Reserves: Tigers Pipped By Swans

By Daniel Scamozzi

Claremont’s Reserves suffered a disappointing six-point defeat against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in round 21, dropping the Tigers to third position on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away season.

Despite a dominant but inaccurate (3.6) opening term which resulted in an 18-point lead at quarter-time, a drop-off in work rate and blue-collar effort from the Tigers resulted in a 14.7 (91) to 12.13 (85) defeat in glorious conditions.

Claremont now face East Perth in the qualifying final at Claremont Oval on Sunday.

Midfielder Rylie Morgan continued his stellar form and recorded team-high totals of 28 disposals, 10 marks and nine tackles to finish as Claremont’s best player, while Jordan Law responded to his League omission by laying eight tackles and kicking two goals in a tireless and hardworking performance.

Ruckman Jeremy Goddard (17 disposals, 38 hit-outs) continued his good form, while defender and acting captain Jesse Laurie (six marks) returned to the team and marshalled the Tigers’ defence.

Morgan Davies (21 disposals, five inside 50s) returned from a back injury for his first game at any level since round 16 and was one of four Tigers to kick two goals, while defender Lewis Davis thwarted several of Swans’ attacks with his outstanding spoiling and deservedly won the players’ player award.

And Eddie Simpson (nine marks, two goals) responded to his League omission by working hard around the ground and taking several strong marks.

The Tigers kicked to the eastern end of the sunbathed ground in the opening term and got off to a great start thanks to goals from Law and Davies, with the visitors dominating territory and locking the ball in their front half.

A courageous spoil from the busy Declan McNamara was an early highlight of the contest, before forward Nicholas Allan hauled in a great mark.

A rare inside 50 for Swans resulted in the first of Steven Wityk’s four goals, before the returning Matt Palfrey made the most of an outstanding kick-to-advantage from defender Jacob Orr and gave the Tigers an 18-point lead at the first change.

12 more contested disposals, 14 more handball receives, five more tackles, eight more inside 50s and eight more scoring shots reflected the Tigers’ dominance, however, their wasteful return on the scoreboard had let Swans off the hook.

Coach Steven Armstrong praised the Tigers’ “really good quarter” but implored the team to be more composed with the ball and take its chances, before a goal to Simpson in the opening minute of the second term extended the lead to 24 points.

Taryce Stewart replied for Swans, before Nic Bucknall, playing further up the ground, kicked truly after repeat efforts from Simpson on the wing and a pass from Law to kick the Tigers’ fifth major and restore their 24-point lead.

A smother on the wing from McNamara reiterated the busy Tiger’s appetite for the contest, before Allan made the most of a great pass from Laurie to give the Tigers a game-high 29-point lead.

However, three goals in four minutes from Swans, including two more to Stewart, cut the Tigers’ lead to 10 points before Palfrey kicked his second major to extend it to 16 at half-time.

Swans’ Josh Cipro cut it back to 10 early in the second half, before a dashing run, two bounces and a cool finish from Davies gave the smooth Tiger his second major.

Goals to Adam Faulkner and Wityk (second) left Swans trailing by just one point at the 16-minute mark of the third term, before the speedy Bailey Bennett kicked truly for the Tigers.

However, second goals to Faulkner and Cipro and a third to Wityk gave Swans the lead for the first time and an eight-point lead at the final change, with a furious Armstrong demanding an improvement from the Tigers in terms of work ethic and blue-collar effort in the final term.

A second goal to Law gave the Tigers a perfect start to the final term and pulled them to within one point, before Alphonse Charlie replied for Swans.

Josh Bennett then kicked truly for the Tigers and was mobbed by his jubilant teammates, before consecutive goals to Swans gave the hosts a 14-point lead.

Simpson then kicked his second goal but it wasn’t enough for the Tigers, who now turn their attention to the Royals.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts suffered a 31-point defeat against Swan Districts, 10.8 (68) to 5.7 (37), a result which sees the Tigers finish in sixth position on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away season.

CLAREMONT 3.6 7.7 9.10 12.13 (85)

SWAN DISTRICTS 1.0 5.3 11.6 14.7 (91)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 M. Davies, M. Palfrey, J. Law, E. Simpson, 1 B. Bennett, J. Bennett, N. Bucknall, N. Allan.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 4 S. Wityk, 3 T. Stewart, 2 A. Faulkner, J. Cipro, 1 J. Slater, W. Wilson, A. Charlie.

BEST

CLAREMONT: R. Morgan, J. Law, J. Goddard, J. Laurie, M. Davies.

SWAN DISTRICTS: S. Wityk, T. Whittle, A. Faulkner, J. Cipro.