League Report: Dominant Tigers Still Alive

By Dan Scamozzi

Claremont’s finals chances, which appeared over following the round 21 loss to South Fremantle, are still alive after the Tigers defeated Swan Districts by 24 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

The 13.17 (95) to 11.5 (71) triumph, combined with Perth’s five-point victory against East Perth, means the Tigers are just one win and 3.06% outside the top five with one round remaining in the home-and-away season.

To replace fifth-placed East Perth and qualify for finals, the Tigers must defeat sixth-placed West Perth in the final round and rely on Subiaco defeating the Royals.

154 more disposals, 19 more inside 50s and 14 more scoring shots reflected Claremont’s dominance from a statistical perspective, however, the Tigers’ attack on the contest secured their eighth win of the season.

Kicking with a howling breeze towards the eastern end of the ground in the opening term, the Tigers peppered the goals but could only manage 2.7 and a 12-point lead at quarter-time, before Swans slammed on six goals to two in the second and took an 11-point lead at half-time.

The Tigers then slammed on 6.6 to 0.1 in the third, before withstanding a final-term fightback from the hosts to keep their season alive.

Sandover medallist Jye Bolton, who hasn’t missed a game since joining the club from Werribee, continued his outstanding second half of the season to finish with a game-high 41 disposals and nine inside 50s, while Haydn Busher (33 disposals, 10 marks) led the way in defence.

Jared Hardisty (26 disposals) laid a game-high eight tackles, set the tone with his attack on the contest and kicked two goals, while Matt Guelfi (two goals) continued his terrific form and kicked the all-important first major of the final term.

Matt Palfrey, playing his first League game since round 12, kicked three outstanding goals during Claremont’s third-term blitz, while Ian Richardson kicked three majors for the second time in seven days.

Oliver Eastland (seven marks, one goal), playing just his fourth League game, won the players’ player award for his terrific efforts around the ground, highlighted by a desperate chase of Swans’ Adam Faulkner in the final term which resulted in the Black Duck kicking the ball out of bounds on the full.

Fraser Gilbert was rewarded for his consistent form in the Reserves with a debut and didn’t disappoint, however, Josh Bennett’s debut lasted less than a minute, with the Tiger cub knocked out and stretchered off the ground.

Fortunately for Josh and the club, the Tiger quickly regained consciousness and wasn’t seriously injured.

Swans were best served by debutant Tobe Watson (seven tackles), Faulkner (33 disposals), Ricky Cary (five goals), Corey Gault (20 disposals, 34 hit-outs) and Taryce Stewart (three goals), but were held goalless in the third term, kicked only one goal to the western end of the ground and suffered their third consecutive loss.

Gilbert, Bennett, Palfrey and Lachlan Martinis came into the team who lost to the Bulldogs for Ryan Neates (knee), Matt Davies (omitted), Charles Le Fanu (ankle) and Chris (CJ) Oakley (omitted), and when Richardson kicked truly at the six-minute mark of the opening term following a squaring kick by Bailey Banfield, it gave the Tigers first blood and a seven-point lead.

A goal to Cary soon followed, before an outstanding banana from the left-forward pocket by Eastland gave the Tigers their second and a 12-point lead at quarter-time.

Two more goals to Cary (three) and one to Jake Nuich in the opening seven minutes of the second term saw Swans hit back and take a seven-point lead with the breeze at their backs, before Guelfi steadied for Claremont.

However, goals to the antagonistic Ryan Crowley and two to Stewart saw Swans hit back once again and take a 17-point lead, before Hardisty grabbed a timely major for Claremont just before half-time.

The Tigers then blew Swans out of the water in the third term, with Mitch Andrews beginning the carnage after being found by captain Jake Murphy.

A 50m penalty allowed Hardisty to kick his second major, before two brilliant goals to Palfrey from the right-forward pocket resulted in a 13-point lead.

A second to Richardson resulted from a bullet pass by Keifer Yu, before a third to Palfrey, this time from the left-forward pocket, came from a pinpoint pass by the prolific Busher and gave the Tigers a commanding 30-point lead at the final change.

Coach Darren Harris encouraged the team to continue to be brave in the final term, and when Guelfi quickly kicked his second goal, it gave the Tigers eight consecutive majors and a 36-point lead.

A crunching tackle by Zac Langdon on Crowley reiterated Claremont’s appetite for the contest and won the Tiger a free-kick, before Eastland’s desperate chase of Faulkner soon followed.

Four goals to Swans in the space of seven minutes, including two more to Cary (five), trimmed the lead to just 10 points and reminded Claremont that the game was far from over, before a brain fade and consecutive 50m penalties from Swans’ Jarrad Blight allowed Richardson to kick his third major and steady for the Tigers.

A late snap from Ryan Lim capped off a fine victory and set the scene for a thrilling finish to the season.

The Tigers host the Falcons in a must-win clash at Claremont Oval in the final round.

CLAREMONT 2.7 4.9 10.15 13.17 (95)

SWAN DISTRICTS 1.1 7.2 7.3 11.5 (71)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 I. Richardson, M. Palfrey, 2 M. Guelfi, J. Hardisty, 1 O. Eastland, R. Lim, M. Andrews.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 5 R. Cary, 3 T. Stewart, 1 J. Nuich, S. Wityk, R. Crowley.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Bolton, H. Busher, J. Hardisty, M. Guelfi, M. Palfrey.

SWAN DISTRICTS: T. Watson, A. Faulkner, R. Cary, C. Gault.