TIGERS DOMINATE THUNDER

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A dominant team performance from Claremont’s Reserves saw the Tigers crush Peel Thunder by 93 points in hot but glorious conditions in a pre-season game at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Early inaccuracy (2.7) prevented the Tigers from gaining reward for effort in the opening term, before they slammed on 15 goals to two after quarter-time to comfortably prevail 17.12 (114) to 3.3 (21).

In a game featuring 22-minute quarters due to the extreme heat, the Tigers held Peel goalless in the second half and scoreless in the final term on an immaculate playing surface.

The commanding performance comprised a complete team buy-in as the Tigers dominated territory and general play and recorded 23 more scoring shots than Peel, while the hosts’ many avenues to goal resulted in 11 players kicking majors.

Former League captain Kane Mitchell (one goal) led the way in midfield and set up consecutive goals late in the opening term as he showed no ill effects from 2020 post-season shoulder surgery, while forward Kai Harwood kicked a game-high four majors.

Midfielders Rylie Morgan and Tom Ledger (one goal) were prominent and drove the Tigers forward, while promising defender Charlie Morfesse shone across half-back and repelled Peel with his clever positioning and composure.

Hardworking midfielder Ben Elliott (one goal) laid two desperate and team-lifting smothers and epitomised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, while imposing ruckman Kalin Lane impressed with his efforts around the ground and won a free-kick when he chased down an opponent early in the second half.

Lewis Daisley, Ben Rushforth and Kieran Gowdie each kicked two goals, while a number of other Tigers contributed as competition for spots heats up ahead of the new season commencing in under a fortnight’s time.

Daisley captained the Tigers and lined up in the forward line ahead of the opening bounce as Claremont kicked to the northern end of the ground, with Ben Schuhkraft occupying full-forward and Jacob Blight full-back, before Elliott created a forward turnover when he laid the first of his smothers inside-50.

The Tigers dominated general play in the opening 10 minutes but were unable to convert, before Peel’s Connor Heuer kicked the first of his two goals, with Claremont’s lively forward Cameron Anderson catching the eye with his lightning pace and turn of direction.

Mitchell then handballed to an unmarked Rushforth at half-forward who kicked truly, before the former set up Jake Willson with a clever pass as the Tigers kicked consecutive goals to end the opening term and take a 13-point lead at the first break.

New Claremont coach Darren Harper praised the Tigers’ “really good start” to the game as well as the forward pressure and forward-half turnovers, but implored the team to improve its composure and execution.

Fierce tackling from the Tigers was on show early in the second term as they applied tremendous pressure on Peel before Roy George kicked the visitors’ second goal.

A dashing run across half-back from Sam Alvarez included three bounces before the Tiger kicked the ball to Anderson’s advantage and Ledger kicked Claremont’s third goal, before repeat efforts and a running snap from Rushforth increased the lead to 18 points.

A brilliant kick to the hotspot from Willson set up Harwood for his first goal before Gowdie kicked the Tigers’ sixth major, before Heuer kicked his second and what turned out to be Peel’s final goal late in the first half.

The Tigers took a 23-point lead at half-time before Lane was rewarded for his inspirational tackle early in the second half.

Harwood then took a strong mark and kicked his second goal before Charlie Malone converted a centre clearance and kick inside-50 from midfielder Oliver Sheldrick, as the Tigers increased the lead to 37 points.

Elliott then laid another smother and Blight prevented Peel from kicking its fourth goal with a touch on the last line of defence, before a spearing pass from Malone set up Schuhkraft for the Tigers’ ninth major.

Elliott then kicked truly to increase the lead to 51 points at the final break, as Harper encouraged the team to run the game out and stick to its structures.

Harwood snapped his third goal in the opening minute of the final term as the Tigers adhered to Harper’s instructions, before another centre clearance and kick inside-50 from Sheldrick allowed Daisley to kick his first major.

The defender-turned-forward then added a second after a spin and pass from hardworking forward Kade Lines, before the latter kicked the ball inside-50 and allowed Alex Manuel to add his name to the list of goal kickers.

Harwood then capped off a team transition from half-back with his fourth major, before Gowdie kicked his second goal after receiving a spearing pass from Ben Ramshaw.

Fittingly, more fierce pressure created another forward-half turnover for the Tigers and allowed Mitchell to kick the final goal of the game, giving the hosts 11 unanswered majors for the second half and capping off an encouraging performance.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded a 10-point win against Peel Thunder at David Grays Arena, 13.5 (83) to 11.7 (73), while Claremont defeated Peel Thunder by three points in the WAFLW at Revo Fitness Stadium, 5.6 (36) to 5.3 (33).

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

CLAREMONT 2.7 6.7 10.12 17.12 (114)

PEEL THUNDER 1.0 3.2 3.3 3.3 (21)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 K. Harwood, 2 L. Daisley, B. Rushforth, K. Gowdie, 1 K. Mitchell, T. Ledger, A. Manuel, C. Malone, B. Elliott, B. Schuhkraft, J. Willson.

PEEL THUNDER: 2 C. Heuer, 1 R. George.

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. Mitchell, K. Harwood, R. Morgan, T. Ledger, C. Morfesse, B. Elliott.