Round 20 Reserves: Tigers Maul Swans

By Dan Scamozzi

A 10-goals-to-none second half saw Claremont’s Reserves thump Swan Districts by 72 points at Revo Fitness Stadium in the final round of the home-and-away season.

The 15.14 (104) to 4.8 (32) mauling was the Tigers’ fourth consecutive win and saw them finish five wins clear on top of the ladder.

The Tigers, who have advanced directly to the second semifinal, will have a bye in the first week of the finals.

143 more disposals, 76 more marks, 20 more tackles, 25 more inside 50s and 17 more scoring shots reflected the Tigers’ dominance from a statistical perspective, but just as impressive was there intent, attack on the contest, application and even spread of contributors.

Silky midfielder Tom Curren (26 disposals, nine marks, five tackles, two goals), who glides across the ground and stands out with his smooth skills, continued his strong form to win best player and the players’ player award, while fellow midfielder Rylie Morgan (30 disposals, six tackles, one goal) was also prominent.

Midfielder Jake Murphy recorded a game-high 33 disposals and had fine support from the tenacious and consistent Jacob Sideris (30 disposals, game-high eight tackles, one goal), while powerful forward Corey Hitchcock (nine marks) continued his strong form and kicked a game-high four goals.

In further good news, hardworking forward Alex Manuel played three quarters as he works his way back to full fitness.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the renamed ground in the opening term but were let down by early turnovers as Swans kicked the opening goal, before a spearing pass from wingman Tom Ledger (28 disposals, eight marks, game-high nine inside 50s) set up Hitchcock for the hosts’ first major.

Midfielder Bailey Bennett then kicked the Tigers’ second goal before Swans’ Leigh Kohlmann kicked his second to give the visitors a two-point lead at quarter-time.

With the Tigers +10 in tackles and +4 in inside 50s, coach Brayden Duckworth, who has done a brilliant job in his first season at the helm, along with the rest of the coaching staff, implored the team to change angles in order to make the ground bigger and open up the play.

Swans kicked the opening goal of the second term to take a nine-point lead before Morgan laid a ferocious tackle to earn a free kick, before the prominent Jake Stergiou kicked the first of his two goals.

Goals to Curren and the busy Morgan gave the Tigers three in a row and a 12-point lead before Swans’ Patrick Farrant kicked his second major after making the hosts pay for a turnover in defence.

Impressive back-pocket Tom Baldwin (six tackles) then displayed great courage as the Tigers took a six-point lead at half-time.

Brilliant bodywork and a straight finish from Stergiou saw the silky Tiger kick his second goal early in the second half before Hitchcock did likewise after hauling in a strong one-handed mark, before Cooper Nitschke (game-high 12 marks, six tackles) converted a kick-to-advantage from Manuel.

Some nifty work from the speedy Isaac Barton then set up Hitchcock for his third goal as the Tigers took a 32-point lead at the final change after a four-goals-to-none third term.

With the Tigers +30 in contested disposals, Duckworth praised their hunt but encouraged them to finish off the game, before competitive and impressive defender Lewis Daisley (19 disposals, nine marks), who is having a terrific season, kicked his first Reserves goal after receiving a 50m penalty.

Wingman Ben Rushforth then hauled in a high-flying mark at full-forward but couldn’t convert, before a front-and-centre Curren snapped his second goal and Rushforth split the middle from a tight angle.

A spearing and brilliant pass from Curren then set up Sideris who kicked truly, before Hitchcock kicked his fourth goal after being found by fellow forward Jake Anderson.

Stergiou then set up Nitschke for his second and the Tigers’ 10^th consecutive goal before, fittingly, Daisley laid a ferocious tackle on Kohlmann in midfield to earn a free kick.

The endearing act epitomised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest and was the last significant moment in their 15^th win of the regular season.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their third consecutive win and finished in second position on the ladder after defeating Swan Districts by one point, 7.12 (54) to 8.5 (53), while Claremont suffered a 13-point defeat against East Fremantle in the WAFLW, 5.8 (38) to 4.1 (25).

CLAREMONT 2.2 5.5 9.8 15.14 (104)

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.4 4.5 4.6 4.8 (32)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 C. Hitchcock, 2 T. Curren, J. Stergiou, C. Nitschke, 1 B. Bennett, J. Sideris, R. Morgan, B. Rushforth, L. Daisley.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 2 L. Kohlmann, P. Farrant.

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. Curren, R. Morgan, J. Murphy, C. Hitchcock, J. Sideris.

SWAN DISTRICTS: M. Bain, L. Kohlmann, L. Riley, G. Wilson.