Tigers Too Good For Demons - Reserves Round 1 Match Report

Claremont's Reserves (Development) Side has started its season in fine style after defeating Perth by 22 points at a blustery Brownes Stadium.

In tricky conditions, Keegan Knott and Jack Richardson led the way with four and three goals respectively, as the Tigers made the most of their opportunities to prevail 14.7 (91) to 9.15 (69).

The Tigers got off to the perfect start when Sam Lamont set up Jayden Brooks who kicked the first goal of the game from a tight angle.

The Demons responded through Mark Deaves before goals to Shane McAdam and Luke Cameron gave the Tigers an early 13 point lead.

A brilliant roving effort saw Ben Daniher snap truly, and the Tigers were out to an 18 point lead.

The Demons steadied through Scott Moore as the Tigers led 4.2 (26) to 2.4 (16) at quarter time.

With coach Nigel Wilson imploring his players to keep up their intent and endeavour, the Tigers got the second term off to a flyer, with Knott kicking his first major of the game, before Richardson ran into an open goal to give the team a 23 point lead.

The Demons responded through Brock Bakker before Jackson Starcevich lit up the contest with a great pack mark and goal for the Tigers.

Barely moments later, Starcevich had his second after being well set up by Knott and the Tigers were out to a 26 point lead at the long break.

As he did in the second term, Knott gave the Tigers the perfect start by kicking his second goal, this time from deep in the pocket and suddenly the Tigers were out to a game-high 32 point lead.

The Demons reduced the margin to 20 points after goals to Ben Power and Sam Garstone, before Richardson’s second and Coleman Cristinelli’s first goal restored the Tigers 32 point lead midway through the third term.

Chris Billings was then reported for what looked to be a high bump on Claremont’s Brendon Lim, before the Demons kicked the next three goals, reducing the deficit to 14 points.

A fantastic effort, which saw Knott kick his third major after some fine roving work gave the Tigers some breathing space, before a goal after the three quarter time siren from Richardson saw the lead out to 26 points at the final break.

Wilson encouraged his players to run out the game, but Bakker’s second major saw the margin reduced to 19 points.

With fatigue setting in for both sides due to the warm conditions, another opportunist effort gave Knott his fourth goal of the game and was enough to see the Tigers home.

Claremont were well served by Mathew Aitchison (32 disposals), Richardson, Daniher, and Henry Roberts who all won plenty of the ball, while Lachlan Davey laid six tackles.

Wilson was pleased with the effort shown by his players.

“They’ve been very enthusiastic in pre-season,” Wilson said.

“Today’s game was just testament to what’s happened in pre-season.

“The intent and attitude were fantastic all day.”

Wilson was also pleased with the conversion from his players.

“We played a lot of good footy where we lowered our vision and we had quite a number of marks inside 50m, which is how we want to play,” Wilson said.

“From those marks we converted really well, and that’s because the positions we were actually taking the marks and kicking from was exactly what we spoke about before the game.”

Wilson was quick to point out the work done by his defenders in setting up those opportunities.

“I must say that the boys who played down back, the pressure they put on actually created a lot of those points as well,” Wilson said.

Wilson paid tribute to the crumbing performance of Knott, who starred with four goals.

“Keegan played that role absolutely superbly today,” Wilson said.

“We did speak to him at quarter time about getting into those positions a little bit more when he gets the opportunity and he played it to aplomb.

“His skill level and quirkiness today and some of the goals he kicked were absolutely sensational.

“He got himself into those spots and gave himself the best opportunity to score.”

An equal game-high six tackles from Davey also caught the coaches’ eye.

“Lachy’s had a really good pre-season and it was noticeable that his ability to impact the game and impact the ball with his spoiling was really good and when the ball hit the deck he was all over his opponent too, which is fantastic,” Wilson said.

“From a defensive point of view, all of the boys down back, the ball that came in, there was a spoil happening.

“The midfielders were in there, the boys were prepared to leave their man to go and help at ground level and every time you looked up and the ball hit the ground, we had three players tackling a Perth player, which was fantastic.”

Another bonus was that the team got through the match relatively unscathed.

“The only one that didn’t play out the game was Hugo Breakey,” Wilson said.

“He put on a great tackle, got crunched and we’re mindful of his shoulder reconstruction, but as it turns out, it was a knock on the hand.

“While it’s not good news that he couldn’t play out the game, it’s good news that it wasn’t his shoulder.”

The Tigers take on the Falcons at Arena Joondalup in round two.

CLAREMONT: 4.2 | 8.4 | 13.6 | 14.7 (91)

PERTH: 2.4 | 3.8 | 8.10 | 9.15 (69)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 K. Knott, 2 J. Starcevich, J. Richardson, 1 L. Cameron, J. Brooks, S. Mcadam, B. Daniher, J. Mcphee, C. Cristinelli

PERTH: 2 M. White, M. Deaves, B. Bakker, 1 S. Garstone, S. Moore, B. Power

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. Knott, M. Aitchison, B. Daniher, J. Richardson, H. Roberts, C. Yeo

PERTH: H. Busher, J. Kalajzic, S. Lynch, B. Bakker, M. Morton

by Dan Scamozzi