LEE LEADS THE WAY

BY DAN SCAMOZZI 

A best-on-ground performance from captain and full-forward Tom Lee inspired Claremont’s Reserves to a vital 21-point win against Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Lee, who won the players’ player award and was the difference between the teams, kicked a game-high five goals as the Tigers prevailed 14.9 (93) to 11.6 (72) to end a two-game losing run and record their first win since round two.

The win leaves the Tigers just outside the top four on percentage. 

Defender Anthony Davis responded to his League omission with a strong performance in defence and repelled the Demons on several occasions, while emerging midfielder Max Spyvee continued his solid form and kicked a brilliant goal in the opening minute of the second half.

Hardworking and lively forward Ed McGinty (two goals) continues to improve with every game and laid an inspirational smother in the final term, while ruckman Steve Miller gave the Tigers great service and continues to impress with his leadership qualities.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term but gifted the Demons the first goal through a turnover, before Lee punished Perth for a turnover of their own.

Small forward Kade Lines then kicked his first Reserves goal, before another turnover in Claremont’s defence gifted the Demons their second goal.

Perth’s Darby McCarthy then kicked his second goal to give the Demons a seven-point lead, before Ben Rushforth laid a team-lifting tackle that won him a free kick and wingman Corey Hitchcock laid an inspirational smother.

However, the Demons kicked their fourth goal to take a 13-point lead at quarter-time, despite the Tigers being +9 in contested disposals.

Coach Ryan Mackenzie praised the team’s “fight” and “hunt”, as well as the efforts of Davis, but urged the Tigers to tidy up the turnovers.

Courage from Hitchcock and an inspirational chase and tackle from forward Alex Manuel inside 50 in the early stages of the second term won the team free kicks and served as moments of inspiration, before Lee speared through his second and the team’s third goal.

A ferocious tackle from Bailey Bennett in midfield further emphasised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, before the Demons kicked their fifth goal.

Manuel then speared through the Tigers’ fourth goal from the same spot as Lee earlier in the term, before a desperate tackle from midfielder Ben Elliott created Lee’s third major.

A clearance and kick-to-advantage from midfielder Cameron Anderson then allowed McGinty to convert and gave the Tigers a nine-point lead at half-time.

Spyvee produced a brilliant finish from the pocket to open the second half, before Miller marked strongly and set up Manuel for his second major.

A spearing kick from half-back flanker Tom Ledger then set up forward Matt Spoors for his first goal, before Rushforth kicked the Tigers’ seventh consecutive major to open up a commanding lead.

Lachlan Dennis replied for the Demons and trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 27 points at the final change, with a passionate Mackenzie urging his team to run out the game and be alert to Perth launching an onslaught in the opening five minutes of the final term.

Despite the psychic address, the Tigers switched off in the opening five minutes of the final term as the Demons slammed on three quick goals to trim the margin to just nine points, before a kick-to-advantage from Manuel to Lee allowed the skipper to kick his fourth goal.

Another kick-to-advantage, this time from forward Jordon Reid, allowed a dashing McGinty to kick his second goal and gave the Tigers some breathing space, before Perth ruckman Christian Eyres kicked the Demons’ 10^th major.

McGinty then laid a brilliant smother across half-forward before Lee crumbed and snapped truly, before Perth’s Liam Dellamarta kicked his second goal.

However, Spoors then crumbed and snapped truly in a similar fashion to Lee minutes earlier as the Tigers prevailed and kept their season alive.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their sixth consecutive win after defeating an inaccurate Perth by 40 points, 11.10 (76) to 4.12 (36), while Claremont mauled South Fremantle by 56 points in the WAFLW, 9.10 (64) to 1.2 (8).

The Tigers face East Fremantle at New Choice Homes Park in round seven.

CLAREMONT 2.2 6.6 10.9 14.9 (93)

PERTH 4.3 5.3 6.6 11.6 (72)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 T. Lee, 2 A. Manuel, E. McGinty, M. Spoors, 1 B. Rushforth, M. Spyvee, K. Lines.

PERTH: 2 L. Dennis, C. Penny, D. McCarthy, L. Dellamarta, 1 C. Eyres, G. Langdon, C. Martin.

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. Lee, A. Davis, M. Spyvee, E. McGinty, S. Miller.

PERTH: D. McCarthy, C. Eyres, T. Brogan-Henry, L. Dennis, M. Henderson, J. Burke.