SPOORS LIGHTS IT UP

BY DAN SCAMOZZI 

An eye-catching and best-on-ground performance from brilliant forward Matthew Spoors propelled Claremont’s Reserves to a thumping 68-point win against West Perth in their pre-season game at Revo Fitness Stadium.

In sublime conditions, Spoors, who has a cricketing background but is already pushing for League selection, kicked six goals as the Tigers slammed on 13 goals to one after quarter-time to prevail 14.11 (95) to 3.9 (27).

Spoors, who kicked two goals and won the players’ player award against East Fremantle a week earlier, terrorised West Perth’s defence with his positioning, leading and nous for goal, and was part of a forward line that applied terrific pressure on the opposition and also benefited from outstanding supply from further up the field.

An even and outstanding team effort, which saw all 23 Claremont players play their roles and contribute to the emphatic victory, was also built on the back of fierce intent, ferocious tackling and a willingness to surge the ball forward.

Bullocking midfielder Jared Hardisty returned from a hamstring concern and helped set the tone with his trademark attack on the contest and ferocious tackling, while fellow midfielder Ben Elliott also gave the Tigers great service and was dominant after half-time.

Harry McCracken was another inclusion and provided great rebound, while the powerful Corey Hitchcock kicked an early goal before starring in midfield and won the players’ player award.

Speedy forward Kade Lines (one goal) impressed with his pressure and repeat efforts, while fellow forward Max Minear (one goal) was another valuable contributor.

Lively forward Craig Farmer kicked two goals for the Falcons, who held an eight-point lead at the opening change but were helpless to stop the Tigers from running all over them.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term and displayed their tackling intent from the outset, however, the Falcons kicked the opening two goals.

The prominent Hardisty then laid a crunching tackle which won him a free kick, before Hitchcock speared through the Tigers’ first goal.

Hardisty then repeated the feat before the Falcons took a slender advantage into quarter-time, with Claremont coach Josh Pullman, filling in for the absent Ryan McKenzie, praising the efforts of Rylie Morgan, Hardisty and Hitchcock.

A centre clearance from Morgan and a holding-the-ball free kick to Lines early in the second term were signs of things to come, before Spoors kicked his first goal.

Another centre clearance from Morgan and goal to Spoors gave the Tigers their first lead before, incredibly, Farmer kicked his second and what would turn out to be the Falcons’ final goal.

Brilliant roving from a stoppage and an impressive finish gave Spoors his third goal in the space of 12 minutes, before Morgan won another clearance and Minear kicked truly.

Ben Rushforth goaled as a result of the Tigers surging the ball forward, before Cooper Nitschke cleverly roved the ball off hands and kicked the hosts’ seventh major.

A great pass from Jordon Reid set up fellow big man and full-forward Jack Buller who finished brilliantly from the pocket on the stroke of half-time, as the Tigers took a 29-point lead at the main break after a terrific second term.

Efforts from Buller and Lines allowed Spoors to kick his fourth goal early in the second half as the Tigers extended their lead, before Elliott laid a desperate smother on the boundary line, which typified the team’s intent and appetite for the contest.

Spoors then kicked his fifth goal after gathering the crumbs off the pack and snapping truly, before wingman Jack Cooley (hamstring tightness) had his afternoon ended early.

Buller then kicked his second goal from a tight angle after being found by the prominent Elliott, before Jye Clark, who showed no lasting effects of the concussion he suffered against the Sharks, snapped truly after more terrific and suffocating forward pressure.

The result was a 51-point lead to the Tigers at the final change, with Pullman encouraging the team to stick their tackles and finish the game well.

The first message was adhered to when Hitchcock laid a bone-crunching tackle on an opponent in the second minute of the final term, before Lines snapped the Tigers’ 13^th major.

Repeat efforts from Elliott and a dashing run and pass from Tom Ledger, who went with the unusual choice of wearing his socks down but played a prominent role across half-back, fittingly set up Spoors for his sixth and the final goal as the Tigers ran out big winners.

Meanwhile, West Perth defeated Claremont by 43 points in the Colts, 11.12 (78) to 5.5 (35).

The Tigers face Subiaco at Leederville Oval in the opening round of the home-and-away season on Saturday.

CLAREMONT 1.2 8.3 12.4 14.11 (95)

WEST PERTH 2.4 3.4 3.7 3.9 (27)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 6 M. Spoors, 2 J. Buller, 1 J. Clark, B. Rushforth, C. Nitschke, C. Hitchcock, K. Lines, M. Minear.

WEST PERTH: 2 C. Farmer, 1 K. Bartel.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Spoors, J. Hardisty, B. Elliott, H. McCracken, C. Hitchcock, K. Lines.