TIGERS HOLD OFF THUNDER

BY DAN SCAMOZZI 

Claremont defeated a plucky Peel Thunder by nine points in hot but glorious conditions in a pre-season game at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A five-goals-to-two second term in favour of the Tigers was the difference between the teams, in a game played on an immaculate surface and featuring 25-minute quarters due to the extreme heat.

The 13.4 (82) to 11.7 (73) win featured nine goal kickers for the Tigers, with Bailey Bennett, Isaac Barton, Ben Edwards and Harrison McCracken each kicking two goals.

The versatile Bailey Rogers starred in both the midfield and defence, while creative forward Anthony Treacy (one goal) terrorised Peel with his lightning pace and appetite for the contest.

Ruckman Oliver Eastland competed strongly and kicked a goal in the final term, while swingman Anton Hamp started in the forward line before moving to defence and starred as the game wore on.

Lively forward McCracken was brilliant in the first half and kicked a goal from 50m on a tight angle in the second term, while the hardworking Barton worked tirelessly in the forward line.

Fremantle Docker Josh Treacy kicked a game-high seven goals for Peel and proved a handful for the Tigers with his efforts in the air and on the ground, however, the imposing forward lacked support in comparison to the Tigers’ many avenues to goal.

Recently appointed co-captain Dec Mountford elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, before wingman Edwards converted a spearing pass from Cal England to give the Tigers an early lead.

Tyron Smallwood then doubled the advantage before Josh Treacy kicked his first major, before midfielder Jye Bolton won his second clearance and Anthony Treacy produced repeat efforts and a neat finish to kick Claremont’s third goal.

McCracken then produced his own repeat efforts and converted a 50m penalty to give the Tigers a 16-point lead, before Josh Treacy kicked three consecutive goals to level the scores at quarter-time.

New Claremont Coach Ashley Prescott praised the Tigers’ work at forward-50 stoppages but implored the team to roll their sleeves up and lay more tackles.

The message paid immediate dividends when Rogers won a holding-the-ball free-kick in defence in the early stages of the second term, before Barton snapped Claremont’s fifth goal.

Bennett then converted a squaring pass from Lachlan Martinis, before Josh Treacy kicked his and Peel’s fifth goal.

McCracken then split the middle from 50m, before defender Dec Hardisty won a holding-the-ball free-kick at full-back and Anthony Treacy laid a smother and sent the ball inside-50 for the Tigers.

Crumbing goals from Edwards and Jack Buller gave the Tigers some breathing space and a game-high 25-point lead, before Josh Treacy made the hosts pay for an errant kick-in and pulled Peel to within 18 points at half-time.

Goals to Josh Treacy and Brayden Lawler gave Peel three consecutive majors and trimmed Claremont’s lead to just four points at the 10-minute mark of the third term, before Hamp took a high-flying mark on the outer wing and Bennett laid a smother in defence.

Recently appointed co-captain Jared Hardisty then kicked truly before Barton kicked his second goal to give the Tigers a strong finish to the term and a 16-point lead at the final break.

However, the Tigers needed to tighten up and stop Peel from taking too many uncontested marks, and also needed to improve their efforts and communication in the midfield.

Daniel Stubbs kicked Peel’s ninth goal to reduce Claremont’s lead to nine points in the final term, before great bodywork from Eastland allowed Bennett to kick his second major.

Eastland then split the middle from 40m, before Peel kicked consecutive goals to pull the margin back to nine points.

A smother from defender Tom Baldwin and a team-lifting chase and tackle from Anthony Treacy at half-back were highlights in the closing stages of what was a trying but valuable game for both teams.

The Tigers face East Perth at Leederville Oval this Saturday in their second and final pre-season game.

CLAREMONT 4.1 9.2 11.3 13.4 (82)

PEEL THUNDER 4.1 6.2 8.5 11.7 (73)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 B. Bennett, I. Barton, B. Edwards, H. McCracken, 1 J. Hardisty, O. Eastland, A. Treacy, T. Smallwood, J. Buller.

PEEL THUNDER: 7 J. Treacy, 1 B. Lawler, M. Randall, R. Bennell, D. Stubbs.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Rogers, A. Treacy, O. Eastland, A. Hamp, H. McCracken, I. Barton.