BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A patchy performance from Claremont’s Reserves saw the Tigers suffer a 28-point defeat against East Fremantle in their pre-season game at New Choice Homes Park.

In a game consisting of 25-minute quarters, the Sharks overpowered the Tigers on their way to a 15.8 (98) to 11.4 (70) win, with powerful forward Nic Bonomelli kicking seven goals.

Full-forward Jack Buller kicked a team-high four goals for the Tigers, while midfielder Max Spyvee was another solid contributor and won best player.

Matthew Spoors kicked two goals and won the players’ player award for his creative and lively performance, while the speedy Kade Lines (one goal) and defender Tom Baldwin were also strong performers. 

Ruckman Steve Miller gave the Tigers great service, while clever forwards Cooper Nitschke and Corey Hitchcock kicked two goals apiece.

On a sour note, promising midfielder Jye Clark was concussed in the second quarter.

Acting captain Rylie Morgan elected to kick to the southern end of the ground in the opening term as Tom Ledger and Clark lined up on the wings, however, the Sharks jumped the Tigers through consecutive goals to Bonomelli.

Morgan then won a clearance and sent the ball to full-forward where Buller marked and goaled, before Hitchcock laid a smother in the same position three minutes later and kicked truly to pull the Tigers to within two points of the Sharks.

The Sharks replied through Ben Wardle, before Spoors was rewarded for playing in front and best reading a centre clearance from midfielder Jack Cooley and kicked the Tigers’ third major, before a third goal to Bonomelli gave the hosts an eight-point lead at quarter-time.

Claremont coach Ryan McKenzie, who has taken the reigns from Simon Nimmo (work commitments), urged the Tigers to find a body and not play reactively, before Buller kicked his second goal in the ninth minute of the second term to trim the Sharks’ lead to two points.

However, the next four goals, including two more to Bonomelli, gave the Sharks a 27-point lead before Clark was assisted from the field in a dazed state, before the hosts swept the ball from defence and Bonomelli’s sixth goal for the half extended their advantage to 33 points at half-time.

Three more goals to start the second half gave the Sharks eight in a row and a commanding 50-point lead, before a kick to full-forward from Baldwin saw Nitschke mark and kick a badly-needed goal for the Tigers.

Lines and Spoors then kicked truly before Buller converted a downfield free kick to give the Tigers four consecutive goals and trim the deficit to 25 points at the final change.

McKenzie praised the team’s improvement in tackling and pressure but still urged them to be proactive and not reactive, before the Sharks kicked the opening goal of the final term.

Buller replied with his fourth major after a promising passage of play which started with a mark from defender Reece Guelfi at full-back, before Hitchcock kicked his second goal.

Nitschke then did likewise after repeat efforts from Lines, before the Sharks kicked the final two goals of the game.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts suffered a two-point defeat against South Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Claremont host West Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium in their final pre-season game on Saturday.

CLAREMONT 3.0 4.0 8.3 11.4 (70)

EAST FREMANTLE 4.2 9.3 12.4 15.8 (98)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. Buller, 2 C. Nitschke, C. Hitchcock, M. Spoors, 1 K. Lines.

EAST FREMANTLE: 7 N. Bonomelli, 2 B. Wardle, A. Evensen, 1 M. Murdock, C. Smith, Z. Hayward, R. McGuire.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Spyvee, M. Spoors, K. Lines, T. Baldwin.