DAISLEY LEADS THE WAY

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A brilliant performance from defender-turned-forward Lewis Daisley helped Claremont’s Reserves record an 11-point win against East Perth at Leederville Oval in their second and final pre-season game on Saturday afternoon.

In warm and glorious conditions, Daisley kicked a team-high four goals and was named best player and won the players’ player award as the Tigers prevailed 13.8 (86) to 12.3 (75).

Claremont’s win was set up during a five-goals-to-two opening term on the back of midfield dominance and fierce pressure in the forward line.

Defender Jacob Blight was resolute and outstanding at full-back, while midfielders Rylie Morgan, Max Spyvee and Tom Ledger were all prolific and sent the Tigers forward.

Promising ruckman Kalin Lane provided a presence around the ground, while emerging forward Kai Harwood (three goals) continued his fine form and Jason Carter played across half-back.

With acting captain Bill Reilly electing to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, a kick-to-advantage from Spyvee allowed full-forward Ben Schuhkraft to kick truly from a tight angle in the opening minute.

East Perth full-forward Liam Martin replied with consecutive goals, before Spyvee won the hard ball and Morgan converted from a slight angle.

A crunching contest from Daisley inside-50 set the tone for the Tigers, before a clearance and kick forward from Ledger was converted by Harwood.

Fierce pressure from Claremont’s forwards then created a turnover and allowed Alex Pearce to finish with aplomb from 50m, before a kick inside-50 from Ben Rushforth was strongly marked and converted by Daisley as the Tigers took a 21-point lead at quarter-time.

Coach Darren Harper praised the Tigers’ good start and endeavour, with the team gaining reward for effort through composure and accurate finishing.

Sam Alvarez then provided one of the highlights of the game when he bravely ran back with the flight of the ball and created an inspirational contest at half-back in the opening minute of the second term.

Three minutes later, Alvarez delivered a squaring pass to full-forward which was strongly marked and converted by Harwood for his second goal.

East Perth’s Nick Merritt replied with consecutive goals, before Daisley kicked his second major after the Royals were penalised for deliberately rushing a behind.

East Perth’s Ciaran Allsop replied with consecutive goals, before Declan Carruthers brilliantly kept the ball from going out of play and tapped it into the path of speedster Cameron Anderson, who took off on a dashing run and delivered an exquisite kick to full-forward which was marked and converted by Daisley for his third goal.

Consistent midfielder Ben Elliott then crumbed and snapped Claremont’s ninth goal to give the Tigers a 20-point lead at half-time.

East Perth began the second half with third majors to Merritt and Martin, before a brilliant switch of play across half-back from Claremont defender Ben Ramshaw resulted in forward Kieran Gowdie delivering a weighted pass to Harwood for his third goal.

Allsop replied with his third goal for East Perth, before emerging defender Charlie Morfesse took a great intercept mark for the Tigers across half-back.

East Perth then kicked the final goal of the third term to trim Claremont’s lead to just five points at the final break, with Harper urging the Tigers to get the balance right at the contest and not overcommit numbers towards the ball.

Goals to Daisley and Schuhkraft gave Claremont a perfect start to the final term and a 17-point lead, before Merritt kicked his fourth major for East Perth.

Lane replied with Claremont’s 13^th major, and despite East Perth kicking the final goal of the game, the Tigers held on for a narrow and deserved win.

Claremont face Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in the opening round of the season.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts suffered a 39-point defeat against East Perth, 14.15 (99) to 9.6 (60).

Elsewhere, Claremont suffered a 33-point defeat against Swan Disricts in the WAFLW at Steel Blue Oval, 7.4 (46) to 2.1 (13), while the Tigers were defeated by 15 points by Peel Thunder in the WAFLW Reserves at Revo Fitness Stadium, 5.2 (32) to 2.5 (17). 

CLAREMONT 5.3 9.5 10.8 13.8 (86)

EAST PERTH 2.0 6.3 10.3 12.3 (75)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 L. Daisley, 3 K. Harwood, 2 B. Schuhkraft, 1 R. Morgan, B. Elliott, A. Pearce, K. Lane.

EAST PERTH: 4 N. Merritt, 3 C. Allsop, L. Martin, 1 C. Abbott, H. Sparks.

BEST

CLAREMONT: L. Daisley, J. Blight, R. Morgan, K. Lane, M. Spyvee, T. Ledger.

EAST PERTH: J. Hayden, T. Amos, N. Merritt, H. Sparks, K. Brooks.