Explosive Banfield lifts the Tigers

By Ken Casellas

The reserves match at Bassendean Oval on Saturday was in the balance when Claremont started the final quarter with 13-point lead over Swan Districts before Bailey Banfield exploded into action with some dazzling play which led to two goals in the opening 90 seconds.

The 18-year-old Banfield seized the ball 30 seconds after the opening ball-up and surged forward before handpassing to Sullivan Moody, who celebrated his debut in reserves football with a goal.

Sixty seconds later Banfield again burst out of the centre and his accurate pass found Riley Disisto for another goal. Banfield was not to be denied, and a few minutes later he fired out a handpass to Kim Kantilla, who received a free-kick, and his long shot was touched on the line to register a behind.

This inspiring play and his overall excellence will surely have Banfield knocking on the door for league selection.

Earlier in Saturday’s match good fortune shone on Banfield when six minutes into the second term an erratic kick from a Swans defender went to an unattended Banfield, whose long shot bounced through for Claremont’s second major.

Banfield was the outstanding player in the match in which the Tigers emerged victorious, 10.10 to 5.9. Banfield’s contribution was seven marks, 13 kicks, nine effective handpasses, three tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s.

He began the season with six matches with the colts side, and now has played for the reserves six times. Twice he recorded 28 disposals in a match for the colts --- against Subiaco in round four and against Perth in round seven. He shone in Claremont’s 11-point victory over Perth in the colts grand final last September.

Banfield, a right-footer, cannot be confused with 26-year-old left-footer Bailey Banfield, a shining light with the Fremantle Dockers this year, who was a member of Claremont’s 2015 colts premiership side who went on to ply 22 league matches for the Tigers before being drafted by the Dockers. Both players were educated at Scotch College, but they are not related.

Claremont’s win on Saturday was the side’s 11TH from 12 matches, and great credit is due to coach Darren Harper and his assistants.

On Saturday, the Tigers performed wonderfully well, considering that they were without five of their tallest and most influential players, Coen Jackman, Zane Sumich, Sam van Rooyen, Dylan Mulligan and West Love, all of who are on the injured list. Also injured and out of action was wingman-forward Max Mumme.

Bright sunshine greeted the players in Saturday’s match when half-forward flanker Logan Guelfi got Claremont away to a flying start with a goal five minutes after the opening siren. It was most heartening to watch the sturdy left-footer in action in his fourth appearance this season after injuries kept him on the sidelines for much of the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

With Jackman, Love, van Rooyen and Mulligan on the sidelines, the Tigers had to call on key defender Tristan Ballard to share the ruck duties with Max Rohr, who spent a good deal of time at centre-half-back where he impressed with his tigerish efforts and outstanding spoiling tactics.

Joe Matthews also revealed his excellent versatility by lining up at centre-half-forward after playing on a half-back flank and on a wing in earlier contests.

It was also wonderful to have 20-year-old Louis Wilson back in action after recovering from surgery to fix an anterior cruciate injury. He performed strongly on a half-back flank and pulled up with no ill-effects.

Left-footer Felix Rogers is enjoying a move from the forward line to a centre wing where he was creative and finished with six marks and 17 kicks, including two goals. He delivered the ball inside his side’s 50m attacking zone nine times, with Tyron Smallwood also having six inside 50s.

Midfielders Menno Inverarity, Ashton Bryant and Kai Dehavilland maintained their tremendous form, while Sam Gilbey shone with his skilful play and precise kicking on a half-back flank and occasionally on a wing.

No player attacks the ball with greater spirit and determination than Lawrence Evans, who provided the game’s most spectacular moment when he soared skywards in the goalsquare in the third quarter and just failed to complete what would have been an amazing mark.

Details:

Claremont 10.10 (70) beat Swan Districts 5.9 (39)

Scorers---CLAREMONT: F. Rogers 2.2; D. Redman 2.0; R. Disisto, B. Evans 1.2; B. Banfield, L. Guelfi, S. Moody. T. Smallwood 1.0; K. Kantilla 0.1; 3pts forced. SWAN DISTRICTS: L. ZolnierOwens 2.3; B. Fitzgerald, T. Smith 1.1; M. Chipper 1.0; H. Alforque, H. Creighton, J. Hubbard, J. White 0.1.

Best---CLAREMONT: B. Banfield, F. Rogers, S. Gilbey, M. Inverarity, A. Bryant, R. Disisto, Z. Verbruggen, M. Rohr, E. Greenaway, K. Dehavilland. SWAN DISTRICTS: M. Chipper, M. Germs, JK. Watson, E. Kane, B. Fitzgerald, L. Taylor, J. Hubbard, T. Panuccio.