Tigers Salute Murphy In Style | Round 21 League Match Report

Claremont has won four consecutive games for the first time since rounds 19-23 in 2013, after defeating Subiaco by 8 points at Medibank Stadium.

In what was captain Jake Murphy’s 100th game for the club, the Tigers held on for a thrilling 11.11 (77) to 9.15 (69) victory.

The win continues Claremont’s terrific form in the second half of the season, with the Tigers winning six of their past seven games.

The Tigers entered the contest at Leederville having made several changes to the team who defeated Perth in round 20.

Anton Hamp, Matt Orzel and Aaron Holt made way for debutant Jackson Starcevich, Kiefer Yu and Jack Richardson, while Brenden Abbott and Andrew Foster missed the game through injury, with Sam Fong and Matthew Goyder replacing the pair.

With the script having been written for Murphy early on, ruckman Mark Seaby set the inspirational captain up for a running shot at goal following a trademark ruck tap, however, the skipper could only manage a behind to give the Tigers the first score for the game.

Following an intercept mark to the returning Yu, a pass to Tom Ledger, and a pass to Jeremy McGovern, the Tigers had the first goal of the afternoon when the young forward kicked truly at the seven-minute mark of the opening term.

Yu was justifying his return to the team when he took another intercept mark only moments later, before Ryan Neates added a behind, as the Tigers established some early dominance on the game.

After turning the ball over in defence, the Tigers gifted a goal to Rhys Waters, with the Lions reducing the deficit to two points at the 17-minute mark.

This time, however, man-of-the-moment Murphy would not be denied, as a smart tap by vice-captain Trinity Handley found Ben Daniher, before he sent the Claremont skipper on his way to an open goal for the Tigers.

When Jack Bradshaw got in on the act barely moments later after a one-two between Neates and Matt Davies, the Tigers had established a 12-point lead at the 24-minute mark.

A late goal to Handley resulted from a pass by Jordan McAllister, following a fantastic team passage of play to give the Tigers a well-deserved 18-point lead at the first change.

In fact, the Tigers’ lead could’ve been much greater, if not for the squandering of some chances in front of goal.

Coach Michael Broadbridge acknowledged as much when he applauded the team’s pleasing start, before identifying room for improvement in the second term.

The first-year coach also implored his charges to maintain their intensity and apply pressure all over the ground, as the Tigers looked to ramp up their efforts.

The Tigers produced a solid start to the second term, with chases and tackles by Lachlan Davey and Seaby setting the tone, yet the hosts registered the opening goal through George Hampson, courtesy of a 50m penalty.

A spearing pass by vice-captain Luke Blackwell then allowed Starcevich to kick his first goal for the League side, and more importantly give the Tigers a 20-point lead at the 12-minute mark.

Some neat work from Bradshaw and McGovern allowed Handley to kick his second goal, and suddenly the Tigers had raced to a 26-point lead.

A second goal to the hard-working Bradshaw was the result of a free-kick after some great work by Seaby, with the Tigers now out to a 32-point lead and in complete control of the game.

A goal after the half-time siren to Chris Deluca, however, saw the Lions reduce the margin to 24 points at the long break.

Despite a pleasing first half, the Tigers failed to capitalise on their fantastic work around the ground, and 41 more disposals for the half.

If Broadbridge hadn’t made it clear enough that the job was far from done, then the Lions start to the third term would have done just that, as the hosts added three quick behinds to start the quarter.

However, the hosts had failed to convert their dominance onto the scoreboard, allowing Bradshaw to kick his third goal for the game, following a wonderful overhead-tap by Starcevich.

The dribble-goal from the right-forward pocket giving the Tigers a 27-point lead at the seven-minute mark.

After being blanketed by Brandon Franz for the first half, Matt Boland (leading the race for the Bernie Naylor medal heading into the round) had a brain fade at the 12-minute mark when he floored the Claremont defender and in the process conceded a 50m penalty.

A goal to Jason Bristow at the 16-minute mark trimmed Claremont’s lead to just 18 points, with the hosts well on top in general play.

However, an inability to convert their chances on the scoreboard was costing the Lions dearly, and a second goal to Starcevich after a wonderful squaring-pass by McGovern restored the Tigers’ four-goal lead.

A second goal to Waters saw Subiaco reduce Claremont’s lead to 18 points at the final change, however, a return of 2.9 by the hosts was a poor return for a dominant quarter.

With Broadbridge demanding a big effort from every single Claremont player in the final term, a fourth goal to Bradshaw at the 14-minute mark gave the Tigers a 26-point lead and some breathing space.

In a sign of just how much the lively forward has improved his game, Bradshaw ran forward to take a mark after being crunched on the wing, in what was a tremendous second effort and inspiring passage of play.

However, Subiaco were far from done, as a goal to Josh Deluca at the 20-minute mark reduced the margin to 20 points.

After a wonderful chase and tackle in the forward line, Neates calmly slotted his first goal for the afternoon, and in the process re-established Claremont’s 26-point lead.

Despite three late goals to the Lions, the Tigers would not be denied, recording a memorable win for their inspirational captain on his milestone day.

On a day where the Tigers had several winners across the board, Blackwell, Davies, Neates, Daniher, Tom Taylor, and Ledger all won plenty of the football.

Meanwhile, Corey Yeo played a fantastic game on Subiaco captain Kyal Horsley, while Hugo Breakey once again did a fine job on the dangerous Hampson.

Perhaps most significant though, was the role Franz played on Boland, restricting the gun-forward to just seven disposals, two marks and one behind.

The win sees Claremont maintain fifth position on the ladder, two wins behind fourth-placed East Fremantle, and one win clear of sixth-place West Perth who the Tigers welcome to the Show Grounds in round 22 for the final home game in 2014.

CLAREMONT 4.3 7.6 9.8 11.11 (77)

SUBIACO 1.3 3.6 5.15 9.15 (69)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. BRADSHAW 2 T. HANDLEY, J. STARCEVICH, 1 J. MURPHY, M. MCGOVERN, R. NEATES

SUBIACO: 3 R. WATERS, 2 G. HAMPSON, 1 J. DELUCA, C. DELUCA, C. PHELAN, J. BRISTOW,

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. FRANZ, H. BREAKEY, C. YEO, J. BRADSHAW, R. NEATES, L. BLACKWELL, M. DAVIES, M. SEABY

SUBIACO: R. WATERS, J. LATHAM, J. JOYCE