Round 14 Reserves: Oakley Pounces On Lions

By Dan Scamozzi 

A running goal from the tenacious and electrifying Chris ‘CJ’ Oakley late in the final term saw Claremont’s Reserves record a hard-fought four-point win against Subiaco at Leederville Oval in round 14.

The top-of-the-table Tigers prevailed 12.8 (80) to 12.4 (76) to record their 11^th consecutive win after Oakley gathered the ball in midfield before bursting forward and splitting the middle to kick his third goal of the game.

Despite losing captain Jesse Laurie (thumb) and midfielder Jake Murphy (foot) to injury in the first half, the Tigers dug deep and found a way to win a game which ebbed and flowed and featured several momentum swings, with the visitors keeping the Lions scoreless in the final term.

Ruckman Jordon Reid (six tackles, 16 hit-outs) continued his outstanding and consistent form as he gave the Tigers great service in the ruck and also with his second efforts, with the big man winning best player and the players’ player award.

Midfielder Tom Ledger (27 disposals) recorded a game-high nine inside 50s and was prolific from the outset, while Alec Waterman (25 disposals, five tackles, five inside 50s, one goal) gave the Tigers great service as he combined his time between the forward line and midfield.

Defender Lewis Daisley produced another prominent performance, highlighted by a courageous and inspirational spoil in the final term, while midfielder Bailey Bennett (team-high nine tackles) helped set the tone inside the contest.

Hardworking forward Tyron Smallwood kicked three goals, while full-forward Nicholas Allan kicked two in his first game of the season.

Defenders Jacob Orr and Jalen McGee joined Allan in the team that defeated South Fremantle in round 13, as the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term.

An early goal gave the Lions the lead before Ledger won his second clearance and delivered a brilliant pass to Smallwood for the Tigers’ first major.

Subiaco’s Nathan French then made the Tigers pay for a turnover in defence when he kicked his second goal, before great efforts from Jordan Law and Isaac Barton allowed Oakley to level the scores.

The Lions replied with consecutive goals before the prominent Waterman snapped truly to pull the Tigers to within seven points of the hosts at quarter-time.

The Tigers were +15 in contested disposals and +5 in inside 50s, however, coach Brayden Duckworth urged the team to tidy up its skills, before a spearing pass from Law saw forward Kaiden Gilbert kick truly in the fourth minute of the second term.

The Lions replied with their fifth goal before Allan converted another kick inside 50m from Law, and Laurie laid a great tackle at half-back which earned him a free kick.

Allan then kicked his second before the Lions kicked another goal from out the back of the pack to level the scores, before repeat efforts from the hardworking Gilbert allowed Barton to kick truly.

A ferocious tackle from Ledger earned the Tiger a free kick before Smallwood kicked his second goal just before half-time to give the Tigers a 14-point lead at the main break.

The Tigers began the second half minus two rotations as the Lions kicked five consecutive goals to take a 15-point lead halfway through the third term, before Barton kicked his second major after a short pass from Oakley.

However, the Lions kicked the next goal to take a 17-point lead at the final change, with Duckworth urging the Tigers to “dig deep”.

The message paid immediate dividends as Oakley kicked his second goal in the second minute of the final term, before Daisley put his body on the line at half-back.

Another goal from close range gave Smallwood his third and saw the Tigers close to within three points, before Oakley sent the Tiger Army into raptures when he capped off a dominant final term from the visitors to seal a scrappy but gallant victory.

The Tigers have a bye in round 15 before hosting Perth at Claremont Oval in round 16.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their third consecutive win and rose to third position on the ladder after defeating Subiaco by 45 points, 13.8 (86) to 6.5 (41).

CLAREMONT 3.1 8.4 9.5 12.8 (80)

SUBIACO 4.2 6.2 12.4 12.4 (76)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 T. Smallwood, C. Oakley, 2 N. Allan, I. Barton, 1 A. Waterman, K. Gilbert.

SUBIACO: 3 N. Martin, N. French, 1 J. Joyce, L, Hickmott, A. Breman, M. Hughes, W. Hickmott, J. Bechelli.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Reid, T. Ledger, A. Waterman, L. Daisley, B. Bennett.

SUBIACO: T. Hobley, A. Breman, T. Breeze, R. Mu, J. Atkinson.