Tigers Take Top Spot | Colts Round 4 Match Report

A new-look Claremont side, with ten absent on under-18 duty and two on the injured list, moulded into a formidable combination and scored a most satisfying 20-point victory over East Fremantle (also without several star players) at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday morning.

The victory shot the Tigers into top spot on the premiership table, displacing South Fremantle, who suffered a surprise 30-point defeat at the hands of Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval.

Claremont (a percentage of 177.46), Swans (161.49), South Fremantle (149.13) and Subiaco (114.57) all have 12 points and comprise the top four.

The Tigers failed to capitalise on their early dominance, ending the first quarter with only 2.2 on the scoreboard to East Fremantle’s 1.1 after having a massive advantage at the stoppages and with entries into the attacking 50m zone. The lop-sided statistical figures revealed that Claremont gained 17 clearances from stoppages to four by the Sharks and penetrated their 50m zone 13 times to four.

Claremont led throughout against a stubborn opponent and never really seemed in danger of defeat. In the end Claremont had gained 51 clearances and East Fremantle 23, but the Sharks led the inside 50 count, 35-34.

The Tigers were first into stride, with 17-year-olds Bailey Rogers and Logan Stubber outstanding. Rogers was a driving force in the midfield and Stubber, switched from his normal spot in defence to a wing, began like a man possessed. Sam Humphry was also shining as he frequently sent his side into attack with a series of clearances.

A clever handpass from key forward Jacob Delaporte to Tom Gajewski, lurking in the goalsquare, gave the Tigers the opening major after three minutes. Stubber was everywhere and he earned plaudits for a wonderful spoil on East Fremantle’s Daniel Patat.

It took Claremont until the 14-minute mark before the second goal was scored after Bailey gained possession in the left pocket and unselfishly sent off a short pass back to Jack Prendiville at half-forward. The only other goal for the term came three minutes later when East Fremantle’s Michael Sewell kicked truly after taking a strong contested mark.

It took eight minutes for the first goal in the second quarter. It came off the boot of Harry McCracken after some good work along the left flank from Humphry and Delaporte. Patat replied for the Sharks and then McCracken got another following some fine play from the slender and speedy Russell Wynne, who was showing plenty of promise in his debut in colts company.

Goals to Carl Green (from a free-kick) and Callum Ellis (after a mark) enabled the home side to draw within a point of the Tigers. These stung Claremont back into action and valuable goals were added in the final four minutes.

The first was a clever shot from Matthew Ledger, capitalising on the efforts of Gajewski and Delaporte. A minute later ledger was to the fore again, this time applying a splendid tackle on Jamie Meade. Then in the dying moments Gajewski and ruckman Will McSweeney worked the ball forward where Jake Jones handpassed to Jack Beeck, who scrambled through a goal as the siren sounded.

The Tigers got the second half away to a flyer with Beeck and McCracken working strongly to get the ball forward where Wynne snapped truly from close range with just 30 seconds on the clock. Stubber was still supreme on his wing and his spoil on Jacob Gittos was a beauty.

But Gittos came to the fore with East Fremantle’s fifth goal a few minutes later. After a forced point to add to the Claremont total, Rogers chipped in to mark the kick-in and his goal helped to deflate the East Fremantle effort. Another clearance from a stoppage by Humphry enabled Matt Cairns (who had been switched from full-back to the forward line) to boot a goal from close range.

Soon after that a Rogers pass found the leading Cairns, but only a point resulted. Matt Guelfi then speared a wonderful pass to McCracken for another behind. This stretched Claremont’s lead to four goals. But the Sharks kept within striking distance when they scored a goal (to Corey Holmes) with the final kick of the quarter.

Holmes repeated the dose by soccering a goal in the opening minute of the final term to reduce Claremont’s lead to 13 points. Claremont hit back with a goal to Gajewski, who made the most of some splendid play from Adam Volaric and Rogers.

Claremont kept attack and McCracken got the ball to Prendiville, who passed accurately to Ledger, almost 50m out at right half-forward. The diminutive ledge wound up and his wonderful long shot sailed through for a goal, thanks to a wonderful piece of shepherding on the line from Cairns.

The result was a foregone conclusion at the 11-minute mark when captain Harry Wilkinson, still working strongly, handpassed to Cam Smith for a fine 50m major.

Even though the Tigers continued to dominate at the stoppages, the Sharks managed to score the final three goals of the contest.

by Ken Casellas

Details:

Claremont 12.12 (84) beat East Fremantle 9.10m (64).

Scorers---CLAREMONT: H. McCracken 2.3; T. Gajewski, M. Ledger 2.0; R. Wynne 1.2; Cairns, J. Prendiville, B. Rogers 1.1; J. Beeck, C. Smith 1.0; J. Delaporte, W. McSweeney, L. Stubber 0.1; 1pt forced. EAST FREMANTLE: C. Holmes 2.3; C. Green 2.0; D. Patat, M. Sewell 1.2; C. Ellis 1.1; J. Gittos, F. Perry 1.0; J. Drennan 0.2.

Best---CLAREMONT: B. Rogers, S. Humphry, L. Stubber, W. McSweeney, J. Prendiville, J. Beeck, J. Delaporte, R. Simons, H. Wilkinson. EAST FREMANTLE: J. Snadden, F. Perry, J. Drennan, B. Miniscale, K. Colvin, C. Holmes, M. Sewell.