TIGERS OUTNUMBERED BY LIONS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A patchy performance from Claremont’s Reserves resulted in a 35-point defeat against Subiaco in the opening round of the season at Leederville Oval.

The Tigers, who got off to a sluggish start and were outnumbered by the Lions in the 14.8 (92) to 9.3 (57) defeat, were also made to pay for their turnovers and reactiveness.

However, there were several positives to come out of the game, including the form of key-position defender Will Reilly, who shone with his superb reading of the play and marking, resulting in the debutant winning best player and the players’ player award for his unflappable performance.

At the other end of the ground, fellow debutant Max Minear (one goal) continued his impressive form as he hauled in marks and worked hard around the ground and contributed to several goals, while prominent midfielder Ben Elliott also gave the Tigers great service along with Ben Rushforth.

The powerful Charlie Malone (one goal) was another solid contributor, while skilful and hardworking forward Cooper Nitschke kicked a team-high three goals and had a hand in several others as a result of his pressure and work rate.

Jack Borchet kicked a team-high three goals for the Lions, while former Tiger Jake Stergiou chipped in with two majors.

The Tigers, who fielded 13 debutants, kicked to the City end of the ground as acting captain Tom Lee lined up at full-back, however, the Lions kicked the opening two goals to take an early 12-point lead.

Bailey Bennett then split the middle from the forward pocket after being found by Elliott, before three consecutive goals gave the Lions a 25-point lead over the flatfooted and reactive Tigers at quarter-time.

With first-year Claremont coach Ryan McKenzie urging the Tigers to lift, a goal from full-forward Jack Buller after a clearance from midfielder Rylie Morgan was the perfect start to the second term, before the Lions replied through Aaron Breman.

Brilliant passes from Malone and Minear set up Nitschke for his first major, before Nitschke returned the favour to Minear, who pulled the Tigers to within 13 points of the Lions.

Great pressure and a pass from the prominent Nitschke then set up Malone, who thumped through the Tigers’ third consecutive goal to trim the deficit to just seven points, before a late goal from Abraham Clinch gave the Lions a 12-point lead at half-time.

Despite the Tigers working their way back into the contest after a great fightback in the second term, built on the back of an increased work rate and appetite for the contest, a frustrating third term saw the Lions slam on five consecutive goals to extend their lead to 38 points, as they repeatedly punished Claremont for their turnovers.

Nitschke then kicked his second major, before winning a holding-the-ball free-kick and splitting the middle after laying an inside-50 tackle.

With the Tigers trailing by 32 points at the final change, McKenzie urged the team to go at the game and kick the ball long and direct, before Lee and Jack Cooley kicked truly to pull the Tigers to within 21 points of the Lions at the 13-minute mark of the final term.

However, the Lions kicked the final two goals to run out comfortable winners.

Meanwhile, Claremont defeated Subiaco by 13 points in the Colts, 9.11 (65) to 7.10 (52), while the Lions defeated the Tigers by two points in the WAFLW, 4.6 (30) to 4.4 (28).

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

CLAREMONT 1.1 5.2 7.3 9.3 (57)

SUBIACO 5.2 7.2 12.5 14.8 (92)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 C. Nitschke, 1 T. Lee, B. Bennett, C. Malone, J. Cooley, J. Buller, M. Minear.

SUBIACO: 3 J. Borchet, 2 J. Stergiou, T. Edwards-Baldwin, 1 L. Upton, A. Breman, A. Doyle, B. Fimmano, S. Page, B. Golding, A. Clinch.

BEST

CLAREMONT: W. Reilly, M. Minear, B. Elliott, B. Rushforth, C. Malone.

SUBIACO: T. Edwards-Baldwin, O. Matthews, M. Lawrence, I. Clinch, L. Upton.