Tigers’ Season Comes To an End | Reserves Preliminary Final Match Report

Claremont (Reserves) will begin planning for 2015 after its season was ended by West Perth at Medibank Stadium last Sunday.

After a terrific win over East Fremantle a week earlier, the Tigers were unable to repeat the dose against an outstanding Falcons’ outfit who prevailed by 68 points, 18.8 (116) to 7.6 (48).

Just the one change was made heading into the match with Ethan Panizza replaced by Kaiden Gilbert after deciding to pursue an acting career in Sydney.

On a glorious day for football the Tigers made a promising start when Darcy Cameron found Jackson Starcevich, however, the in-form forward was unable to convert his shot at goal as Claremont took an early one-point lead in the opening minute of the match.

The Falcons were quick to hit back through a goal to Brayden Antonio, with the hosts taking a five-point lead just two minutes later, however, Starcevich wouldn’t be denied, as his great snap from deep in the pocket gave the Tigers a one-point lead at the five-minute mark of the opening term.

Once again the Falcons would have the next say, as goals to Trent Manzone and Aidan Lynch handed the side an 11-point lead over the Tigers.

Claremont then had chances to kick their second goal, however, misses to Josh Tilley, Starcevich and Kiefer Yu saw the team unable to apply scoreboard pressure, before the Falcons rubbed salt into the wound with a late goal to Kris Shannon.

The result was a 17-point deficit for the Tigers at quarter-time, as coach Nigel Wilson encouraged his players to forget about the opening 28 minutes and re-gain their composure for the second term.

As had been the case in the first term, a behind to Starcevich got proceedings under way, before a goal to Shane McAdam saw the Tigers close to within 10 points at the four-minute mark of the second quarter.

This effort was followed by a booming goal to Yu from outside the 50m line off just a couple of steps and suddenly the Tigers trailed by just five points after a dominant start to the term.

However, as promising as the first half of the quarter had been for the Tigers, the second was as equally disappointing, after goals to Mitchell McPhee, Shannon (second) and Drew Rohde saw the Falcons respond in ominous fashion and take a 23-point lead into half-time.

Despite being off the pace for the majority of the first half, the Tigers were still well and truly in the contest.

After an early behind to Jack Richardson, Starcevich grabbed his second goal to pull the Tigers within 16 points at the start of the third term, however, as had been the case for the match so far, the Falcons would have the next say, and this time, it was a big one.

Seven consecutive goals, including three to Antonio and four to Matthew Fowler saw the Falcons run riot against the Tigers for the rest of the third term, and the result was a thumping 59-point lead at the last change.

Despite the third-term onslaught, Wilson implored his charges to fight out the game and never give up, regardless of the scoreboard as the Tigers attempted to finish the game in the tremendous spirit that they had displayed all season.

However, goals to Joseph Morrow and Antonio (fifth) saw the Falcons begin the final term as they had finished the third, and out to a commanding 71-point lead.

After being found by Jack Beeck, Ben Daniher added a goal to restore some parity for the Tigers, however, the Falcons hit back through goals to Rohde (second) and Martin Geraghty at the halfway mark of the final term.

Goals to Sam Lamont and Starcevich (third) after Keegan Knott had a hand in both saw the Tigers have the final say for the match, however, it proved little more than consolation as the Falcons booked a spot in the grand final against Subiaco.

On a tough day for the Tigers, Yu was outstanding and deservedly took home the players’ player award, while Starcevich played a lone hand in the forward line.

CLAREMONT 1.3 3.4 4.6 7.6 (48)

WEST PERTH 4.2 7.3 14.5 18.8 (116)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. STARCEVICH, 1 S. MCADAM, K. YU, B. DANIHER, S. LAMONT

WEST PERTH: 5 B. ANTONIO, 4 M. FOWLER, 2 D. ROHDE, K. SHANNON, 1 M. MCPHEE, T. MANZONE, A. LYNCH, M. GERAGHTY, J. MORROW

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. YU, M. GOYDER, J. STARCEVICH, D. CAMERON

WEST PERTH: B. ANTONIO, M. FOWLER, T. MANZONE