Mainwaring Masterclass Sets Up Royal Rout

John Townsend

Zac Mainwaring picked the perfect day to play the best game of his life while Claremont mirrored the forward’s impact with their most complete performance of the season in the most critical match of the year.

Big game team? You bet.

Holding East Perth goalless for a half for the third time in just 20 meetings, the Tigers knocked off the WAFL’s top team by a comprehensive 59-points on Saturday, 13.9 (87) to 3.10 (28). It was the third time since last month that Claremont have beaten the team on top of the ladder and reinforced their credentials as they seek an eighth finals campaign in as many seasons under coach Ashley Prescott.

But first they have to get there.

The victory was the eighth this season while the addition of seven percentage points may be crucial when top five places are decided in a month’s time.

Mainwaring was the catalyst for the pulsating display at Revo Fitness Stadium. Under some pressure given that he had not hit the scoreboard for the past six matches, Mainwaring responded with the most urgent and effective demonstration of small forward craft.

He landed Claremont’s first two goals to set a high early standard, added two more in the early stages of the second term as the Tigers built on their solid foundation and then nailed a long set shot in the dying minutes to bookend his splendid day out.

And Mainwaring’s first five-goal haul was only part of his contribution.

He repeatedly harassed, chased and landed a game-high seven tackles to build enormous pressure on the East Perth defenders, worked exceptionally hard to get his hands on the football a career-high 23 times and ensured the scoreboard reflected the four-quarter effort of his team-mates.

In a team bristling with talented players whose careers have brought numerous personal accolades, Mainwaring may have produced Claremont’s best individual effort of the season.

He had plenty of support.

East Perth had won every first quarter this season but for the round 10 match against the Tigers – which was played in similarly damp conditions – and Claremont used the same formula to combat one of the premiership favourites.

The opening minutes were notable for Claremont’s intensity with Bailey Rogers, celebrating his 150th match, leading by example with a game-high 30 disposals in his milestone while Callan England maintained his career-best form with 26 possessions.

Rogers, Mainwaring, ruckman Ollie Eastland and tough nut Ben Elliott each had a dozen or more contested possessions as Claremont matched and outworked their seasoned opponents while England’s pace and fluency were standout features.

Claremont had more disposals (+2), more contested possessions (+18), more tackles (+7), more hard ball gets (+5), more handballs received (+7) and more inside 50s (+9) than their vaunted opponent. And Eastland’s combative win over giant Scott Jones was instrumental in his team kicking six goals from stoppages even with clearances numbers being almost identical.

Superb shutdown jobs by key defenders Declan Hardisty and Jack Maibaum allowed Anthony Davis the luxury of spending time in attack where his aerial strength helped him to an important late goal to shut the door on any potential fightback.

The midfield and defensive cohesion was so successful that it was just the 13th time in 2059 matches over 98 seasons that Claremont have kept an opponent to three goals or fewer.

Jye Bolton was as prolific and penetrating as usual with 25 disposals and an excellent snap at goal, Sam Alvarez’s poise and ability to kick with precision on both feet were evident in his 26 touches and Martin Fredericks continues to grow into his role as a tough rebounding half-back.

Hamish Davis was rewarded for his recent 40-disposal game in the colts with a promotion to the league team where his ability to stay cool under pressure was underlined in the last term with several creative handballs in heavy traffic.

Wearing the No.4 that Ian Richardson used throughout his glittering career, the 18-year-old displayed a similar temperament to the brilliant left-footer.

CLAREMONT 3.2 6.3 10.6 13.9 87

EAST PERTH 1.2 3.5 3.7 3.10 28

GOALS – CLAREMONT: Mainwaring 5; Waterman 2; Bolton, A Davis, Delacey, Elliott, England, Manuel.

EAST PERTH: To North 2; Ameduri

BEST – CLAREMONT: Mainwaring, Rogers, England, Alvarez, Bolton, Eastland, Hardisty, Maibaum.

EAST PERTH: Schumacher, Wright, Crowden, Jones