Round 18 Reserves: Tigers Crush Falcons

By Dan Scamozzi

Top-of-the-table Claremont’s Reserves recorded consecutive wins after crushing West Perth by 98 points at Claremont Oval in round 18.

The 19.11 (125) to 4.3 (27) demolition was set up during a five-goals-to-none opening term and resulted from a brilliant and ferocious team performance.

The Tigers recorded 79 more disposals, 22 more inside 50s and 23 more scoring shots than the Falcons, and had an even spread of 12 goal kickers in their 13^th win of the season.

Brilliant ruckman Jordon Reid (21 disposals, six marks, game-high 25 hit-outs) continued his outstanding form as he gave the Tigers tremendous service in the ruck and excelled with his second efforts and regularly drove the team forward to win best player, while silky midfielder Tom Curren (game-high 28 disposals, one goal) won the players’ player award in his third game back from injury.

Midfielders Jordan Law (two goals), Bailey Bennett (20 disposals, game-high eight inside 50s, one goal) and Jake Murphy (26 disposals, one goal) were all prominent, while defender Ronin O’Connor made a promising debut across half-back.

In further good news, Shaquille Morton and Corey Hitchcock (game-high three goals) played their first games of the season, however, forward Nicholas Allan, who kicked the first two goals of the game, suffered another hamstring injury in the first half.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term and were first to pounce as Allan kicked consecutive goals before repeat efforts from wingman Josh Bennett and a spearing pass from the hardworking Callan England set up Hitchcock for the team’s third major.

A squaring pass from Isaac Barton allowed Murphy to kick truly and extend the lead to 24 points before Ben Rushforth made a courageous spoil in defence.

A ferocious tackle from wingman Ben Edwards and a pass from midfielder Jacob Sideris (27 disposals, one goal) then set up forward Kaiden Gilbert for the Tigers’ fifth goal as the hosts took a 31-point lead against a scoreless West Perth at quarter-time.

With the Tigers +7 in contested disposals and +9 in inside 50s, thanks largely to the dominance from Reid and midfielder Jared Hardisty (game-high seven tackles) in midfield, coach Brayden Duckworth praised the team for their impressive start but urged them to keep their foot on the throat of the opposition.

Goals to Jake Anderson, Edwards and Curren extended the lead to 51 points approaching the halfway mark of the second term before the Falcons kicked their opening two majors.

However, a second goal to Hitchcock and a major from Law gave the Tigers a commanding 52-point lead at half-time.

A great tackle earned Cooper Nitschke a free kick and saw him extend the lead to 60 points in the second half, before he and Edwards collided in a case of friendly fire.

West Perth’s Mitchell Antonio then kicked the visitors’ third major before Anderson kicked his second and Rushforth kicked the Tigers’ 13^th to extend the lead to 66 points at the final change.

A great smother from Curren in midfield just before the three-quarter-time siren epitomised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, with the hosts now +22 in contested disposals as Duckworth encouraged the team to keep winning territory.

A second goal from Law extended the lead to 72 points early in the final term before the Falcons kicked their fourth major, before the skilful Nitschke finished brilliantly with the outside of his boot.

Goals to Sideris, B. Bennett, Gilbert and Hitchcock then capped off a dominant and memorable victory for the Tigers, who will aim for their third consecutive win when they face South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in round 19.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts returned to the winners’ list after defeating West Perth by 17 points, 11.8 (74) to 8.9 (57).

CLAREMONT 5.1 10.4 13.8 19.11 (125)

WEST PERTH 0.0 2.0 3.2 4.3 (27)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 C. Hitchcock, 2 J. Law, K. Gilbert, N. Allan, J. Anderson, C. Nitschke, 1 T. Curren, J. Murphy, B. Bennett, J. Sideris, B. Rushforth, B. Edwards.

WEST PERTH: 1 M. Antonio, K. Coleman, K. Hindmarsh, T. McKenzie.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Reid, T. Curren, J. Law, B. Bennett, J. Murphy.

WEST PERTH: S. Rotham, L. Johns, A. Johnson, C. Lynch