Tigers Pounce On Demons | Round 20 Reserves Match Report

Claremont (Reserves) has recorded its fifth consecutive win after running out 38-point winners over Perth at the Show Grounds.

A dominant second half was the catalyst for the Tigers, with the team prevailing 19.12 (126) to 14.4 (88).

A round-19 bye looked to have come at the worst possible time for Claremont, with the team getting off to a less than inspiring start to the game.

A cracking snap to Demon Sam Garstone got the visitors off to a flying start, before goals to Dylan Cox and Daniel Arangio saw the travelling side take a 17-point lead at the 15-minute mark of the opening term.

A goal to Luke Salamone at the 17-minute mark got the Tigers on the board after an assist by the lively Ashley Fitzgerald, before Sam Fong grabbed the Tigers’ second moments later to reduce the margin to just four points.

Matt White then extended Perth’s lead with a goal at the 21-minute mark, before Sean Lynch pushed it out to 16 points just moments later with the sluggish Tigers being completely outplayed.

A goal to Steven Edwards just before quarter-time restored some parity for the Tigers although a dramatic improvement was required if the hosts were to rectify the ten-point deficit.

Coach Nigel Wilson was looking for answers from his team at quarter-time, with the players well aware that an improvement in intensity, hard work and appetite for the contest was required in the second term.

With an arm-wrestle engulfing the opening ten minutes of the second quarter, a second goal to the dangerous Arangio broke the deadlock and extended the Demons’ lead to 15 points at the 11-minute mark.

After being well found by Salamone, Dean Blackwell grabbed the Tigers’ fourth goal and reduced the margin to eight points at the 15-minute mark.

John Williams had a booming 60m shot at goal sail wide at the 17-minute mark, before Henry Roberts kicked truly moments later to see the Tigers close to within one point.

A goal to Brennan Stack restored Perth’s seven-point lead at the 20-minute mark, before Tiger Jackson Starcevich snapped truly to level the scores six minutes later.

A second major to Fong moments before half-time saw the Tigers take a six-point lead into half-time following a much-improved performance in the second term.

The score line of 7.7 suggested the Tigers could’ve led by more at the long break, however, Wilson would’ve been pleased that his players had finally awoken from their slumber.

A goal to the hard-working Fitzgerald at the five-minute mark of the third term saw the Tigers extend their lead to 13 points, however, a third goal to Arangio three minutes later ensured the Demons remained well and truly in the contest.

A second major to Starcevich was the result of an assist by Williams, however, Arangio was putting on a clinic as he grabbed his fourth and Perth’s ninth goal for the game.

Not to be outdone, Starcevich then kicked his third goal, before two goals in the space of a minute to the returning Shane McAdam saw the Tigers out to a 26-point lead at the 19-minute mark.

A fourth goal (third for the quarter) to Starcevich resulted from a pass by Kiefer Yu following a quick centre-clearance and gave the Tigers a 32-point lead at the 21-minute mark.

Jack Richardson then kicked truly after the three-quarter-time siren to give the Tigers a commanding 38-point lead at the final change.

It was a dominant quarter from the Tigers, which yielded seven-goals-to-two and resulted from some excellent work in the middle of the ground.

Wilson encouraged his players to continue the quick ball-movement in the final term, while maintaining good composure and communication.

A goal to Haydn Busher saw the Demons reduce the margin to 32 points early in the final term, before Fong grabbed his third for the game to restore the Tigers’ 38-point lead at the four-minute mark.

A second goal to White saw the margin pulled back to 32 points, before two more quick goals (including a second to Busher) saw the Demons trailing by just 18 points at the 15-minute mark.

Suddenly the Demons were well and truly alive, with the Tigers realising that the job was far from complete, and that they would need to play out the game to hold off a fast-finishing Perth outfit.

A goal to Jack Beeck gave the Tigers some breathing space and a 24-point lead at the 17-minute mark, before a free-kick behind the play resulted in a goal to Ben Higgs and also saw Demon Sam McGillivray enter the umpire’s book.

When Richardson kicked his second goal after being found by McAdam the Tigers were out to a 38-point lead once again at the 24-minute mark.

McAdam then capped off his stunning return from a throat-injury when he smartly intercepted a pass by the Demons in the Tigers’ forward half, before running into an open goal to kick his third for the game.

A late chase and tackle form Yu highlighted the Tigers’ dramatic improvement since quarter time, before the Demons grabbed a consolation goal moments before the final siren.

The final margin of 38 points sees the Tigers win their 11th game for the season and remain in fourth position, trailing East Fremantle (third) only on percentage.

Williams made a successful return from a knee-injury, while Keegan Knott missed the game with a hamstring complaint.

Fong won the players’ player award for his ball-winning efforts and three goals, while League teammate Matthew Goyder played another strong game as he presses for a recall to the seniors.

Starcevich kicked a career-best four goals, while the Tigers had 11 individual goal-kickers in an even team performance.

A battle with top-of-the-table Subiaco at Medibank Stadium awaits Claremont in round 21.

CLAREMONT 3.2 7.7 14.10 19.12 (126)

PERTH 5.0 7.1 9.2 14.4 (88)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. STARCEVICH, 3 S. FONG, S. MCADAM, 2 J. RICHARDSON, 1 H. ROBERTS, D. BLACKWELL, S. EDWARDS, B. HIGGS, J. BEECK, A. FITZGERALD, L. SALAMONE

PERTH: 4 D. ARANGIO, 2 H. BUSHER, M. WHITE, 1 B. EDMONDS, B. STACK, D. COX, S. GARSTONE, B. FRY, S. LYNCH

BEST

CLAREMONT: S. FONG, M. GOYDER, J. STARCEVICH, S. MCADAM, K. YU

PERTH: D. ARANGIO, B. FRY, B. EDMONDS