Round 8 Review: Tigers Roar Past West Coast

By Dan Scamozzi 

An accurate Claremont defeated a wasteful West Coast by 31 points in perfect conditions at Optus Stadium on Sunday, with the Tigers recording their fifth win of the season on the back of a dominant midfield and fierce pressure.

46 more disposals, 41 more marks and eight more inside 50s reflected Claremont’s superiority in a number of areas, but despite recording just one more scoring shot, the Tigers’ ability to take their chances was the key difference in the 12.7 (79) to 6.12 (48) triumph.

Co-captain and brilliant midfielder Kane Mitchell continued his outstanding and consistent form to record game-high tallies of 34 disposals and 13 marks, and also laid a team-high eight tackles in his best-afield performance, with full-back Anton Hamp (18 disposals, nine marks) also continuing his remarkable season with another superb display in defence.

Tenacious defender Jack Lewsey was another solid contributor, while midfielder Jye Bolton (33 disposals, 10 marks) recorded a game-high 11 inside 50s as he dominated the clearances and repeatedly drove the Tigers forward with his accurate kicking.

The hardworking Ryan Lim (22 disposals, two goals), who has become one of the team’s most reliable shots for goal, was one of five multiple goal-kickers, while Jeremy Goddard (game-high 32 hit-outs) and Oliver Eastland (12 hit-outs, two goals) gave the Tigers great service in the ruck and around the ground.

Jack Bradshaw kicked a team-high three goals, while fellow forwards Tom Lee and Tyron Smallwood both kicked two majors.

Mitchell, Declan Mountford (21 disposals, seven tackles), Hamp and Chris “CJ” Oakley (six tackles) all tied for the players’ player award.

Lee, co-captain Ian Richardson and Bailey Bennett all came into the team for Haydn Busher (knee), Kaiden Gilbert (omitted) and Jake Anderson (omitted), as the Tigers dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game but could only record three behinds despite the ball being locked in their forward half, before T. Smallwood dribbled through the first goal.

When West Coast did venture forward it was to no avail as Claremont’s defence stood tall, before a brilliant left-footed pass from rebounding defender Lachie Martinis set up Bradshaw for the Tigers’ second goal.

Lee then bounced through the Tigers’ third, before Eastland received a free kick and kicked the team’s fourth consecutive goal to give them a 23-point lead at quarter-time.

39 more disposals, 11 more marks and nine more inside 50s reflected the Tigers’ early dominance against a goalless opposition, with midfielders Mitchell (12 disposals), Mountford (10) and Bolton (10) already stamping their authority on the contest.

A centre clearance from Bolton opened the second term and was a sign of things to come, before West Coast’s Nick Reid kicked the first of his three goals.

With Bolton now dominating the clearances, a desperate smother from Richardson inside 50 emphasised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, before Bolton produced a smother of his own.

A great contest in midfield from third-gamer Jalen McGee and a spearing pass from Bolton then set up Bradshaw for his second goal, before Lim split the middle from the pocket after repeat efforts from Mitchell.

Jarrod Brander replied with West Coast’s second goal, before Tom Ledger split the middle from 50m after a pinpoint pass from Bolton.

Another desperate smother inside 50, this time from Oakley, provided another team-lifting moment before Lim delivered another brilliant finish to extend the lead to 34 points at half-time.

However, it was all West Coast in the third term, as they kicked 3.5 to nothing to reduce the Tigers’ lead to 11 points at the final change.

With the Tigers needing to regroup and respond, inspirational tackles in midfield from Oakley and Mountford provided the perfect platform in the early stages of the final term, before Lee kicked his second goal after a sharp handball from Richardson.

Second goals to Smallwood and Eastland extended the lead to 30 points and gave the Tigers some breathing space, before Reid kicked his third and West Coast’s sixth major.

However, a third goal to Bradshaw capped off a fine win for the Tigers, who received a standing ovation as they left the field.

The Tigers have a bye in round nine before facing Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in round 10.

Meanwhile, Claremont recorded its third consecutive win in the WAFLW after pipping East Fremantle by one point at Claremont Oval, 4.5 (29) to 4.4 (28).

CLAREMONT 4.4 8.5 8.5 12.7 (79)

WEST COAST 0.5 2.7 5.12 6.12 (48)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. Bradshaw, 2 T. Lee, R. Lim, O. Eastland, T. Smallwood, 1 T. Ledger.

WEST COAST: 3 N. Reid, 1 J. Brander, B. Williams, M. Allen.

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. Mitchell, A. Hamp, J. Lewsey, J. Bolton, R. Lim.

WEST COAST: J. Cameron, C. Masten, N. Reid, L. Foley, J. Brander.