MAINWARING INSPIRES TIGERS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

Emerging and hardworking forward Zac Mainwaring (team-high four goals) inspired Claremont’s Reserves to a 29-point win against East Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium in round 16.

The 13.8 (86) to 8.9 (57) victory was the Tigers’ 11th consecutive win and resulted from the hosts winning all four quarters.

Fellow forward Max Minear (team-high nine marks, three goals) provided a key target inside 50 and won the players’ player award for his prominent performance, while line-breaking wingman Sam Alvarez (22 disposals) continued his fine season.

Champion midfielder Kane Mitchell (game-high 27 disposals) made a solid return from an ankle injury, while Ben Rushforth (21 disposals, team-high eight tackles) continued his fine run of form.

Meanwhile, powerful forward Timm House kicked three goals in his first game for the club since 2014, while debutant Louis Passera made a fine debut across half-back.

Acting captain Lewis Daisley elected to kick to the southern end of the ground in the opening term before House wasted no time in stamping his authority on the contest, landing a ferocious tackle on an opponent on the wing inside the opening minute of the game.

Mainwaring then kicked the first goal before Minear doubled the advantage after executing a banana from the pocket, with the latter’s goal resulting from emerging midfielder Jake Willson winning the hard ball in midfield and sending the Tigers forward.

A brilliant kick from Alvarez inside 50 to the advantage of House allowed the key forward to kick the Tigers’ third goal before he was mobbed by his jubilant teammates, before Mainwaring kicked his second major in a dominant start to the game.

However, a turnover across half-back gifted the Sharks their first goal and trimmed Claremont’s lead to 15 points at quarter-time.

Coach Darren Harper urged the Tigers to surge the ball forward, before East Fremantle’s Deon Welhan limped from the field with the assistance of trainers early in the second term.

A strong mark from emerging defender Luke Knight at full-back started a great team transition from defence which was capped off by Daisley, before forward Dillon O’Reilly kicked the first of his five goals for the Sharks.

However, a third goal from Mainwaring extended Claremont’s lead to 20 points at half-time.

A brilliant kick inside 50 from fellow forward Isaiah Butters set up Mainwaring for his fourth goal early in the second half, before House did likewise to set up Minear for his second goal.

Minear then spit the middle from 50m to kick his third and give the Tigers four consecutive goals, before Willson laid a team-lifting smother.

However, the Sharks kicked the final three goals of the third term to close to within 23 points of the Tigers at the final change.

With Claremont’s work rate dropping off in a disappointing finish to the third term, Harper urged the Tigers to increase their tackling efforts, before Mainwaring produced a great chase and laid an inspirational smother to deny the Sharks early in the final term.

A kick to the hotspot from Alvarez then set up House for his second goal before O’Reilly replied with consecutive goals for the Sharks, before Butters converted from a tight angle.

O’Reilly then kicked his fifth goal before midfielder Oliver Sheldrick and House kicked late goals for the Tigers, who will be aiming for their 12^th consecutive win when they face East Perth at Leederville Oval in round 17.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their seventh consecutive win after defeating East Fremantle by 15 points at Retravision Stadium in Albany, 10.7 (67) to 8.4 (52).

CLAREMONT 4.1 6.2 9.6 13.8 (86)

EAST FREMANTLE 1.4 2.6 5.7 8.9 (57)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 Z. Mainwaring, 3 T. House, M. Minear, 1 L. Daisley, O. Sheldrick, I. Butters.

EAST FREMANTLE: 5 D. O’Reilly, 1 J. Snadden, E. Curley, E. Paholski.

BEST

CLAREMONT: Z. Mainwaring, M. Minear, S. Alvarez, K. Mitchell, B. Rushforth.

EAST FREMANTLE: D. O’Reilly, J. Snadden, C. Leggett, E. Curley, B. Teakle.