TIGERS BACK ON TRACK

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

The mighty Claremont Tigers returned to winning ways and the top of the ladder after dominating East Fremantle by 42 points at New Choice Homes Park in round seven.

A scintillating six-goals-to-one opening term paved the way for the Tigers’ fifth win, 14.4 (88) to 6.10 (46), with Claremont’s engine room too much for the Sharks to handle.

Champion midfielder Jye Bolton (equal game-high 33 disposals, team-high six inside 50s, one goal) recorded a game-high eight marks and won the ball at will as he drove the Tigers forward and won the players’ player award for his tireless efforts, while defender Lachlan Martinis (equal game-high 33 disposals, five inside 50s) gave the team terrific service and rebound from defence.

Key forward Jack Buller kicked a game-high three goals, including two in the Tigers’ opening-term blitz, while co-captain Dec Mountford (team-high eight tackles) limited the impact of in-form Shark Josh Schoenfeld in a typically selfless performance.

Hardworking wingman Ryan Lim (23 disposals) kicked two goals and was one of several Claremont midfielders to hit the scoreboard, alongside Bailey Rogers (25 disposals, two goals) and Kane Mitchell (one goal).

Co-captain Jared Hardisty (seven tackles) made a welcome return from a hamstring injury in his first game of the season, while debutant Steve Miller played forward and ruck and led the team from the ground to a rousing reception.

Forwards Cal England and Alex Manuel each kicked two goals, while 50^th-gamer and ruckman Oliver Eastland (game-high 28 hit-outs) won his duel with undisciplined East Fremantle ruckman Luke Strnadica, who gave away seven free kicks.

Defender Finn Gorringe made a fine debut for East Fremantle and took a courageous mark running with the flight of the ball, however, the undisciplined Sharks had no multiple goalkickers and haven’t defeated the Tigers since 2016.

Kicking to the southern end of the ground in the opening term, Buller split the middle from the pocket after being found by Bolton, before a terrific contest at full-back from courageous and returning defender Tom Baldwin denied the Sharks.

Forward Isaac Barton then dribbled through Claremont’s second goal before England made it three, Rogers then kicking truly to establish a 22-point lead in time-on.

Brilliant defender Dec Hardisty’s spoiling was already on show before Nick Kommer kicked the Sharks’ first goal, before goals to Lim and Buller (second) gave the Tigers a commanding 27-point lead at quarter-time.

Five different goalkickers was testament to Claremont’s evenness and many avenues to goal, with coach Ash Prescott praising the Tigers’ promising start but encouraging the team to play with a team-first mentality.

Defender Anton Hamp denied the Sharks on the last line of defence in the second term before Bolton drifted forward and out-marked former Tiger Morgan Davies to kick Claremont’s seventh goal, before East Fremantle replied with consecutive goals for the first and only time in the game.

England then snapped truly from the pocket after a laughable deliberate-out-of-bounds decision, the Tigers retaining their 27-point lead at half-time.

Lim kicked his second goal to extend the lead early in the second half before Jonathon Marsh replied for the Sharks, goals to Rogers (second), Buller (third) and Manuel extending Claremont’s advantage to 45 points at the final change.

Prescott urged the Tigers to surge the ball forward before Mitchell snapped truly from the pocket in the final term, before Hugh Dixon replied with the Sharks’ fifth goal.

Manuel then kicked his second before Schoenfeld kicked the final goal of the game, on a day which well and truly belonged to the Tigers and saw them record wins in all three grades.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they host East Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium in round eight.

CLAREMONT 6.1 8.3 12.4 14.4 (88)

EAST FREMANTLE 1.4 3.6 4.7 6.10 (46)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. Buller, 2 B. Rogers, R. Lim, C. England, A. Manuel, 1 K. Mitchell, J. Bolton, I. Barton.

EAST FREMANTLE: 1 N. Kommer, J. Marsh, R. Lester-Smith, J. Schoenfeld, T. Bockman, H. Dixon.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Bolton, L. Martinis, J. Buller, D. Mountford, R. Lim.

EAST FREMANTLE: J. Marsh, L. English, J. Jansen, F. Gorringe, C. Eardley.