League: Brave Tigers Denied by Lions

By Daniel Scamozzi

They narrowly lost the game, but Claremont lost no admirers in their 16.3 (99) to 14.12 (96) defeat against Subiaco at Claremont Oval in round 17, and will take confidence from the fact that they outplayed the unbeaten Lions in a number of areas.

The Tigers recorded 26 more marks, three more tackles, 13 more inside 50s and seven more scoring shots, but the Lions’ accuracy was the biggest difference in a gruelling contest between the two teams.

The loss moves the Tigers out of the top five and into sixth position ahead of their final bye for the home-and-away season in round 18.

Outstanding defender Anton Hamp marshalled Claremont’s defence and played a herculean final term and deservedly won the players’ player award, with fellow defenders Dylan Smallwood, Jack Beeck (game-high nine tackles) and Declan Hardisty also performing strongly.

Midfield bull Jared Hardisty (27 disposals, five clearances, eight tackles) recorded a team-high seven inside 50s as he drove the Tigers forward with his accurate kicking in his 50^th game, with fellow midfielder Jye Bolton (six inside 50s) recording a team-high 30 disposals and vice captains Kane Mitchell and Ryan Lim (eight tackles, one goal) also prominent.

Meanwhile, captain Ian Richardson (game-high eight marks) and Kaiden Gilbert (seven marks) each kicked three goals as they worked tirelessly in the forward line and up the ground.

Subiaco were led by midfielders Leigh Kitchin and Chris Phelan, who each recorded 31 disposals, as the Lions recorded their 14^th consecutive win.

Defender Jesse Laurie replaced Morgan Davies (back) in the team that defeated East Perth in round 16, with the popular Tiger lining up in his first League game of the season.

The Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term and struck first when Lim kicked the opening goal of the game, before the Lions replied through captain Kyal Horsley and utility Lachlan Delahunty.

A perfect pass from Keifer Yu set Richardson up for his first goal before a great chain of handballs from defence and great pass from Matt Palfrey did likewise for Gilbert as the Tigers reclaimed the lead.

However, late goals to Angus Litherland and Max Walters gave the Lions a six-point lead at the first change despite the Tigers recording more contested possessions and inside 50s, with coach Darren Harris lauding the team’s will to “crack in.”

A second goal to Gilbert followed a brilliant kick to the hotspot from Bolton and pulled the Tigers level early in the second term, before Thomas Edwards-Baldwin replied for the Lions.

Forward Tom Lee then marked strongly and finished superbly to reclaim the lead for the Tigers before Yu and Richardson (second) gave the hosts three goals in eight minutes to extend the advantage to 16 points, before a brilliant smother from ruckman Oliver Eastland reaffirmed the team’s appetite for the contest.

The Tigers took a 17-point lead at half-time after the brilliant four-goals-to-one term, before Kitchin and the previously unsighted Ben Sokol kicked goals either side of a great smother from Yu to pull the Lions to within seven points early in the second half.

A second to Edwards-Baldwin gave the visitors three goals in eight minutes, before Palfrey and Eastland replied for the Tigers.

However, three of the next four goals either side of a major to Tom Curren, gave the Lions six for the term and trimmed the Tigers’ lead to just two points at the final change, with Harris imploring the team to “stay the course.”

A third goal to Richardson followed repeat efforts from Beeck and Yu and extended the lead to eight points in the final term, before a goal-saving mark from Lachlan Martinis, a desperate tackle from second-gamer Jack Lewsey and mark from Smallwood denied the Lions at the other end.

However, three goals in six minutes gave the visitors a 15-point lead entering time-on, before a strong mark from Jordan Law allowed the speedy Tiger to reply for the hosts.

A booming goal from Alex Manuel then gave the Tigers consecutive goals and sent the Tiger Army into a frenzy, before a great tackle from second-gamer Addison Dew and consecutive marks from Hamp denied the Lions.

However, a third goal to Edwards-Baldwin gave the visitors a nine-point lead and, despite Gilbert kicking his third for the Tigers, the final siren sounded to end one of the games of the season.

The Tigers face Perth at Lathlain Park in round 19.

CLAREMONT 3.1 7.6 10.10 14.12 (96)

SUBIACO 4.1 5.1 11.2 16.3 (99)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 I. Richardson, K. Gilbert, 1 K. Yu, T. Lee, R. Lim, T. Curren, O. Eastland, M. Palfrey, A. Manuel, J. Law.

SUBIACO: 3 T. Edwards-Baldwin, 2 R. Powell, B. Sokol, Z. Clarke, 1 K. Horsley, L. Kitchin, A. Litherland, R. Borchet, L. Delahunty, B. Stevenson, M. Walters.

BEST

CLAREMONT: A. Hamp, J. Hardisty, D. Smallwood, J. Bolton, K. Mitchell, J. Beeck, R. Lim.

SUBIACO: L. Kitchin, Z. Clarke, C. Phelan, T. Edwards-Baldwin, J. Lockyer, J. Deluca.

REPORTS: M. Palfrey (C) for rough conduct on J. Lockyer (S) in third quarter.