minutes later.

A clever goal to Manuel (second) and second to Maister, following an outstanding kick by Davies, saw Claremont take an 11-point lead at quarter-time in an enthralling contest, with coach Darren Harris delighted at “everyone playing their role”.

Three of the opening four goals, either side of a second to Guelfi, saw West Perth start the second term as the stronger team, before Morgan Davies reclaimed the lead for Claremont at the 25-minute mark.

The Falcons responded through Luke Meadows and Keitel (second), before a late pair of goals to Langdon, the first of which resulted from a desperate tackle, saw the Tigers take a four-point lead into half-time after another terrific quarter.

An unmarked Kody Manning and third goal to Keitel gave West Perth the first two majors of the second half and a nine-point lead, however, this only sparked Claremont back into life and saw the Tigers respond ferociously.

Goals to Nick Winmar, Langdon (third), Richardson, Bolton and Maister (third) in a 14-minute purple patch saw the Tigers roar to a 19-point lead at the final change, with Harris lauding the team’s work rate and 17 tackles for the term.

If any Tiger epitomised the team’s work rate and blue collar standard, it was Bolton.

After being involved at half-back, the tireless Tiger and Sandover medallist ran forward to take a mark 45m from goal just moments later, before coolly going back and sending it straight over the goal umpire’s head at the 25-minute mark.

Despite Harris passionately imploring the team to play the game out and not rest on their laurels, the final term was mostly played in West Perth’s forward half, with the Tigers needing to withstand an avalanche of attacks from the Falcons.

Goals to Keitel (fourth) and Tyson Moulton saw the Falcons close to within six points at the 23-minute mark of the final term and, despite an agonising five minutes and four more behinds to the visitors, with Claremont unable to clear the ball from defence, the Tigers somehow held on for their sixth win of the season and first against the visitors since 2015.

The Tigers will aim to record their fourth consecutive win when they face Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium in round 15.

CLAREMONT 5.0 9.3 14.4 14.6 (90)

WEST PERTH 3.1 8.5 10.9 12.16 (88)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 B. Maister, Z. Langdon, 2 M. Guelfi, A. Manuel, 1 Morgan Davies, N. Winmar, J. Bolton, I. Richardson.

WEST PERTH: 4 T. Keitel, 1 A. Strijk, M. Hamilton, T. Moulton, L. Meadows, C. Chalmers, K. Shannon, K. Manning, A. Black.

BEST

CLAREMONT: Matt Davies, R. Lim, B. Banfield, I. Richardson, J. Bolton.

WEST PERTH: T. Keitel, C. Chalmers, Shane Nelson, N. Rodda.

CROWD: 1, 594 at Claremont Oval.