Tigers Overrun By Demons

The second of Claremont’s Reserves’ pre-season matches took place at Claremont Oval on Saturday, with the injury-hit Tigers suffering a 37-point defeat against Perth.

Despite the Tigers leading at every change, Perth kicked seven unanswered goals in the final term to prevail 13.10 (88) to 8.3 (51).

The Tigers lost Declan McNamara (cut) in the first term, while Jesse Laurie suffered a thumb injury in the first half and James Egan was assisted from the field late in the game.

Jared Hardisty starred in the first half with his relentless attack on the ball and ability to drive the Tigers forward, before sitting out the second half as he manages his return from injury.

Jordan Reid was a standout for the Tigers in the ruck with his athletic leap and repeat efforts and also kicked one goal, while Dylan Smallwood impressed in defence.

Corey Hitchcock was another to impress with his reading of the play, ability to find good positions and two goals, along with Addison Dew.

Tom Lee showed he isn’t far away from a senior return, with the forward’s strong marking, accurate kicking (three goals) and ability to work up the ground heartening the Tigers’ faithful.

With Kaiden Gilbert captaining the team, the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term with the breeze at their backs, as an early goal to Hitchcock from 50m on a tight angle gave the hosts an ideal start to the contest.

With Hardisty already in the thick of the action and setting the tone, he then set up Lee for the first of his three goals with a brilliant pass as the Tigers made it consecutive majors and took an 11-point lead.

Tre Kelton quickly made it three consecutive goals when he marked strongly and made the Demons pay, courtesy of a 50m penalty, before Gilbert pounced on an errant kick across Perth’s goal to dribble through the Tigers’ fourth major and give the hosts a 23-point lead.

Lee’s efforts inside 50 were another early positive for the Tigers, before the Demons kicked their first goal after the quarter-time siren in dubious fashion, with Claremont conceding a 50m penalty despite returning the ball to the opposition on the full following a free-kick.

With the Tigers holding a 17-point lead at the first change after a brilliant start, assistant coach Aaron Holt, deputising for the absent Steven Armstrong, lauded the team’s outstanding pressure, ball movement and repeat efforts.

In keeping with these traits, a holding-the-ball free-kick to Damon Enosa reaffirmed the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, before Reid kicked the team’s fifth goal to give the hosts a great start to the second term and 23-point lead.

A second goal to Hitchcock, resulting from another great tackle and holding-the-ball free-kick, extended the advantage to 27 points, before two goals in the space of 90 seconds to Lachlan Dennis and a major to Marshall Jones saw Perth finish the first half in strong fashion and trim Claremont’s lead to nine points at half-time.

With Hardisty and Laurie both done for the game and the Tigers already one player down, a pass from Enosa following a patient transition from defence allowed Lee to kick his second goal and establish a 16-point lead, before James Corner replied for Perth.

A goal-saving smother from Harry Sinclair briefly halted Perth, before Dennis kicked his third to trim Claremont’s lead to just four points.

Lee then expertly read the drop of the ball, used his body to perfection to mark a pass from the hardworking Bailey Bennett and kick his third goal and give the Tigers a nine-point lead at the final change, with Holt lauding the team’s pressure and switching of the play.

Sadly for the Tigers, it would be all Perth in the final term, as the visitors slammed on seven unanswered goals to prevail in comfortable fashion.

The Tigers face Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday in their third and final pre-season match.

Meanwhile, Claremont defeated Perth by two points in the Colts, 10.9 (69) to 10.7 (67).

CLAREMONT 4.1 6.1 8.2 8.3 (51)

PERTH 1.2 4.4 6.5 13.10 (88)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 T. Lee, 2 C. Hitchcock, 1 K. Gilbert, T. Kelton, J. Reid.