Tigers Overrun By Bulldogs

Claremont (Reserves) is still searching for its first win under new coach Brad Trpchev after the Tigers were overrun by a fast-finishing South Fremantle on Good Friday.

Despite leading at the first two breaks and scores being tied at three-quarter time, the Tigers were no match for the Bulldogs in the final term at Fremantle Oval, with the hosts running out 26-point winners.

The 10.6 (66) to 14.8 (92) defeat sees the Tigers 0-2 to start the season, however, there were some encouraging signs at the Port.

Beau Maister and Tom Swift came into the side as they build towards a spot in the seniors after injury-interrupted pre-seasons, with Tom Willett, Francis Watson, Max Bentley (League), Jake Murphy (League), Sam Petrevski-Seton (League) and Peadar Burke all making way from the team in round one.

Exciting prospect Matthew Palfrey made his Reserves’ debut for the Tigers as the visitors elected to kick to the northern end of the ground.

After making his League debut in the opening round, Ryan Lim saw a quick snap at goal cannon off the post as the Tigers were unable to convert their early pressure into scoreboard dominance.

Despite a solid start to the game, the Tigers were made to pay when Bulldog John Sgherza kicked the first of his seven goals for the game at the 13-minute mark of the opening term, with the hosts taking a four-point lead.

An instant response from Sam Bevan was just the tonic Claremont were looking for after the key-position player took a commanding pack-mark and converted truly to restore the Tigers’ two-point lead.

When Maister was awarded a free kick late in the term, he made no mistake in front of goal as the Tigers took a nine-point lead into quarter-time.

Trpchev was delighted with his players’ intent and attack on the football as the Tigers laid 18 more tackles than the Bulldogs, however, the team needed to improve its ball use and entries into the forward half of the ground.

The second quarter was dominated early by the Bulldogs as goals to Jacob Dragovich, Kaiden Matera and Ben Sokol saw the hosts take an 11-point lead at the 18-minute mark.

With the Tigers once again needing a quick response, that man Bevan was again to the rescue after he ran into an open goal following a quick kick into the forward line – reducing the deficit to five points at the 21-minute mark.

Further goals to Steven Edwards and Swift saw the Tigers wrestle back some late momentum and take a seven-point lead into half-time.

With the contest evenly poised and goals at a premium, the Tigers began the third term with a major to Anton Hamp following a neat pass by Chaz Flint after some impressive work by Maister, however, the Bulldogs hit back through Sokol (second) as the margin remained at seven points.

When Darcy Cameron set up Lawrence Evans for his first goal after some wonderful transition play from defence, the Tigers were out to a 13-point lead, however, the Bulldogs would respond once again, this time, through Sgherza (second).

A booming-55m goal from debutant Palfrey saw the Tigers out to a 13-point lead once more at the 17-minute mark, however, in what was becoming a shootout, the Bulldogs hit back through a third major to Sgherza as they kept pace with the visitors.

A second goal to Maister followed some excellent clearance work by Swift as the Tigers’ 13-point lead was restored for a third time in the term, however, the Bulldogs would have the final say in what was a pulsating quarter of football as goals to Sokol (third) and Bailey Matera saw the hosts draw level at the final change.

The final term proved to be a disappointing one for the blue and gold, with the Bulldogs running rampant all over the ground.

An early goal to Anthony Collica saw the hosts take a six-point lead, before three consecutive goals to Sgherza saw the margin blowout to 25 points at the 18-minute mark.

With the Tigers seemingly out of run and ideas, the hardworking Cameron kicked what would turn out to be purely a consolation goal, before a seventh major to Sgherza sealed victory for the hosts.

The Tigers will be looking to turn their form around when they travel to ATOM Stadium in round four to face East Fremantle.

Bounce down is at 11.30am.

CLAREMONT 2.4 5.5 9.5 10.6 (66)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.1 4.4 9.5 14.8 (92)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 S. BEVAN, B. MAISTER, 1 A. HAMP, D. CAMERON, M. PALFREY, T. SWIFT, S. EDWARDS, L. EVANS

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 7 J. SGHERZA, 3 B. SOKOL, 1 A. COLLICA, K. MATERA, B. MATERA, J. DRAGOVICH,

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. CAMERON, S. BEVAN, T. SWIFT, R. LIM, T. PLANT

SOUTH FREMANTLE: J. SGHERZA, B. SOKOL, T. BAIRSTOW, A. COLLICA, T. STEWART