League Report: Inaccurate Tigers Pipped By Falcons

By Dan Scamozzi

A frustrating season for Claremont culminated in a four-point loss to West Perth at Claremont Oval on Saturday, which saw the Tigers finish in seventh position on the ladder with an 8-12 record.

78 more disposals, 67 more marks, 23 more inside 50s and six more scoring shots confirmed that the Tigers dominated most areas of the game, however, inaccuracy in front of goal resulted in a 10.14 (74) to 12.6 (78) loss.

The first term, where Claremont recorded nine scoring shots to three with the breeze at their backs but failed to put the Falcons away, ultimately came back to haunt the Tigers, who, despite leading at every change, couldn’t hold on and missed the opportunity to sneak into the top five.

In front of a bumper and passionate crowd, captain Jake Murphy (32 disposals, five inside 50s) finished as Claremont’s best player after setting the tone with his attack on the contest, with Jared Hardisty (28 disposals, seven tackles, eight inside 50s) in strong support.

Ryan Lim (28 disposals, six tackles, one goal) capped off an outstanding individual season with another prominent display, while Matt Guelfi (eight marks, five inside 50s, two goals) got better as the game wore on and played a herculean final term and won the players’ player award.

Bailey Banfield (28 disposals, five tackles) also capped off an outstanding individual season with his strength in the contest and had a game-high nine inside 50s, while Mitch Andrews (38 hit-outs) put in another dominant performance in the ruck and repeatedly fed Claremont’s midfield.

Fraser Gilbert, playing just his second game, restricted West Perth’s Michael Lourey to two goals up until the 22-minute mark of the final term, before the Falcon kicked two late majors to break Tiger hearts.

West Perth was led by full-back Nic Rodda, who restricted Claremont’s Beau Maister to two goals and was a tower of strength in defence, while Andrew Strijk kicked three goals, including two in the space of a minute to start the final term and gave the Falcons the lead for the first time in the game.

With Chris (CJ) Oakley replacing Josh Bennett (concussion) in the Claremont team who defeated Swan Districts in round 22, the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term with a strong breeze at their backs.

A booming goal from Ian Richardson gave the team an ideal start to the game, before West Perth’s Dean Munns, who was sent to tag Murphy, made the Tigers pay from a 50m penalty.

A great spin in traffic and finish on the run from Lim saw Claremont respond, before the busy Tiger drilled a sizzling pass onto the chest of Guelfi, who finished with aplomb from 50m on a tight angle.

A crucial spoil from Gilbert at full-back continued the Tigers’ strong start, before Maister gave the team three consecutive goals and a 23-point lead at the 27-minute mark.

Late goals to Lourey and Strijk cut Claremont’s lead to 11 points at quarter-time, with the Tigers missing some easy set-shots and recording a wasteful return of 4.5.

An uneventful second term followed, with goals to Lourey (second) and Oakley the only key moments as the Tigers extended their lead to 13 points at the main break.

A free-kick to West Perth’s Tyler Keitel, who had been blanketed by Haydn Busher, saw the Falcon kick the first goal of the second half and pull the visitors to within seven points, before a flying snap from Richardson (second) saw the Tigers respond.

A goal to Matt Palfrey followed repeat efforts from Lim, before Oliver Eastland took a goal-saving mark in defence.

However, late goals to West Perth’s Corey Chalmers and Trent Manzone saw the Falcons close to within seven points at the final change.

Two goals to Strijk (three) and a second to Keitel saw West Perth take a 12-point lead at the six-minute mark of the final term, with Claremont needing to respond to keep their season alive.

Second goals to Palfrey, Guelfi (50m penalty) and Maister (downfield free-kick) did just that and resulted in an eight-point lead at the 18-minute mark, before Lourey kicked his third and fourth goals to send West Perth into the top five.

CLAREMONT 4.5 5.9 7.11 10.14 (74)

WEST PERTH 3.0 4.2 7.4 12.6 (78)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 B. Maister, M. Palfrey, M. Guelfi, I. Richardson, 1 R. Lim, C. Oakley.

WEST PERTH: 4 M. Lourey, 3 A. Strijk, 2 T. Keitel, 1 T. Manzone, D. Munns, C. Chalmers.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Murphy, J. Hardisty, R. Lim, M. Guelfi, B. Banfield.

WEST PERTH: N. Rodda, A. Strijk, K. Shannon, D. Munns, M. Lourey.