Tigers Cull Sharks | Reserves 1st Semi Final Match Report

Claremont has booked a preliminary-final spot after a 67-point drubbing of East Fremantle at ATOM Stadium (East Fremantle Oval).

The Tigers made the Sharks pay for their early inaccuracy as 14 goals to five after half-time paved the way for a 19.5 (119) to 7.10 (52) victory.

From the team who convincingly defeated East Perth in round 23, Anton Hamp, Kaiden Gilbert, Ashley Fitzgerald and Joel Ebert made way for Kiefer Yu, Ben Daniher, Jackson Starcevich and Matthew Goyder.

The Tigers got off to a promising start, as goals to Josh Tilley and Steven Edwards gave Claremont a 10-point lead at the eight-minute mark of the opening term.

The Sharks responded through a goal to Tim Bristow, before a behind to Ethan Panizza after a searching pass by Keegan Knott saw the Tigers take a three-point lead at the halfway mark of the first term.

A strong tackle by Sam Fong across the half-back line saw the midfielder win a free kick, before Panizza got his goal in typical fashion on the run five minutes later following a great chain of handballs from defence.

A behind to Edwards just before quarter-time saw the Tigers take a nine-point lead into the first change after making the most of their opportunities in front of goal.

Despite the buffer, coach Nigel Wilson was left to lament his players’ lethargy, and implored his troops to back themselves at the contest and take the game on.

The message proved to be a masterstroke, as Jack Richardson kicked his first goal after being well found by Edwards to extend the Tigers’ lead to 15 points at the one-minute mark of the second term.

A goal to Andrew Stokes saw the Sharks close to within eight points at the six-minute mark, before a stalemate engulfed the next 12 minutes of play.

A behind to Daniher saw the Tigers extend their lead to nine points at the 18-minute mark after both sides had cancelled each other out in open play, before a second goal to Richardson saw Claremont take a 13-point lead into half-time following a scrappy second quarter.

With the Tigers capable of drastic improvement, the ability to take their chances (5.3 to 2.8) was the clear difference in what had so far been a game of few highlights.

With the Tigers getting off to quick starts in the opening two terms it was now the Sharks turn to burst out of the blocks, as consecutive goals saw Claremont’s lead trimmed to just one point at the four-minute mark of the third term.

However, Claremont’s response was emphatic, as goals to Knott, Yu, Shane McAdam and Starcevich saw the Tigers wrestle back control of the game and take a healthy 25-point lead at the 15-minute mark.

Once again the Sharks responded to the Tigers’ charge as Brandon Ellis kicked truly to trim the margin to 19 points, before great goals to Goyder and McAdam gave the Tigers a 22-point lead late in the term.

In what had been a frustrating game thus far for ruckman Darcy Cameron, the promising prospect kicked his first goal after a trademark run and pass by Panizza to see the Tigers head for home with a 37-point lead at the final change.

Despite the Tigers’ healthy position, Wilson encouraged his players to improve their work at the centre breaks, and sought a mighty effort for the final term.

A behind to Cameron saw the lead out to 38 points, before goals to Starcevich (second), Jack Beeck and McAdam (third) gave the Tigers an unassailable 56-point lead at the eight-minute mark of the final term.

The Sharks responded through goals to Stokes (second) and Jack Cripps to reduce the margin to 44 points, before McAdam added his fourth goal after another dashing run and pass by the ever-impressive Panizza.

Barely one minute later and McAdam had his fifth goal after a great transition of play through the middle by several Tigers’ players and the 56-point advantage was restored once again.

A third goal to Starcevich was to follow after Edwards found the promising forward in the goal square, before a goal to Richardson (third) after the full-time siren proved to be the icing on the cake as the Tigers ran out big winners.

In a game where Claremont had several ball winners and key contributors, Dean Blackwell and Edwards shared the players’ player award for their repeat efforts across the four quarters.

The win sees Claremont advance to a preliminary final against West Perth at Medibank Stadium, with the winner to meet Subiaco in the grand final.

CLAREMONT 3.2 5.3 12.4 19.5 (119)

EAST FREMANTLE 1.5 2.8 5.9 7.10 (52)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 S. MCADAM, 3 J. RICHARDSON, J. STARCEVICH, 1 J. TILLEY, K. KNOTT, M. GOYDER, D.CAMERON, K. YU, J. BEECK, E. PANIZZA, S. EDWARDS

EAST FREMANTLE: 2 A. STOKES, T. BRISTOW, 1 B.ELLIS, D. ANTHONY, J. CRIPPS

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. BLACKWELL, S. EDWARDS, S. MCADAM, E. PANIZZA, K. YU, M. GOYDER, B. DANIHER

EAST FREMANTLE: J. SCHLEICHER, D. CHARTRES, T. HOOKER, A.STOKES