Tigers Too Good For Sharks | Round 4 Reserves Match Report

Claremont have responded from their round three mauling by the Lions to defeat the Sharks by 18 points at East Fremantle Oval.

The Tigers overcame some early inaccuracy to prevail 14.15 (99) to 12.9 (81) and in the process improve their record to three wins and one loss heading into next week’s bye.

The Tigers got off to a flying start when Mathew Aitchison set up Ben Higgs for the opening goal of the game.

Inaccuracy then cost the Tigers as they piled on 8 behinds from 15 inside 50 metre entries.

On the other hand the Sharks were unbelievably effective, scoring four goals from nine entries on their way to a 12 point lead at quarter time.

The second term started brightly for the Tigers when Keegan Knott was in the right spot at the right time to kick his first goal and get the team to within five points.

A quick reply from the Sharks saw the margin pushed back out to 11 points, before some more brilliant play by Knott set up Bernard Sneeuwjagt who was on the receiving end of a 50m penalty to kick the team’s third goal.

An opportunist goal from Jordan Aitken was to follow, and when Mitch Andrews kicked his first of the afternoon the Tigers were back in front.

A second goal to Aitken was to follow after some terrific lead up play by Knott, before the Sharks steadied through Michael Edwards.

Shane Mcadam’s first goal of the afternoon saw the margin pushed back out to 14 points, only for the Sharks to reply once again.

However, the Tigers would have the final say of the half, as a Matthew Goyder goal saw the 14 point lead restored at the long break.

The Sharks got the start to the third term they were looking for when Tom Bowey kicked his first major, only for the Tigers to hit back with goals to Henry Roberts, Mcadam (second) and Josh Tilley, pushing the lead out to a game-high 27 points.

A second goal to Higgs saw the Tigers lead by 32 points at the last change.

When Knott set up Alex Manuel in the opening minutes of the final term for his first goal the Tigers were out to a commanding 38 point lead.

The same two players then combined for Manuel’s second after a Dylan Coulthard reply for the Sharks.

With the Tigers tiring in the warm conditions, three late goals to the home side proved mere consolation, with Claremont notching up their third win for the season.

The Tigers were superbly led by Aitchison (28 disposals, four tackles, eight I50’s), Sam Fong (23 disposals) and Andrews (15 disposals, 24 hit outs, one goal).

Coleman Cristinelli found plenty of the ball despite kicking four behinds, while Aitken set the tone in the second term kicking two of the team’s seven goals.

Coach Nigel Wilson was delighted with the response following last week’s loss.

“It was a great effort today to bounce back from last week’s disappointing performance,” Wilson said.

“We did tweak a few things structurally with our game style and ball movement.

“The boys probably didn’t quite get it in the first quarter, but to their credit the second quarter was fantastic.”

Further pleasing Wilson was the fact that the team had 10 goal kickers and 16 players who had 10 or more disposals.

“Nine times out of ten you win a game of footy like that when you can balance it amongst the players,” Wilson said.

“I was really happy with the boys.”

The Tigers have a bye in round five before taking on Peel Thunder at the Showgrounds in round six.

by Dan Scamozzi

CLAREMONT 1.8 8.10 12.14 14.15 (99)

EAST FREMANTLE 4.2 7.3 8.6 12.9 (81)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 J. AITKEN, B. HIGGS, A. MANUEL, S. MCADAM, 1 B. SNEEUWJAGT, M. ANDREWS, K. KNOTT, M. GOYDER, H. ROBERTS, J. TILLEY

EAST FREMANTLE: 3 D. ANTHONY, 1 J. SCHOFIELD, A. STOKES, J. DEPANE, M. EDWARDS, D.COULTHARD, J. GREEN, T. BOWEY, L. CRONAN, A. RICCIARDELLO

BEST

CLAREMONT: S. MCADAM, M. ANDREWS, M. AITCHISON, A. HAYES, J. AITKEN, S. FONG

EAST FREMANTLE: J. SOLOMON, J. SCHOFIELD, M. EDWARDS, T. BRISTOW, J. CUNEO, D. ANTHONY