TIGERS MAULED BY FALCONS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI

The mighty Claremont Tigers will face Subiaco in the Reserves preliminary final at New Choice Homes Park after suffering a disappointing 55-point defeat against West Perth in the second semifinal in fine conditions at Pentanet Stadium.

Leading by 12 points in the second term, Claremont then committed crucial turnovers which gifted West Perth a couple of goals and a narrow lead at half-time.

The Falcons slammed on nine goals to one in the second half to prevail 15.11 (101) to 7.4 (46) and book a spot in the grand final at Leederville Oval.

The highlight of the game from a Claremont perspective was Morgan Davies (equal team-high 24 disposals, team-high six marks), who returned from a long-term ankle injury and was named best player for his performance mainly across the half-back line.

Captain and wingman Sam Alvarez (equal team-high 24 disposals) also gave Claremont solid service along with Jack Beeck (equal team-high four inside 50s)  and the recalled Mitch Barron (equal team-high four inside 50s), while forward Zac Mainwaring kicked two goals but also suffered an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of next week's game.

West Perth forward Mitchell Antonio kicked a game-high four goals and was instrumental in the Falcons' second-half blitz, teammate Nathan Murray recording game-high tallies of 27 disposals and nine inside 50s.

Davies, in his first game for the Club since 2018, Ben Ramshaw and Barron were inclusions to the Claremont team as Alvarez elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, Ramshaw winning an early holding-the-ball free kick against opponent Rudy Riddoch.

Davies was then injected into the action before Kendyll Blurton delivered a well-weighted pass inside 50 to Mainwaring who kicked the opening goal, in-form defender Jacob Blight starting the passage of play with repeat efforts across half-back.

Wingman Ben Clarke won a holding-the-ball free kick in another sign of Claremont's positive intent and work rate, West Perth veteran Trent Manzone kicking the Falcons' first goal at the 15-minute mark.

Electric forward Patrick Kitchener snapped brilliantly from the pocket for Claremont's second goal, Blight's field kicking an early highlight before fellow defender Bill Reilly won the Tigers' third holding-the-ball free kick and a 50m penalty.

Blight started another brilliant team transition which was finished by forward Dylan Mulligan, West Perth's Callum Johnson kicking the first of his two goals to trim Claremont's lead to eight points at quarter-time.

Coach Darren Harper praised Claremont's work rate and encouraged the Tigers to be bold, Mainwaring then limped from the field early in the second term before ruckman George Graham won a free kick and kicked the visitors' fourth goal.

West Perth's Koopah Todd made Claremont pay for a turnover across half-back when he kicked the Falcons' third goal, Cameron Anderson sending a scare through the Tigers camp when he injured his knee in the same area of the ground but was able to continue playing.

Marc Boyatzis, combining his time between a wing and the half-back line, crumbed and snapped a kick to full-forward from Blurton for Claremont's fifth goal, West Perth replying with three consecutive goals - two courtesy of turnovers.

Mainwaring kicked his second goal from a free kick and 50m penalty to pull Claremont to within two points at half-time, the Tigers starting the second half with Davies lining up in the midfield.

West Perth kicked four consecutive goals to establish a 26-point lead halfway through the third term, Claremont ruckman Kieran Gowdie (game-high 37 hit-outs) laying a crunching tackle which won him a free kick before Clarke snapped truly from the pocket.

Antonio replied with his third goal to give West Perth a 28-point lead at the final change, Harper demanding Claremont show some agression and return to the style of play which served them so well in the opening term.

The Tigers started the final term without Mainwaring, West Perth kicking four unanswered goals to run out convincing winners.

CLAREMONT 3.2 6.2 7.3 7.4 (46)

WEST PERTH 2.0 6.4 11.7 15.11 (101)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 Z. Mainwaring, 1 D. Mulligan, M. Boyatzis, G. Graham, P. Kitchener, B. Clarke.

WEST PERTH: 4 M. Antonio, 2 C. Johnson, 1 T. Manzone, R. Riddoch, K. Todd, L. Foley, L. Paton, L. Cox, C. Klemke, J. Hinder, J. Burke.

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. Davies, S. Alvarez, J. Beeck, M. Barron.

WEST PERTH: C. Johnson, M. Antonio, L. Paton, N. Murray, B. Lewis.