BREAK-OUT BULLER BITES BULLDOGS

John Townsend

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Jack Buller threatened to produce a break-out performance in the round one win over West Perth.

It don’t take long for him to live up to his threat.

After a week to adjust his kicking radar, the big forward dominated the first quarter against South Fremantle to such an extent that the match was effectively over at the first break.

And if Claremont’s 1000th league win was not assured after Buller landed three goals in the opening term at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday, the millennium victory was guaranteed by half-time when the Tigers led by 43 points.

Buller had 4.1 by that point after an hour in which he marked strongly, kicked truly – including a tight set short from the boundary line and a 55m bomb into the sea breeze - and proved a magnetic target for his team-mates.

He then waxed with Olly Eastland in the ruck in the second half where his impact was less spectacular but equally significant as Claremont ground out a 48-point win, 10.16 (76) to 4.4 (28).

The 199cm forward is not a spectacular high-flyer in the mode of former Tigers Ken Hunter or Tom Lee but he uses his 99kg frame as an astute weapon to position himself in marking contests and negate the defensive efforts of his opponent.

The 21-year-old has obvious AFL traits and although all Claremont supporters would be proud to see him flourish at the national level, his potential departure through the midseason rookie draft could come at considerable cost to the club’s 2023 premiership ambitions.

 Claremont displayed the same hard edge and defensive rebound that marked their opening win over reigning premier West Perth but it came with a rejig of personnel that underlines the versatility in the squad.

Callan England proved a seamless midfield replacement for late withdrawal Ben Edwards with his 27 possessions complementing the winning performances of Bailey Rogers (28) and stand-in captain Ronin O’Connor (19).

Claremont’s control of the first half was achieved by doubling South Fremantle’s clearances and inside-50 entries while they had a clear advantage in contested possessions and tackles. Their intensity is unmatched in the competition.

After a strong display in round one, Eastland lifted his rating even further by winning 38 hit-outs to go with 16 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

His mentor Percy Johnson would have been pleased with his endeavour and presence.

But Claremont’s prime weapon remains their defensive division which balances the twin causes of stopping their opponents getting and using the ball while acting as a springboard for their own attacking thrusts.

“It is offence off the back of defence,” coach Ash Prescott explained during a quarter-time interview.

While the ball evaded Jye Bolton for one of the few times in his career, though he had 20 second-half touches to finish with 24, second-gamer Teia Miles led the attacking charge from defence with 29 disposals while Lachlan Martinis (31) relished his licence to spread and run.

Their forays forward were balanced by Anthony Davis’ superb intercepting job.

His nine marks meant he trailed only Buller (14) for aerial prowess.

And Jack Maibaum had a second successive win over the league’s best power forwards by keeping Jimmy Miller and Zac Strom goalless.

The WA team to take on SA next month will be selected next weekend and it would not surprise if multiple Claremont defenders were included.

When speedster Joel Western produced a goal-of-the-year contender early in the third term with a running banana kick from deep in the forward pocket, it stretched the lead to 50 points and threatened a percentage-boosting blowout.

But Claremont’s biggest issue remains their inability to convert their prolific ball-winning into scoring opportunities and the Tigers kicked just one more major in the 40 minutes after Western’s stunning strike.

The lack of potency in attack was a critical feature in last year’s grand final, and several recent final losses to South Fremantle in particular, while the two-goal second half on Saturday failed to reflect the team’s command of the match.

Hopefully, Buller’s emergence as a star of the league, and the imminent return of captain Dec Mountford and experienced forward Alex Manuel, should help to address that issue.

Claremont 4.5 8.8 9.11 10.16 76

South Fremantle 2.0 2.1 3.2 4.4 28

Goals – Claremont: 4: Buller. 2: Western, Delacey. 1: Carter, Eastland.

South Fremantle: 2: Datson. 1: Blechynden, Kelly.

Best – Claremont: Buller, Miles, Davis, Rogers, Eastland, England, Maibaum.

South Fremantle: Kelly, Blechynden, McQuilkin, Main, Datson.