League: Tigers Return to Top Five

By Daniel Scamozzi

A determined and dominant performance helped Claremont record a vital 24-point win against East Perth in terrible conditions at Claremont Oval in round 16, moving the Tigers into fifth position on the ladder.

135 tackles – a WAFL record – highlighted the Tigers’ intent and appetite for the contest as they outworked and outclassed their opponents, 6.13 (49) to 3.7 (25) to record their sixth win of the season.

The Tigers also recorded 13 more inside 50s and nine more scoring shots as both teams tried to move the waterlogged ball forward by any means.

While the Tigers had more avenues to goal, including spearhead Tom Lee (game-high two goals), they also had a rock-solid defence, led by the unflappable Declan Hardisty.

In just his 11^th game the 20-year-old was given the job of marking West Coast’s Liam Ryan (six disposals) and, not only did he blanket the dangerous forward, he also kept him scoreless to finish as Claremont’s best player and win the players’ player award.

The Tigers’ resolute defence also included two debutants, with first-gamers Jack Lewsey (14 disposals, seven tackles) and Addison Dew (six tackles) performing well alongside Jack Beeck, Lachlan Martinis (seven tackles), Anton Hamp and Dylan Smallwood.

Midfielder Jared Hardisty (29 disposals) set the tone in the contest and laid a game-high 13 tackles as he relished the heavy conditions and recorded an equal game-high seven inside-50s along with Morgan Davies, while Jye Bolton recorded a game-high 37 disposals.

Keifer Yu (nine tackles) was dangerous in the forward line and kicked an invaluable goal after the half-time siren to give the Tigers a 23-point lead at the main break, while fellow forward Alex Manuel (six tackles, one goal) worked tirelessly and delivered a brilliant left-footed pass to Lee for his second goal.

And the returning Tom Ledger (27 disposals, six tackles, six inside-50s) performed strongly in his first League game since round 11.

Mitchell Dobson recorded a team-high 33 disposals for East Perth, however, the Royals kicked just one goal after quarter-time as they recorded their lowest score of the season, suffered their eighth loss and were replaced in the top five by the Tigers.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term and grabbed an early lead after Lee snapped the opening goal of the game.

East Perth hit back through goals to Matt Allen and Pat McGinnity, before Davies made the Royals pay from a 50m penalty and gave the Tigers a five-point lead at quarter-time.

A second to Lee resulted from Manuel’s brilliance and extended the lead early in the second term before goals to Tom Curren and Yu gave the Tigers a commanding advantage at half-time.

Manuel gave the Tigers five consecutive goals when he kicked truly in the 25^th minute of the third term, before former Tiger Jake Waterman kicked East Perth’s first goal since the opening term.

The Tigers maintained their 23-point lead at the final change before just five behinds were scored in the final term as the hosts recorded a crucial win.

A rousing rendition of the team song capped off an outstanding day for the club, with first-gamers Lewsey and Dew alongside former player Warrick Proudlove in the middle of the circle.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they host Subiaco at Claremont Oval in round 17.

CLAREMONT 2.5 5.8 6.10 6.13 (49)

EAST PERTH 2.0 2.3 3.5 3.7 (25)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 T. Lee, 1 K. Yu, T. Curren, M. Davies, A. Manuel.

EAST PERTH: 1 P. McGinnity, M. Allen, J. Waterman.

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. Hardisty, J. Hardisty, J. Bolton, K. Yu, T. Ledger.

EAST PERTH: J. Nelson, T. Barrass, J. Petruccelle, B. Ainsworth.