League: Lee Collars Bulldogs

Tom Lee has been a model of resilience in the face of adversity.

After playing just seven games in 2017 before undergoing more shoulder surgery, Lee faced another long stint on the sidelines.

However, not only has he returned, he has returned as the smart-leading, powerful-marking and accurate-kicking forward that everyone at Tigerland admires.

Lee is a heart-and-soul player who gives his all whenever he takes the field.

Against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday, scores were level at the 29-minute mark of the final term after another late challenge from the opposition looked as if it may hand the Tigers their second cruel loss in the space of seven days.

However, Lee had other ideas.

After another smart lead, Lee marked a perfectly-weighted pass from captain Ian Richardson 40m from goal.

He then calmly slotted his fourth goal as the Tigers recorded a thrilling six-point victory, 13.10 (88) to 12.10 (82).

In arguably their finest win under coach Darren Harris, mateship and blue collar were at the forefront as several wounded Tigers willed themselves to help the team record its second win of the season and snap a four-game losing streak.

A brilliant, four-goal-to-one opening term featured players being first to the footy and ferociously hitting the contest and resulted in a 14-point lead at quarter-time.

South then worked their way on top in midfield to slam on seven goals in the second and take a three-point lead at half-time, before Lee kicked the only two goals in the third to help the Tigers to an eight-point lead at the last change.

The Tigers looked to have done enough after Richardson kicked his second just before time-on in the final term, before, in an eerily similar situation to seven days earlier, the opposition rallied.

However, the Tigers remained composed, stuck to their structures, and saw their hard work rewarded as they recorded a deserved victory.

Midfielder Jared Hardisty (26 disposals, six tackles), who repeatedly sets the tone with his unwavering attack on the ball, won the players’ player award for his outstanding performance, while defender Declan Hardisty, in just his fourth game, held South’s Blaine Johnson goalless after again blanketing the dangerous forward.

Lee (six marks), who was regularly outnumbered in the first half but provided a contest and regularly brought the ball to ground, was the difference between the teams, while Jordan Law (five tackles, one goal) and Haydn Busher (23 disposals, six inside 50s) bravely returned from knocks suffered in the opening term and were strong contributors.

Joint vice-captains Kane Mitchell and Ryan Lim, and Jye Bolton (30 disposals) combined for 31 tackles, while Ryan Murphy returned from a groin injury to kick two opportunist goals.

Tiger cubs Oliver Eastland and Eddie Simpson battled manfully against South’s Brock Higgins in the ruck, while defender Anton Hamp had the better of South’s Mason Shaw.

South were led by midfielder Marlion Pickett (36 disposals) and Higgins (56 hit-outs), while Cory Dell’Olio kicked a team-high three goals, all in the second term, but were outlasted as they suffered their second loss of the season.

With Murphy, Nick Winmar, Lachlan Martinis and Simpson coming into the team for Fraser Gilbert (knee), Beau Maister (concussion) and Morgan Davies and James Egan (both omitted), the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term as an early goal to Murphy gave the visitors a great start.

An intercept mark and great finish, on the run, from Winmar then extended the advantage before South’s Shane Hockey had his game prematurely ended through concussion.

Keifer Yu, again playing as a forward, then benefited from great work from Eastland and kicked the Tigers’ third, before Matt Parker kicked South’s first.

A high bump from Pickett on Law then floored the Tiger and saw the Bulldog’s number taken, before Yu thumped through his second and the Tigers’ fourth goal from the resulting free-kick to give the visitors a 14-point lead at quarter-time.

Harris payed tribute to the team’s great start before the Tigers quickly went about extending it as goals to Murphy and Richardson pushed the lead out to 27 points early in the second term, before South awoke.

Seven goals during a blistering period gave them a 10-point lead and resulted from the work of Higgins and Pickett and the finishing of Dell’Olio as the hosts obliterated the Tigers in midfield, before Lee kicked a timely major just before half-time after a perfect kick from J. Hardisty.

With the Tigers confident they had absorbed what South could throw at them and ready to regain control of the match, brilliant passes from Winmar and Richardson set Lee up for his second and third goals early in the third term, with the spearhead helping the team to an eight-point lead at the last change.

With the Tigers now on top in most areas, Harris praised the team’s attack on the contest and encouraged them to maintain territory, however, a goal to South’s Brandon Donaldson cut the lead to just two points early in the final term.

Goals to Lim and Richardson either side of a major to South captain Dylan Main gave the Tigers a 10-point lead, before Ryan Cook and Haiden Schloithe hit back for the hosts to level the scores.

South’s Ashton Hams then sent the hosts inside 50 as they pushed for victory, however, the reliable Hamp denied them with a mark at full-back before the Tigers took the ball down the other end and Lee put the finishing touches on a famous win.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they host Peel Thunder at Claremont Oval in round nine.

CLAREMONT 4.1 8.3 10.4 13.10 (88)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.5 8.6 8.8 12.10 (82)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 T. Lee, 2 K. Yu, I. Richardson, R. Murphy, 1 R. Lim, N. Winmar, J. Law.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 3 C. Dell’Olio, 2 M. Shaw, 1 H. Schloithe, S. Verrier, B. Donaldson, D. Main, J. Florenca, R. Cook, M. Parker.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Hardisty, D. Hardisty, T. Lee, J. Law, H. Busher.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: M. Pickett, D. Main, B. Higgins, S. Verrier, C. Dell’Olio.

By Dan Scamozzi