Reserves: Ruthless Tigers Smash Falcons

A ruthless and vigorous performance from Claremont’s Reserves saw the Tigers obliterate a woeful West Perth by 72 points in perfect conditions at Claremont Oval in round 11.

The 16.16 (112) to 6.4 (40) triumph - the Tigers’ seventh win of the season – moved them one win clear at the top of the ladder and featured great intensity and trademark pressure.

23 more inside-50s, 22 more scoring shots and nine goal kickers reflected the Tigers’ dominance as they won every quarter, however, the team’s intent to hunt the opposition with relentless chasing and fierce tackling was perhaps the highlight of the performance.

And when it comes to intent and fierce tackling, the robust Isaac Wallace (20 disposals, five tackles), who was Claremont’s best player and won the players’ player award, showed the way with his relentless attack on the contest off a half-back flank.

Midfielder Morgan Davies (30 disposals, three goals) has put together an outstanding month of football since being omitted from the League team and was one of three Tigers to record six inside-50s, while Eddie Simpson (six marks) was another strong contributor.

Brett Wilson kicked a game-high four goals, including three in the third term, while Nick Bucknall (six inside-50s) and James Egan (seven tackles, six inside-50s) kicked two apiece.

Meanwhile, Jesse Laurie (19 disposals, six marks) marshalled the backline and kept West Perth’s Rudy Riddoch scoreless, while Jacob Orr (five marks) played his first game of the season and made a promising debut in defence.

Acting captain Tom Shanahan (24 disposals) and Declan McNamara (seven tackles, one goal) were the other inclusions, with Corey Mitchell (concussion), Jake Stergiou (knee) and Tre Kelton going out of the team which lost to Swan Districts in round 10.

West Perth’s Matt Guadagnin recorded a team-high 26 disposals while Conal Lynch and Dylan Yem each kicked two goals for the visitors.

With the Tigers kicking to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, a contested 12 minutes of play unfolded as both teams tried to gain the early ascendancy, before Rhett Lloyd kicked the opening goal of the game.

West Perth’s Tyson Moulton then made the Tigers pay for a turnover in midfield, before a fierce tackle from Wallace and a brilliant pass from Ben Rushforth saw Bucknall kick the first of his two goals.

Bailey Bennett was then rewarded for a tackle inside-50 and kicked the Tigers’ third, before McNamara applied a great finish from the pocket following a great attack on the ball from Addison Dew.

The result was a 21-point lead to the Tigers at quarter-time off the back of eight more contested disposals and six more clearances, with coach Steven Armstrong lauding the team’s “switched-on” attitude and the defenders.

An inspiring chase and tackle from Egan in the opening minute of the second term earned the tenacious Tiger a free kick and reaffirmed the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, before Lynch kicked West Perth’s second goal.

A great chain of handballs along the boundary line resulted in Davies kicking the Tigers’ fifth major and was followed by outstanding tackles from Dew and Rushforth, before Egan provided another inspirational chase and tackle to earn himself a second free kick for the term.

Bucknall then kicked his second before Matt Palfrey became the Tigers’ sixth goal scorer for the half after being found by Egan, with a great tackle from Simpson instigating the move.

The result was a 35-point lead at half-time, which quickly became 47 after two quick goals from Wilson to start the second half.

Yem then kicked two of his own before Fraser Foley gave the Falcons three in three minutes.

With the Tigers needing to switch back on, Wilson soon added his third before Egan turned sharply and finished with aplomb.

Brilliant smothers in defence from Palfrey and Laurie then denied West Perth as the Tigers took a 43-point lead at the final change.

Armstrong praised the team for responding to the challenge, before imploring them to finish the job.

A dazed Egan briefly left the field early in the final term but would soon return, as a booming finish from Wilson gave the Tiger his fourth goal and extended the lead to 51 points.

Davies and Egan soon kicked their second goals, with the latter resulting from an interception and four running bounces from Cooper Nitschke, the last of which didn’t quite go exactly to plan, as the lead ballooned to 64.

Lynch then kicked his second for West Perth, before Davies, this time on his non-preferred right foot, kicked his third and Jacob Sideris became the Tigers’ ninth goal kicker as the hosts applied the finishing touches to a brilliant performance.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they face fifth-placed East Perth at Leederville Oval in round 12.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts ended a three-game losing streak, defeating West Perth by two points, 7.9 (51) to 7.7 (49).

CLAREMONT 4.4 7.7 11.10 16.16 (112)

WEST PERTH 1.1 2.2 5.3 6.4 (40)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 B. Wilson, 3 M. Davies, 2 N. Bucknall, J. Egan, 1 M. Palfrey, B. Bennett, J. Sideris, R. Lloyd, D. McNamara.

WEST PERTH: 2 C. Lynch, D. Yem, 1 T. Moulton, F. Foley.

BEST

CLAREMONT: I. Wallace, M. Davies, E. Simpson, B. Wilson, N. Bucknall.

WEST PERTH: M. Guadagnin, C. Lynch, L. Johns, J. Turner.

By Dan Scamozzi.