Rogers Leads The Way As Finals Beckon

by John Townsend

Playing with a smile while treating every match like an elimination final has proved a winning combination for Claremont.

Bailey Rogers revealed the formula for the team’s recent success after yet another outstanding performance helped guide the Tigers to a comprehensive win over West Coast.

Rogers had a career-high 37 disposals, kicked one of the goals of the season amid three strikes and almost walked on water given that Revo Fitness Stadium resembled Lake Claremont for much of the match.

“We had a lot of fun out there today with smiles all around,” Rogers said after the 58-point win. “We knew it was going to be slog all game. We bought into what it was going to be, and had some fun.” The 12.7 (79) to 3.3 (21) result ensured that victory in the last game against Subiaco would guarantee a place in the finals.

Claremont have surged from ninth place in May after their 1-4 start left them with little room for error.

A poor start against West Coast in their first meeting, a poor finish against Swans and an eye-opening loss to a powerful Peel outfit have been the only blemishes since then.

“Every game is a grand final for us,” Rogers said. “They are all elimination matches.

“We know what we have to do to play finals this year. After a disappointing start, that’s the position we’re in. We just have to win every game from here.”

Rogers revealed that Claremont coach Ashley Prescott, who spent most of the match up to his ankles in a puddle on the boundary, had set his players the task of laying 20 tackles a quarter to uphold the physical approach required in the sloppy conditions.

That mark was passed in every term as Claremont started with great determination and maintained their resolve throughout the match as they restricted the Eagles to their second lowest score.

The Eagles kicked the first goal but did not land another major for another 90 minutes while Claremont’s small forwards threatened consistently.

Tyron Smallwood (two goals) came into the team when Declan Hardisty was ruled out with concussion while Talon Delacey discovered the remarkable level of ferocity that marked his 2023 season when he shared the goal-kicking award with Zac Mainwaring.

Delacey got two early goals while Mainwaring laid 17 tackles to get within one of Ryan Lim’s club record.

“We had a goal as a team to have 20 a quarter and I think we might have smashed that,” Rogers said.

Claremont laid 121 in all with Callan England having 14, ruckman Ollie Eastland 11, as well as 56 hit-outs and 24 disposals in a highly influential display, fellow big man Kieran Gowdie nine and spirited debutant Bailey Banfield eight.

The commitment was unconditional but effort is only part of the equation as Rogers demonstrated with his ability to use the ball so effectively.

His responsibilities increased when Jye Bolton sustained the worst cork of his career in the first term and was out of action by quarter time.

Rogers responded with a prolific display, including a career-high 29 kicks, while Ben Elliott (34 disposals) Ollie Sheldrick (19) and Mitch Barron (19) relished the chance to work at close quarters.

Rogers relishes playing West Coast at home, perhaps as a gentle reminder that he has the attributes required to succeed at the highest level.

He has won the ball at least 33 times in each of his past five games at Claremont but has rarely kicked a better goal than the 50m bullet towards the end of the match.

Sam Alvarez, probably the best two-sided kick in the team, placed a precise left-foot chip in Rogers’ path that enabled the centreman to wheel around from outside the arc and drill a long shot.

“It wasn’t too bad, was it, because it was a heavy ball and only just got there,” Rogers said.

“I just rolled as soon as I got it and gave it a roost. It went straight and snuck in the good assist by Sam Alvarez.”

CLAREMONT 4.1 5.3 8.5 12.7 79

WEST COAST 1.0 1.1 1.2 3.3 21

GOALS – CLAREMONT: Rogers, Delacey 3; Smallwood 2; England, Manuel, Mainwaring, Musika.

WEST COAST: Reid, Burke, Nitschke.

BEST – CLAREMONT: Rogers, Eastland, Elliott, Delacey, Sheldrick, Barron, Howard, England.

WEST COAST: Sparks, Bazzo, Ruscoe, Hutchinson.