Reserves: Tigers Roar Past Thunder

By Daniel Scamozzi

Claremont’s Reserves returned to the winners’ list after defeating Peel Thunder by 40 points in glorious conditions at Claremont Oval in round 20.

The 19.12 (126) to 13.8 (86) triumph – the Tigers’ highest score of the season – was set up by a 12-goals-to-five first half which resulted in a commanding 46-point lead at half-time.

And what a brilliant first half it was.

Midfield dominance, great ball movement, immaculate finishing and eight goal kickers was the result of the Tigers’ determined mindset and ruthless attack on the contest.

The Tigers were down two rotations for the second half, with acting captain and gun midfielder Jacob Sideris (groin) and the returning Ryan Murphy (two goals), who played his first game at any level since round nine, taking no further part in the game.

Overall, the Tigers recorded 38 more disposals, 23 more inside 50s and 10 more scoring shots on the way to their 12^th win of the season.

Midfielder Rylie Morgan won the players’ player award after recording a game-high 32 disposals, a team-high eight tackles and equal team-high eight inside 50s as he starred in the middle and continuously drove the Tigers forward with his outstanding work in clearances, while Alec Waterman (26 disposals, seven inside 50s, one goal) was another strong performer and excelled with his penetrating kicking.

Nic Bucknall kicked a game-high four goals and was dangerous across the half-forward line, while Lewis Davis, who normally plies his trade in defence, kicked three goals – the first three he’s kicked at Reserves level.

And ruckman Jeremy Goddard (46 hit-outs) put on a clinic, regularly giving the midfield first use with his brilliant tap-work.

The tough-as-nails Isaac Wallace, Rhett Lloyd and Jack Blaauw all came into the team as the Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term with the aid of a breeze, and they couldn’t have started the contest any better after Murphy kicked the first goal of the game in the opening minute.

Peel replied through Jacob Perry, before a great turn allowed the speedy Bucknall to kick the Tigers’ second goal after a clearance from Morgan.

Cooper Nitschke then dribbled through the Tigers’ third after a clearance from Waterman, before Peel replied through Robert Schindler-Taylor.

A great tackle from Lloyd earned the Tiger a free kick before Murphy kicked his second goal after a perfectly-weighted pass from the prolific Waterman.

Peel replied through Ben Roberts, before Nitschke kicked his second goal and Davis split the middle from outside 50m after a spearing pass from Blaauw.

The speedy Tyron Smallwood then became the Tigers’ fifth goal kicker after making the most of another clearance from the busy Morgan, giving the hosts a 27-point lead at quarter-time.

Seven more hit-outs, eight more clearances, 24 more contested disposals and nine more inside 50s reflected the Tigers’ dominance, with returning coach Steven Armstrong praising the team for the great start to the contest.

A brilliant hit-out from Goddard got the second term underway before Nicholas Allan gave the Tigers four consecutive goals and a 34-point lead after some great work from Smallwood.

Great pressure created a turnover and allowed the dashing Jake Stergiou to split the middle and extend the lead to 40 points, before Peel’s Oliver Walton was reported for rough conduct on Declan McNamara.

Michael Randall then kicked Peel’s fourth goal and ended a run of five consecutive majors from the Tigers, before a groggy Shaquille Morton left the field but would soon return.

Lightning transition from defence allowed Bucknall to kick his second goal and reply for the Tigers, before Kaine Ah-Chee kicked the first of his three majors for Peel.

Waterman then made Peel pay for a turnover in defence with a booming finish from outside 50m which split the middle, before Allan kicked his second goal after great passes from Brett Wilson and Smallwood.

The five-goals-to-two term extended the Tigers’ lead to 46 points at half-time, before Peel kicked the first three goals of the second half either side of a great smother from Wilson in defence.

A third goal to Bucknall allowed the Tigers to steady, before Peel hit back through Lachlan Cullen.

A great pass from Lloyd then allowed Davis to kick his second goal and gave the Tigers a 35-point lead at the final change, with Armstrong imploring the team to give blue-collar effort in the final term.

A great snap gave Davis his third goal and the Tigers a great start to the final term, before Ah-Chee replied for Peel with consecutive majors.

Smallwood then kicked his second and third goals either side of a second to Peel’s Schindler-Taylor, before Jacob Orr denied the visitors on the last line of defence.

James Wiltshire then kicked Peel’s 13^th major, before Morton pulled down a screamer at half-back.

Wilson, playing a solid game in the unfamiliar role of defender, then got forward to kick the Tigers’ 18^th goal before Bucknall kicked his fourth major after the final siren and with the theme song playing in the background to cap off a great win for the hosts.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they face Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in the final round of the home-and-away season.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded consecutive wins after defeating Peel Thunder by 20 points, 9.7 (61) to 6.5 (41).

CLAREMONT 7.3 12.6 14.9 19.12 (126)

PEEL THUNDER 3.0 5.2 9.4 13.8 (86)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 N. Bucknall, 3 T. Smallwood, L. Davis, 2 R. Murphy, N. Allan, C. Nitschke, 1 A. Waterman, B. Wilson, J. Stergiou.

PEEL THUNDER: 3 K. Ah-Chee, 2 R. Schindler-Taylor, 1 L. Cullen, J. Dowding, M. Randall, M. Humble, B. Roberts, O. Walton, J. Perry, J. Wiltshire.

BEST

CLAREMONT: R. Morgan, A. Waterman, N. Bucknall, J. Goddard, L. Davis, N. Winmar.

PEEL THUNDER: O. Walton, M. Randall, J. Kirby, K. Ah-Chee, A. Cohen.