TIGERS SALUTE HAMP

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A best-on-ground performance from milestone man Anton Hamp inspired Claremont to a 34-point win against East Perth in blustery conditions at Leederville Oval.

Lining up in his 150^th game and qualifying for life membership, Hamp (game-high 11 marks) kicked three second-half goals to help the Tigers overcome a 19-point half-time deficit and prevail 12.14 (86) to 8.4 (52).

The Tigers slammed on eight unanswered goals after half-time to record consecutive wins and improve their record to 4-1 after five rounds.

93 more disposals, 39 more marks, 22 more inside 50s and 14 more scoring shots reflected the Tigers’ dominance, but it was the even spread and willingness from every player to commit to the cause which was most impressive.

The Tigers have matured and become stronger and fitter, but mateship and blue-collar effort is still at the forefront when it comes to upholding team values.

Driving those team values is inspirational captain Kane Mitchell, who set up consecutive goals for the Tigers in the third term and won the players’ player award after another strong performance, while forward Alec Waterman kicked Claremont’s opening three goals to take his season tally to nine.

Powerful midfielder Dec Mountford (team-high six tackles) was instrumental in helping the Tigers win the midfield battle, while hard-running forward Cal England (21 disposals, seven marks, game-high six inside 50s) continued his fine form and kicked a brilliant goal in the final term.

Meanwhile, forward Charlie Malone kicked two goals in an impressive debut, while tough defender Jack Lewsey blanketed East Perth forward Shayne Hille.

Midfielder Rylie Morgan, wingman Ben Edwards and Malone all came into the Claremont team that beat Peel Thunder for Jared Hardisty (calf), Alex Manuel (omitted) and Isaac Barton (knee), as the Tigers kicked to the city end of the ground in the opening term with a howling breeze at their backs.

Hille kicked the opening goal of the game but was barely sighted thereafter, before Waterman converted a free kick after a kick to full-forward from Malone to give the inaccurate Tigers (1.6) a five-point lead at quarter-time.

With the Tigers ahead in contested disposals, clearances and inside 50s, coach Darren Harris praised their “good fight”, before Waterman snapped truly in the opening minute of the second term.

Three consecutive goals then gave the Royals a six-point lead before Waterman kicked his third, before East Perth replied with three more goals.

Malone then kicked the Tigers’ fourth goal before Jono Freeman gave the Royals a 19-point lead at half-time.

Courageous and inspirational spoils from Mountford and defender Dec Hardisty in the early stages of the second half would prove to be turning points for the Tigers, before Ty Smallwood gathered the crumbs and snapped truly to trim the margin to 11 points.

A brilliant pass from prolific midfielder Bailey Rogers (22 disposals, seven marks, four inside 50s, one goal) set up Hamp for his first goal before the man-of-the-moment quickly added his second to reclaim the lead for the Tigers, before a squaring pass from Mitchell set up Malone’s second goal.

A fierce tackle inside 50 from Mitchell then allowed Rogers to kick truly and gave the Tigers a 14-point lead at the final change, after the Royals went scoreless for the term.

With the Tigers now +29 in contested disposals, +10 in clearances and +18 in inside 50s, Harris praised the team effort, before Malone won a clearance and sent the ball forward, where England hauled in a one-handed contested mark, played on and finished with aplomb to extend the lead to 20 points in the second minute of the final term.

A clearance from Edwards then allowed Hamp to kick his third goal, before Lewsey ferociously denied the Royals by thumping the ball out of bounds, much to the delight of his teammates.

A 50m penalty then allowed Edwards to kick truly and cap off a memorable win for the Tigers, on a day their highly-respected No.26 will never forget.

The Tigers host Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium in round six.

CLAREMONT 1.6 4.7 9.10 12.14 (86)

EAST PERTH 1.1 8.2 8.2 8.4 (52)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 A. Waterman, A. Hamp, 2 C. Malone, 1 B. Rogers, C. England, T. Smallwood, B. Edwards.

EAST PERTH: 2 J. Freeman, M. Young, 1 S. Hille, J. Magro, R. Kerr, E. Simpson.

BEST

CLAREMONT: A. Hamp, A. Waterman, K. Mitchell, D. Mountford, C. England.

EAST PERTH: K. Willcocks, N. Robertson, C. Watts.