BULLER LEADS THE WAY

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

An inspirational performance from second-gamer Jack Buller helped Claremont record a memorable 16-point win against South Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium in round two.

Accuracy also played a key part in the 17.6 (108) to 13.14 (92) result, with the Tigers overcoming the loss of ruckman Oliver Eastland (hamstring) in the opening term as they outlasted the Bulldogs.

Buller (game-high 10 tackles, 18 hit-outs) was then called upon to compete against South Fremantle’s experienced ruckman Brock Higgins, with his appetite for the contest earning him the players’ player award.

Line-breaking forward Anthony Treacy (19 disposals, six marks, two goals) starred with his pace and creativity, while Kane Mitchell and Alex Manuel kicked three goals apiece.

Milestone man and consistent defender Dec Hardisty celebrated his 50^th game by playing an important part in the win, while captain Dec Mountford blanketed South Fremantle midfielder Haiden Schloithe before moving to defence.

Tenacious defender Tom Baldwin starred with his ability to read the play and willingness to put his body on the line, while Jason Carter made an impressive club League debut after replacing Max Spyvee in the only change to the Claremont team which defeated Swan Districts in round one.

The move of Anton Hamp to the forward line and Jacob Van Rooyen to the back line to start the second half proved to be a masterstroke, with the Tigers kicking seven goals to three in the third term.

The Tigers also had 10 goal kickers and withstood a fightback from the Bulldogs in the final term.

Forwards Mason Shaw (five goals) and Cody Ninyette (four goals) were among South Fremantle’s best players, with the visitors left to rue their inaccuracy in front of goal.

Mountford elected to kick to the Claremont end of the ground in the opening term before Mitchell kicked the opening two goals to give the Tigers a great start.

A great chase and tackle from midfielder Jake Patmore earned him a free kick at half-forward, before goals to Matt Parker and Ninyette gave the Bulldogs a three-point lead at quarter-time.

With Eastland ruled out of the game, coach Ash Prescott instructed Hardisty to pinch-hit in the ruck and urged the Tigers to loosen up, be bold and take the game on.

The message paid immediate dividends when Treacy kicked truly in the opening minute of the second term after receiving a pinpoint pass from Mitchell, before Brandon Donaldson replied for the Bulldogs.

A tackle inside 50 and 50m penalty allowed Manuel to kick Claremont’s fourth goal before Patmore soon made it five, before Ninyette replied with his second major.

Lachlan Martinis then set up a positive transition of play from full-back which was capped off by Treacy’s second goal, before Hardisty denied the Bulldogs with a strong mark in the same position.

However, late goals from Shaw and Ninyette (third) extended the Bulldogs’ lead to nine points at half-time, with the Tigers needing to improve their ball movement and execution.

The positional moves of Hamp and Van Rooyen did just that, as goals from hardworking midfielder Jye Bolton and forward Cal England reclaimed the lead for the Tigers in the second half.

Busy midfielder Bailey Rogers then denied the Bulldogs with a desperate smother at half-back, before Ninyette kicked his fourth goal.

Impressive ball movement then allowed Harrison McCracken and Manuel to kick truly, before a centre clearance from Bolton and a searching kick to full-forward from England was converted by Hamp.

South Fremantle’s Travis Abbott then kicked truly before Van Rooyen took a strong mark in defence, before Shaw kicked his second goal.

Repeat efforts resulted in Rogers kicking his first goal after McCracken brilliantly gathered and distributed the ball, before a quick snap out of the pack gave Mitchell his third goal and Claremont a 14-point lead at the final break.

Consecutive goals from Shaw to start the final term served as a reminder that the game was far from over, before Rogers steadied with his second major.

A re-energised Schloithe then kicked truly to cut the margin to just one point, before tenacious forward Isaac Barton took an intercepting mark inside 50 and finished on the run.

A terrific contest from Bolton in the ruck then saw England rove and kick truly, before Shaw replied with his fifth goal.

Buller then won a centre clearance and Manuel landed a 50m bomb to end the contest.

The Tigers will be aiming for three consecutive wins when they host Perth at the same venue in round three.

CLAREMONT 2.2 6.2 13.3 17.6 (108)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 2.5 6.11 9.13 13.14 (92)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 K. Mitchell, A. Manuel, 2 B. Rogers, C. England, A. Treacy, 1 J. Bolton, J. Patmore, A. Hamp, I. Barton, H. McCracken.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 5 M. Shaw, 4 C. Ninyette, 1 H. Schloithe, B. Donaldson, T. Abbott, M. Parker.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Buller, A. Treacy, K. Mitchell, D. Hardisty, D. Mountford.