John Townsend

“Make us hard to play against.”

Coach Ashley Prescott’s final words to the Claremont players during his three-quarter time address summarised perfectly his team’s method and attitude that produced a successful first semifinal encounter with a dangerous Peel outfit.

The Tigers were exceptionally hard to play against from the moment small forward Tyron Smallwood laid a crunching tackle to win a holding the ball free kick close to goal in the opening minute of the sudden death clash at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday.

And by the time Alex Manuel kicked his fifth goal after the final siren, Claremont had dominated the match to such an extent that they had won by 59 points.

The comprehensive 16.15 (111) to 8.4 (52) result included a goal-of-the-year claim from Bailey Rogers who volleyed an astonishing mid-air strike in the last term.

More importantly, it set up a rematch against recent nemesis East Fremantle in the preliminary final this Sunday, helped Ryan Lim celebrate in fine style his 150th match and life membership, and provided Prescott with a slice of rare WA football history.

It was the sixth time in his six seasons at Claremont – split over two stints in different decades – that Prescott has steered the Tigers to a top three finish.

West Perth’s Stan Heal, an Australian football Hall of Famer and official WA legend, is the only other WAFL coach to match that feat over at least a six-year tenure at a single club.

And Prescott will not be satisfied without further success this season.

He made it clear after the match that the single-minded approach to the Peel game, with Claremont winning 43 more contested possessions than the Thunder, would be the blueprint for the rest of the finals campaign.

“Our goal is to play team first, selfless footy and leave our egos at the door,” Prescott told the celebrating members after Claremont’s final home appearance this season.

“This team is tight and connected and we are playing a positive brand of footy.”

Emphasising the selfless approach adopted by his players, Prescott did away with the normal player awards after the match and used the prizes to recognise several usually unheralded contributors in property men Jack Denton and Trevor Naulls, and football manager Kepler Bradley.

There was no shortage of contributors on the field.

Two tactical changes – the moves of star centreman Jye Bolton and big forward Timm House into defence – paid significant dividends while there were no passengers among the other 20 players.

It was a stark contrast to the two recent losses to East Fremantle which were notable for the absence of four-quarter performers.

While Smallwood set the highest standard from the start, and his two second-quarter goals and game-high seven tackles were critical to the result, it was Bolton’s poise and power that most exposed the opposition.

It is remarkable that the dual Sandover medallist has never played an AFL match, an enigma made even more extraordinary by the fact that not one of the 12 AFL-listed players in the Peel team on Sunday was able to impose himself as Bolton did.

Bolton gathered (33) and kicked (24) the ball more than any other player but it was the manner of his robust ball-winning and direct disposal that set him apart. 

He also defended vigorously to suggest he had taken to the new task with relish.

House negated Josh Treacy to such an extent that the giant Docker had just four touches, while Anthony Davis maintained his recent career-best form as an imposing barricade at centre half-back.

Add Lachlan Martinis’ rebounding power and the unruffled displays from Jason Carter and Jack Lewsey, and Claremont had a defence that was difficult to penetrate.

Big forward Jack Buller hit aerial contests with a ferocity unseen in his previous 38 matches, ruckman Ollie Eastland worked his way on top of a bigger opponent in Lloyd Meek and Claremont were well-served by every member of the team.

Now it all starts again.

Claremont will need to bring their best on Sunday against an East Fremantle team that has won the past two contests but they know their best is good enough.

CLAREMONT 2.3 7.8 11.13 16.15 111

PEEL 2.0 5.0 6.1 8.4 52

GOALS – CLAREMONT: 5: A Manuel. 3: T Smallwood, M Spyvee. 2: C England. 1: B Rogers, J Buller, M Minear.

PEEL: 3: B Bell. 2: N Erasmus. 1: M Crowden, J Treacy, J Western.

BEST – CLAREMONT: T Smallwood, J Bolton, A Manuel, L Martinis, A Davis, B Elliott, O Eastland, J Buller.

PEEL: M Crowden, N Erasmus, N Wilson, B Hancock, K Worner.