TIGERS READY TO GO

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

Claremont proved far too strong for East Perth in their second and final pre-season game at Leederville Oval on Saturday afternoon, with the Tigers recording a comprehensive 65-point win in warm and glorious conditions.

The 20.14 (134) to 9.15 (69) rout was set up during a seven-goals-to-nil opening term and resulted from scintillating ball movement, high intensity, relentless pressure and fierce tackling.

The Tigers also dominated the Royals in transition, with patient and sweeping forays from defence resulting in several goals, and had nine goal kickers for the second week in a row.

Defender Tom Baldwin played a pivotal role in a resolute Claremont back line with his unwavering commitment to the cause, while forward Isaac Barton kicked a team-high four goals and assisted in several others due to his repeat efforts and willingness to provide a contest for the betterment of the team.

Anton Hamp starred alongside Baldwin and was a key contributor in denying the Royals a reliable avenue to goal, while Ben Edwards and Jared Hardisty formed part of a dominant midfield which propelled the Tigers forward.

Midfielder Jye Bolton (one goal) won plenty of the ball and worked tirelessly as he covered the ground and applied pressure on the opposition, while lively forwards Cal England, Anthony Treacy, Alex Manuel and Harrison McCracken each kicked three goals.

Kane Mitchell and Manuel were welcome inclusions into the Claremont team that defeated Peel Thunder seven days earlier, as the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term with the aid of a breeze.

A spearing pass from England set up Treacy for the opening goal of the game, before a front-and-centre McCracken soon doubled the Tigers’ advantage.

Goals to Manuel and Jake Patmore extended the lead, with the Tigers’ forward-50 pressure and tacking already suffocating the Royals.

McCracken then kicked Claremont’s fifth goal inside the opening 20 minutes after receiving a spearing pass from Jack Lewsey, before Bailey Bennett and England capped off a faultless opening term, giving the Tigers a commanding 45-point lead at quarter-time.

Six goal kickers was testament to Claremont’s evenness and many contributors, with coach Ash Prescott praising the Tigers’ intensity.

Tom Edwards-Baldwin kicked East Perth’s first goal in the fourth minute of the second term, before a patient and brilliant transition from full-back resulted in Ty Smallwood kicking Claremont’s eighth major.

A front-and-centre England, who has an ability of being in the right spot at the right time, then snapped his second goal, before Mitchell Dobson kicked truly for the Royals.

A clever knock-on from Mitchell then allowed England to snap his third goal, before Dobson kicked his second and Bolton won a free-kick for a terrific tackle inside-50.

Manuel then crumbed and snapped truly to give the Tigers a 51-point lead at half-time.

A long kick to full-forward from McCracken was marked and converted by Barton in the second minute of the third term, before Sebit Kuek replied with East Perth’s fourth goal.

Manuel then snapped his third goal before Treacy converted a thumping pass from Patmore, before a lightning transition from full-back allowed Barton to kick his second major.

Nick Robertson and Jayden Magro then gave East Perth consecutive goals for the first and only time, as Claremont took a 57-point lead at the final break, with Prescott urging the Tigers to be manic and run the game out.

Another transition saw Treacy kick his third goal in the second minute of the final term, before East Perth’s Angus Scott kicked his first major.

Repeat efforts then saw Barton run into an open goal for his third, before a terrific contest on the wing from ruckman Oli Eastland resulted in McCracken kicking his third major.

Another transition from defence resulted in Barton kicking his fourth goal, before Dobson kicked his third major.

A terrific contest from Barton allowed a deserving and hardworking Bolton to kick truly, before Dobson kicked the final goal of the game.

Claremont face Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval in the opening round of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season.

CLAREMONT 7.5 11.8 15.13 20.14 (134)

EAST PERTH 0.2 3.5 6.10 9.15 (69)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 I. Barton, 3 C. England, A. Treacy, A. Manuel, H. McCracken, 1 J. Bolton, J. Patmore, B. Bennett, T. Smallwood.

EAST PERTH: 4 M. Dobson, 1 J. Magro, N. Robertson, S. Kuek, A. Scott, T. Edwards-Baldwin.

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. Baldwin, I. Barton, A. Hamp, B. Edwards, J. Hardisty.

EAST PERTH: T. Edwards-Baldwin, M. Dobson, S. Jones, T. North.