Round 12 Reserves: Tigers Overrun Sharks

By Dan Scamozzi 

A dominant second half saw Claremont’s Reserves defeat East Fremantle by 33 points at New Choice Homes Park in round 12, extending the Tigers’ winning streak to nine games.

Despite being held scoreless in the second term and trailing by 10 points at half-time, the Tigers slammed on eight goals to one in the second half to prevail 13.6 (84) to 7.9 (51).

The Tigers recorded 106 more disposals, 57 more marks, 23 more tackles and three more scoring shots than the Sharks, but prevailed on the back of executing the basics and playing team footy.

Rampaging defender Jalen McGee (28 disposals) starred with his ferocious attack on the contest and hauled in a game-high 10 marks on his way to winning best player and the players’ player award, while hard-running wingman Ben Rushforth (22 disposals) continued his great form and was one of four Tigers to kick two goals.

The hardworking Isaac Barton (equal game-high seven tackles) was again prominent and kicked a brilliant goal in the final term, while defender Ryan Murphy (game-high 29 disposals) and the versatile Ben Edwards (six tackles, equal game-high six inside 50s, one goal) were solid contributors.

Jesse Laurie (nine marks), Bailey Bennett and Addison Dew all came into the team that defeated East Perth in round 11, as the Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term with the aid of a healthy breeze.

However, the Sharks kicked the first goal of the game inside the opening minute before midfielder Jordan Law (equal game-high seven tackles) replied with the first of his two goals courtesy of a fortunate bounce.

A smother from Barton at half-forward allowed Cooper Nitschke to quickly kick the Tigers’ second major before Rushforth won a clearance and converted from outside 50m to give the visitors three consecutive goals and an 11-point lead.

Midfielder Rylie Morgan then sharked a handball and finished with aplomb to extend the lead to 18 points before the prominent Laurie hauled in an impressive mark at the other end of the ground.

The Sharks replied with their second goal before a second major from Law after the quarter-time siren restored the Tigers’ 18-point lead.

With the Tigers +6 in contested disposals, +27 in handball receives and +4 inside 50s, coach Brayden Duckworth implored the team to hit the easy target, however, it was all the Sharks in the second term as the hosts piled on 4.4 to nothing to take a 10-point lead at half-time.

With the Tigers needing to regroup and refocus, goals to Callan England and Edwards, with the latter resulting from repeat tackles in the visitors’ front half, saw Claremont reclaim the lead in the third term before Morgan split the middle from tight in the pocket.

East Fremantle’s Cameron Loersch then kicked his third goal to trim the Tigers’ lead to three points before second goals to Nitschke and Rushforth either side of a major from swingman Lewis Davis gave the visitors a 21-point lead at the final change.

With the Tigers now +24 in tackles and +51 in handball receives, Duckworth praised the team for executing the basics and playing team footy, before Barton took a mark 40m from goal in the left-forward pocket, ran around the man on the mark and split the middle much to the delight of the team and the Tiger Army sitting directly behind him.

A goal from Jake Stergiou gave the Tigers the only two majors of the final term as the top-of-the-table visitors recorded their ninth consecutive win.

The Tigers will aim for their 10^th consecutive win when they host South Fremantle at Claremont Oval in round 13.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their fifth win of the season after crushing East Fremantle by 68 points, 13.12 (90) to 2.10 (22), while Claremont defeated Peel Thunder by 29 points in the WAFLW, 4.6 (30) to 0.1 (1).

CLAREMONT 5.1 5.1 11.2 13.6 (84)

EAST FREMANTLE 2.1 6.5 7.5 7.9 (51)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 J. Law, R. Morgan, B. Rushforth, C. Nitschke, 1 C. England, L. Davis, J. Stergiou, I. Barton, B. Edwards.

EAST FREMANTLE: 3 C. Loersch, 1 R. Lester-Smith, B. Teakle, T. Bockman, C. Smith.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. McGee, B. Rushforth, I. Barton, R. Murphy, B. Edwards.

EAST FREMANTLE: M. Burton, C. Smith, H. Creasey, T. Bockman.