ALVAREZ CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A best-on-ground performance from goal-kicking wingman and acting captain Sam Alvarez (equal team-high 21 disposals, equal game-high five inside 50s, career-high three goals) helped propel top-of-the-ladder Claremont Reserves to their 14^th consecutive win in round 19 at Mineral Resources Park.

The Tigers defeated Perth by 55 points, 17.10 (112) to 9.3 (57) on the back of superior pressure and work rate, with the visitors recording 11 more inside 50s and 15 more scoring shots than the outworked and outclassed Demons.

Hardworking small forward Tyron Smallwood (four tackles) responded to his League omission in the best possible way as he kicked a game-high four goals on the back of clever positioning and sense for goal, while the versatile Cameron Anderson (16 disposals, two goals) gave the Tigers terrific service with his work rate around the ground.

Robust defender Louis Passera formed part of a resolute Claremont defence and helped ensure that the Demons had no reliable avenues to goal, while tough-as-nails inside midfielder Ben Elliott (equal team-high 21 disposals, four tackles) continued his fine form.

And then there was fellow inside midfielder Rylie Morgan (one goal), who was subjected to constant attention and niggle from Perth pest Tom Moore, but persevered and won the players’ player award for his selfless and team-orientated performance.

On a sour note, emerging defender Luke Knight sustained a hamstring injury in the first half.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term in sublime conditions as Jack Beeck and Alvarez occupied the wings, before key forward Max Minear split the middle from 50m after receiving a spearing kick inside 50 from fellow forward Isaiah Butters.

Debutant Campbell Rogers then entered the fray and lined up on a wing, before an unmarked Brant Colledge kicked Perth’s first goal.

Claremont forward Kai Harwood replied with an opportunistic goal off the ground before a booming finish from Smallwood gave the Tigers a 12-point lead.

A dashing run and kick inside 50 from Dec Carruthers then allowed zippy forward Zac Mainwaring to kick Claremont’s fourth goal as the Tigers took an 18-point lead at quarter-time.

Coach Darren Harper praised the Tigers’ pressure up the ground before sending powerful midfielder Oliver Sheldrick (equal game-high five inside 50s) to the busy Colledge, before Smallwood took a strong mark at full-forward and kicked his second goal early in the second term.

A squaring pass from Anderson then set up Smallwood for his third goal before the former converted a free kick, before a brilliant tap from ruckman Kieran Gowdie and a centre clearance from Sheldrick led to Morgan kicking the Tigers’ eighth major.

Alvarez then finished with aplomb off one step from just inside 50 to give the Tigers eight consecutive goals and an ominous 50-point lead, before Harry Quartermaine made the visitors pay for some sloppy play in defence when he kicked Perth’s second goal.

However, man-of-the-moment and a crumbing Smallwood replied with his fourth goal in the final minute of the first half to restore Claremont’s 50-point lead at half-time.

Perth’s Darby McCarthy kicked the first of his two goals to give the Demons first blood in the second half, before Alvarez replied with his second major after soccering through an opportunistic goal from inside the goal square.

Butters then kicked truly before Perth replied with consecutive goals for the first time, before a squaring pass from Mainwaring set up Harwood for his second goal.

Butters then split the middle from 50m for his second goal after receiving a spearing pass from fellow forward Charlie Malone as the Tigers extended their lead to 58 points at the final change, with Harper praising the team’s work rate.

Goals to Gowdie and Alvarez (third) extended the lead to 70 points early in the final term before Perth again replied with consecutive majors, before Anderson produced a dashing run and finish from 50m.

Perth’s Matt Rogers, who had been kept quiet by Passera for most of the contest, then bobbed up with two late but inconsequential goals, as the Tigers ran out convincing winners ahead of consecutive byes in the next fortnight.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their 10th consecutive win after demolishing a winless Perth by 95 points, 16.18 (114) to 3.1 (19). 

CLAREMONT 4.1 10.4 14.7 17.10 (112)

PERTH 1.1 2.2 5.3 9.3 (57)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 T. Smallwood, 3 S. Alvarez, 2 C. Anderson, I. Butters, K. Harwood, 1 M. Minear, Z. Mainwaring, K. Gowdie, R. Morgan.

PERTH: 2 M. Rogers, D. McCarthy, 1 B. Colledge, M. Browne, H. Quartermaine, M. Jones, J. Steel.

BEST

CLAREMONT: S. Alvarez, T. Smallwood, C. Anderson, L. Passera, B. Elliott.

PERTH: M. Rogers, M. Browne, B. Colledge, J. Peletier, T. Moore.