Development Report: Wounded Tigers Overcome Swans

By Dan Scamozzi

Despite losing three players to injury and trailing by 13 points at three-quarter time, a five-goal-to-one final term saw Claremont’s Reserves defeat Swan Districts by 13 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

The 10.11 (71) to 8.10 (58) victory gave the Tigers their 13^th of the season and was full of heart and determination.

A three-goal-to-one second term saw Claremont take a 24-point lead at half-time, before Swans hit back with five goals to nil in the third.

Then, sparked by the bullocking Matt Davies in midfield, who responded to his League omission in the best possible way, the Tigers surged home to record one of their best wins of the season just seven days after doing likewise against South Fremantle.

Davies (30 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles, seven inside 50s), finished as Claremont’s best player, while Declan Hardisty led the way in defence.

Jacob Sideris, who got to contest after contest and provided the team with his trademark run-and-carry, was another key performer, while Dylan Holt, who played a selfless role on Swans’ Brandon Erceg after half-time and nullified the impact of the Black Duck, won the players’ player award.

Max Bentley (20 disposals, two goals) and Tom Ledger (35 disposals, eight inside 50s) provided the team with invaluable drive, with Ledger’s 55m left-footed torpedo in the final term sealing a brilliant win and ending Swans’ three-game winning streak.

Meanwhile, Ben Higgs, Jack Griffiths, Harry Sinclair and Ben Rushforth all performed strongly after coming into the team who defeated the Bulldogs.

However, Tom Lawrence and Aden Wilkins both suffered shoulder injuries, while John Williams reinjured the same hamstring which sidelined him from rounds 13-20.

Swans were best served by Erceg, Jackson Slater (27 disposals, 12 marks, eight inside 50s), Chad Daniels and ruckman Troy Yukich (55 hit-outs), but suffered their first loss since round 17.

A kick-to-advantage by Bentley allowed Jake Stergiou to run into an open goal and give the Tigers first blood, before Brayden Noble replied for Swans.

A high-flying mark by Williams then lit up the contest, before Jack Richardson limped from the field.

A late goal to Tom Shanahan gave the Tigers an eight-point lead at quarter-time, however, coach Kepler Bradley implored the team to tidy up their skill errors.

With Richardson returning to the field, a goal to Eddie Simpson extended Claremont’s lead to 15 points early in the second term, before Brett Wilson made Swans pay from a 50m penalty.

Ethan Maguire replied for Swans, before a crunching tackle by Chris (CJ) Oakley at half-back won the tenacious Tiger a free-kick.

A quick kick out of the pack saw Bentley give the Tigers a 24-point lead at the main break, however, the team were now two players down on the interchange bench.

With this advantage and the breeze at their backs, Swans slammed on 5.8 to 0.1 in the third term to blow the game open and take a 13-point lead at the final change, with the Tigers needing to regain their composure.

Another goal to Swans made it six in a row and had the Tigers on the ropes, before a second to Bentley gave Claremont their first since the 25-minute mark of the second term.

Wilkins was then forced from the field, before Rushforth pulled the Tigers to within seven points.

An arm wrestle engulfed the next 12 minutes of play, before Higgs banged through a goal from 60m to give the Tigers three in a row and a one-point lead at the 21-minute mark of the final term.

A holding-the-ball free-kick saw Holt kick the Tigers’ ninth major, before Ledger capped off a resilient win in style.

The Tigers will aim to record their fourth consecutive win when they host West Perth at Claremont Oval in round 23.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts replaced Swan Districts in second position on the ladder after defeating the Black Ducks by 16 points, 5.8 (38) to 3.4 (22).

CLAREMONT 2.3 5.7 5.8 10.11 (71)

SWAN DISTRICTS 1.1 2.1 7.9 8.10 (58)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 M. Bentley, 1 D. Holt, B. Rushforth, B. Wilson, J. Stergiou, E. Simpson, B. Higgs, T. Ledger, T. Shanahan.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 2 B. Noble, E. Maguire, 1 R. Manton, J. Andersson, C. Daniels, L. Ridley.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Davies, D. Hardisty, J. Sideris, D. Holt, M. Bentley.

SWAN DISTRICTS: B. Erceg, J. Slater, C. Daniels, T. Yukich, T. Raynor.