TIGERS MAUL SHARKS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

Top-of-the-ladder Claremont’s Reserves extended their winning run to five games after mauling a woeful East Fremantle by 57 points at New Choice Homes Park in round seven.

The Tigers kicked five unanswered goals in the opening term and never looked back as they prevailed 11.8 (74) to 2.5 (17), recording 14 more inside 50s and 12 more scoring shots than the Sharks, who were held goalless after half-time.

Prolific midfielders Max Spyvee (two goals) and Ben Elliott (game-high nine tackles) dominated the engine room and each recorded a game-high 28 disposals, with the former making a welcome and impressive return from an ankle injury.

Forward Max Minear provided a strong target and kicked a game-high four goals, including three in the Tigers’ opening-term blitz, while the hardworking Tyron Smallwood (21 disposals, six tackles) gave the team tremendous service and produced a great chase and tackle which earned him a free kick at half-back late in the opening term.

Wingman Sam Alvarez continued his stellar form with another prominent performance while the dashing Cam Anderson gave the Tigers tremendous rebound from half-back and propelled the team forward.

Acting captain and ruckman Kalin Lane won the players’ player award and starred with his efforts around the ground, which included winning clearances and laying smothers and tackles, while exciting forward Isaiah Butters kicked two goals on debut after returning from off-season shoulder surgery.

The Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term and wasted no time in stamping their authority on the contest as Lane won the centre clearance and thumped the ball inside 50, where Minear strongly marked and converted inside the opening minute to give the visitors an ominous start to the game.

A sweeping transition from defence resulted in Minear splitting the middle from the pocket and gave the key Tiger a pair of goals inside the opening five minutes, before terrific defensive pressure from forward Charlie Malone created a turnover inside 50 and allowed Spyvee to kick Claremont’s third goal.

Spyvee then set up forward Zac Mainwaring for his first goal with a spearing pass inside 50, before a brilliant kick to the hotspot from in-form defender Marc Boyatzis allowed Minear to kick his third major.

Smallwood then denied the Sharks at the other end of the ground with a team-lifting chase and tackle, ensuring the Tigers took a 30-point lead at quarter-time after a terrific opening term.

Coach Darren Harper praised the Tigers’ work rate and willingness to play on, before Tom Muskarovsky kicked East Fremantle’s first goal early in the second term.

The returning Kai Harwood replied with Claremont’s sixth goal after receiving a brilliant squaring pass from second-gamer Leith Fitzpatrick, before Chris Walker kicked East Fremantle’s second and final goal of the game.

Spyvee replied with his second before Lane laid a great tackle in defensive 50 which earned him a free kick and saw the Tigers retain their 30-point lead at half-time.

Goals to Butters and second-game defender Ben Ramshaw in the third term increased Claremont’s lead to 42 points at the final change, with Harper praising the Tigers’ mental toughness.

The prominent Elliott then won a centre clearance and sent the ball inside 50 in the opening minute of the final term, allowing Minear to mark and kick his fourth goal, before Butters kicked his second and courageous defender Anthony Davis produced a terrific spoil at full-back to deny the Sharks late in the game.

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

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts returned to winning ways and recorded their third win of the season after defeating East Fremantle by four points, 7.11 (53) to 7.7 (49).

CLAREMONT 5.1 7.1 9.3 11.8 (74)

EAST FREMANTLE 0.1 2.1 2.3 2.5 (17)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 M. Minear, 2 M. Spyvee, I. Butters, 1 K. Harwood, B. Ramshaw, Z. Mainwaring.

EAST FREMANTLE: 1 C. Walker, T. Muskarovsky.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Spyvee, B. Elliott, M. Minear, T. Smallwood, S. Alvarez, C. Anderson.

EAST FREMANTLE: M. Tassone, C. Holmes, C. Walker, T. Marshall.