TIGERS MAUL LIONS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

Mateship, spirit, intensity, blue-collar effort, application, ferocity, pressure and accuracy were all key ingredients in Claremont’s brilliant 20-point win against reigning premiers Subiaco in the opening round of the 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership Season at Leederville Oval.

The Tigers led at every change in their famous 15.5 (95) to 11.9 (75) win, as they mauled the Lions with their ferocious attack on the contest and never relented as they sustained a four-quarter effort to record their first victory against Subiaco since 2014.

The win capped off a memorable 100^th game for midfielder Ryan Lim, who laid a game-high eight tackles and was chaired from the ground before belting out a rousing rendition of the team song alongside his jubilant teammates.

Hardworking small forward Isaac Barton (seven tackles), who won best player and the players’ player award for his outstanding performance, set the tone for Claremont’s win when he ferociously tackled Subiaco midfielder Kyal Horsley on the boundary line in the opening term and won a holding-the-ball free-kick, before repeating the feat against several other opponents.

Defender Dec Hardisty, who suffered a knee injury in the first half which looked as if it would prematurely end his game, bravely returned to the field in the second half, albeit in the forward line, and kicked four opportunistic goals as he finished the game as the leading goal kicker, while tenacious defender Jack Lewsey repelled the Lions on several occasions.

Bailey Rogers continued his solid form and Oliver Eastland (one goal) also gave the Tigers great service, while ruckman Jeremy Goddard (game-high 45 hit-outs) monstered Sandover medallist Lachlan Delahunty and repeatedly gave Claremont’s midfield first use.

Composed defender Ryan Nyhuis made a seamless club debut as he marshalled Claremont’s defence with aplomb, while Tom Baldwin, Ben Edwards and Anthony Davis were also prominent in their first games.

Meanwhile, bullocking midfielder Jared Hardisty (five tackles, one goal) played a crucial role in the win with his trademark attack on the contest, after replacing fellow midfielder Dec Mountford (concussion) in the team.

Nick Martin kicked a team-high three goals for the Lions, who were unable to match the Tigers’ vigour and unable to cope with their pressure.

The Tigers kicked to the City end of the ground in the opening term but it was Bailey Matera who gave the Lions first blood, before great forward pressure and a smother from Alex Manuel allowed Anton Hamp to pull the Tigers level.

Alec Waterman then made the Lions pay for a turnover when he split the middle from 50m, before the powerful forward laid a ferocious tackle and won a holding-the-ball free-kick, allowing him to kick his second goal and give the Tigers a 12-point lead.

The dangerous Ben Sokol then replied for the Lions, before Barton laid his inspirational and memorable tackle on Horsley.

Max Walters then pulled the Lions level, before star midfielder Jye Bolton (game-high 24 disposals, six tackles) won a centre clearance and Harry McCracken set up Eastland for the Tigers’ fourth goal.

Cal England quickly gave the Tigers their fifth major, before Martin’s first goal for the Lions trimmed Claremont’s lead to four points at quarter-time.

With the Tigers +10 in hit-outs, +4 in clearances and +5 in tackles, coach Darren Harris praised the efforts of Barton, before Baldwin and Hamp hauled in impressive one-on-one marks in the opening minute of the second term, before Harry Marsh reclaimed the lead for the Lions.

D. Hardisty then crunched the Lion, in another sign of the Tigers’ intent and appetite for the contest, before Martin’s second goal extended Subiaco’s lead to seven points.

A holding-the-ball free-kick and 50m penalty allowed J. Hardisty to kick the Tigers’ sixth goal, before another 50m penalty against the Lions saw England kick his second major and gave Claremont a three-point lead at half-time.

Former Tiger Rowen Powell suffered a knee injury early in the second half and was stretchered from the ground, before man-of-the-moment Lim torpedoed the Tigers’ eighth goal.

Repeat efforts and a spearing pass from Bolton, who kicks the ball harder and flatter than any other player in the WAFL, set up Manuel for his first major, before D. Hardisty soccered his first goal off the ground, with Bolton now everywhere and firmly applying his influence on the game.

Consecutive goals then pulled the Lions to within nine points of the Tigers, before Kane Mitchell replicated D. Hardisty’s efforts off the ground.

Lions debutant Wil Hickmott replied for the hosts, before D. Hardisty was again in the right place at the right time, as his second goal gave the Tigers a 14-point lead at the final change.

Another ferocious tackle from Barton earned the Tiger another free-kick early in the final term and signalled that the visitors were in no mood to rest on their laurels, before D. Hardisty kicked his third and fourth goals to give Claremont an unassailable lead.

A second goal from Hamp increased the advantage to 32 points and had the Lions on their knees, and despite the hosts kicking the final two goals, the day well and truly belonged to the Tigers, who will aim to use their coming-of-age win as a launching pad for the rest of the season.

The Tigers host Swan Districts at Revo Fitness Stadium in round two.

CLAREMONT 5.1 7.2 12.3 15.5 (95)

SUBIACO 4.3 6.5 9.7 11.9 (75)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 D. Hardisty, 2 A. Waterman, C. England, A. Hamp, 1 K. Mitchell, R. Lim, J. Hardisty, O. Eastland, A. Manuel.

SUBIACO: 3 N. Martin, 2 M. Walters, B. Matera, 1 H. Marsh, B. Sokol, K. Horsley, W. Hickmott.

BEST

CLAREMONT: I. Barton, D. Hardisty, J. Lewsey, B. Rogers, O. Eastland.

SUBIACO: H. Kennedy, N. Martin, B. Newton.

ATTENDANCE: 2, 304.