Tigers Maul Sharks

Claremont (Reserves) has celebrated its first win under Brad Trpchev after a commanding second-half performance against East Fremantle at ATOM Stadium.

Despite early inaccuracy plaguing the side, Claremont booted 10 goals after half time as they ran out 47-point winners, 11.18 (84) to 5.7 (37).

The Tigers welcomed Jack Richardson, Haydn Busher, Francis Watson, Harrison Court, Alex Manuel and Peadar Burke into the side who were defeated by South Fremantle in round three, while Mark Mullally made his debut for the club.

Beau Maister (League), Anton Hamp (League), Toby Plant (League), Tom Swift, Harrison McCracken, Matthew Cairns and Joshua Barrett rounded out the changes.

With a strong breeze set to take effect on an overcast, yet tricky day for football, the Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term.

A goal-saving mark by ruckman Darcy Cameron in the opening minute saw the side dodge an early bullet, before a quick shot at goal by Lawrence Evans cannoned off the post as the visitors took a one-point lead before the heavens opened.

The brief shower made marking difficult for the ensuing minutes, however, Manuel had no such issues after he kicked the opening major of the game at the 13-minute mark after marking a shot at goal by Richardson.

The Tigers saw their lead trimmed to just one point, seven minutes later after Julian Locantro registered the Sharks’ opening goal, however, that would be the last major for the term as both sides headed into quarter-time having kicked one goal apiece.

The Tigers may have felt they missed some opportunities after registering 1.7, however, Trpchev was happy with the ball movement as the side recorded 26 marks to 14.

If the opening term was “scrappy”, then the second term could only be described as one to forget, with both sides guilty of poor decision making and horrendous skill execution.

The only goal for the term arrived at the 10-minute mark, after Dylan Coulthard was the beneficiary of a free kick and 50m penalty as he kicked truly to see the Sharks close to within one point once more.

Sadly for those at the ground, the error-riddled quarter saw no further goals, or anything else worthy of remembering as the Tigers took a four-point lead into the long break.

An inspirational chase by Evans highlighted the Tigers’ appetite for the contest early in the second half, however, the arm-wrestle continued as both sides failed to capitalise on their opportunities.

A goal to Tom Bowey from a tight angle saw East Fremantle hit the front for the first time at the nine-minute mark of the third term, before a major to Matt Baseden saw the hosts’ lead extended to six points, seven minutes later.

With the Tigers needing a spark, despite recording nine more scoring shots, Steven Edwards proved just the man for the occasion.

After weaving through congestion to kick the Tigers’ second goal at the 19-minute mark and first since the 13-minute mark of the first quarter, the silky forward kicked a second major just two minutes later as the visitors regained the lead and momentum of the contest.

It proved to be the catalyst for the Tigers, as late goals to Busher and Manuel (second) saw the team take an 18-point lead into the final change.

While Edwards’ skill and poise was something to behold in what had otherwise been a dour and dull struggle, Busher’s third quarter was simply uplifting, as the former Demon set up numerous Tiger attacks with his grunt and ball-winning ability in the midfield an inspiration to his teammates.

With Busher and Ryan Lim dominating play in the centre, the Tigers recorded seven more clearances for the term, however, the ball use and skill execution was still in need of drastic improvement.

With the breeze at their backs, the Tigers begun the final term in ominous fashion as the ever-dangerous Edwards kicked his third goal after a roving snap off the back of a pack.

When Richardson kicked his first major at the seven-minute mark after being found by Ben Higgs following an inspirational tackle by Lim, the Tigers were all of a sudden out to a 30-point lead.

Lim then got on the scoreboard himself, after being awarded a 50m penalty, as the Tigers exuded complete control over the game and threatened to blow the Sharks out of the water.

Despite an indifferent day in front of goal so far (0.3), Keegan Knott joined the goal-kicking list and got reward for his hard work to extend the Tigers’ lead, before Bowey hit back for the Sharks with his second major.

A second goal to Richardson eventuated when he was found by the hard-working Sam Bevan, before Lim capped off arguably his best game for the club with his second major and sealed what ended up being a comfortable win for the visitors.

On a day where the Tigers had several winners across the board, Lim and Busher were simply outstanding, while four players kicked multiple goals and the defence kept the Sharks to just five goals.

The win sees Claremont in sixth position on the ladder, and awaiting the visit of Perth to the Show Grounds in round five.

The Tigers will be looking for consecutive wins with bounce down at 11.30am.

CLAREMONT 1.6 1.13 5.16 11.18 (84)

EAST FREMANTLE 1.1 2.3 4.4 5.7 (37)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 S. EDWARDS, 2 R. LIM, J. RICHARDSON, A. MANUEL, 1 H. BUSHER, K. KNOTT

EAST FREMANTLE: 2 T. BOWEY, 1 D. COULTHARD, J. LOCANTRO, M. BASEDEN

BEST

CLAREMONT: R. LIM, H. BUSHER, S. EDWARDS, F. WATSON, J. RICHARDSON, M. PALFREY, L. EVANS, I. BAUM, D. CAMERON

EAST FREMANTLE: J. LOCANTRO, A. HOLMES, T. BOWEY