BUTTERS COLLARS BULLDOGS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A five-goal performance from electrifying forward Isaiah Butters helped Claremont’s Reserves defeat South Fremantle by seven points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in NAIDOC Round and record their ninth consecutive win.

Despite recording just 27 inside 50s in the 10.9 (69) to 9.8 (62) victory, the Tigers prevailed on the back of a five-goals-to-two third quarter, with best-on-ground Butters breaking the game open with four goals.

Powerful midfielder Oliver Sheldrick (team-high eight tackles) was given the task of negating Matthew Ward after the Bulldog’s strong start to the game and won the players’ player award for executing his sacrificial role, while prolific wingman Sam Alvarez (team-high 22 disposals, five tackles, one goal) continued his outstanding season with another prominent performance.

Ruckman Steve Miller (game-high 36 hit-outs) gave the Tigers terrific service around the ground, while Anthony Treacy (two goals) terrorised the Bulldogs across half-forward with his blistering pace and work rate.

Meanwhile, defender Francis Watson, who designed Claremont’s Indigenous Guernsey for the special round, made a welcome return from a knee reconstruction and stood out with his elite field kicking.

On a sour note, champion midfielder Kane Mitchell suffered an ankle injury late in the first term and took no further part in the game.

Cameron Anderson captained the Tigers and elected to kick to the southern end of the ground in the opening term, however, the Bulldogs kicked the opening two goals to take an early 12-point lead.

Forward Max Minear replied for the Tigers before the Bulldogs added their third goal, before Treacy brilliantly roved the ball at full pace and delivered a squaring kick which was converted by fellow forward Zac Mainwaring from the pocket.

Treacy then emerged from the pack at full-forward to mark and kick the Tigers’ third goal, before Mitchell limped from the field in a devastating blow for the visitors.

A spearing pass from Watson then set up Butters for his first goal after the quarter-time siren as the Tigers took a nine-point lead at the first change.

Despite being -11 in clearances, the Tigers’ 75% kicking efficiency pleased coach Darren Harper, before a dour and uneventful second term unfolded, with Treacy winning a holding-the-ball free kick in what was one of few highlights as the Bulldogs kicked the only goal to reduce Claremont’s lead to three points at half-time.

In stark contrast to the previous term, Butters kicked truly in the opening minute of the second half in what was a sign of things to come, before Jaxon Bellchambers replied for the Bulldogs with the first of his two goals.

Treacy then added his second before Nathan Spooner kicked the first of his two goals for the Bulldogs, before Butters broke the game open during five minutes of brilliance.

His third goal was a miraculous snap from a 45-degree angle which sailed straight over the goal umpire’s hat, before the silky forward soccered through his fourth major from the goal line.

Butters then added his fifth goal and fourth for the term to give the Tigers a 21-point lead at the final change, with Harper praising the team’s improvement in clearances and urging them to surge the ball forward, where Butters was “putting on a show.”

Holding-the-ball free kicks to Minear and Mainwaring in the early stages of the final term were testament to the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, before the Bulldogs kicked consecutive goals to remind Claremont that their job was far from complete.

Alvarez replied with a spearing finish from the pocket which split the middle, before the Bulldogs kicked the final goal of the game courtesy of a 50m penalty.

The top-of-the-ladder Tigers will be aiming for their 10th consecutive win when they face Peel Thunder at David Grays Arena in round 15.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their fifth consecutive win after smashing South Fremantle by 68 points, 17.6 (108) to 6.4 (40).

CLAREMONT 4.3 4.5 9.6 10.9 (69)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.0 4.2 6.3 9.8 (62)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 I. Butters, 2 A. Treacy, 1 M. Minear, Z. Mainwaring, S. Alvarez.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 2 N. Spooner, J. Bellchambers, 1 S. Thompson, J. Musika, J. Sax, F. Metcalf, J. Motlop.

BEST

CLAREMONT: I. Butters, O. Sheldrick, S. Alvarez, S. Miller, A. Treacy.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: M. Ward, G. Wessels, J. Bellchambers, J. Warne, G. Byron.