Brave Tigers Fall Short Against Thunder

Claremont (Reserves) have suffered a narrow three-point defeat to Peel Thunder at the Showgrounds despite a spirited fourth-quarter comeback.

With the Tigers trailing by 23 points at the final change, a five-goal-to-two final term was not enough to secure the points, as the Thunder prevailed 10.9 (69) to 10.6 (66) and recorded just their second win for the season.

The result sees Claremont drop to fifth position on the ladder with a 4-5 win-loss record ahead of a bye in round 11.

Keegan Knott was a constant threat to the Thunder defence as he won plenty of the football and kicked five goals, while Alex Manuel and Kaiden Gilbert both kicked two majors.

Acting captain Mitchell Andrews continued his strong form as he covered the ground to go with 24 disposals and 35 hit outs, while Ben Higgs, Isaac Baum, Manuel and Chaz Flint were all solid contributors.

The Thunder were well served by Cruize Garlett, Ben Hancock, Brennan Gillam, Dylan Winton and Corey Morris, while Nathan Fahey kicked three goals.

With Matthew Goyder and Tom Willett earning a call-up to League ranks, and Max Bentley, Lawrence Evans and Mark Mullally making way from the side who defeated East Perth in round nine, Toby Plant, Darryl Burke, Nicholas Barrow, Ben Hitchcock and Fraser Gilbert (debut) all came into the Claremont team.

With the Tigers kicking to the southern end of the ground in the opening term, a goal to Gilbert in the opening minute gave the hosts a perfect start after the forward was found by Knott.

Four minutes later, and it was Knott who would turn from goal provider to scorer as he kicked truly on the run after baulking his opponent, as the Tigers got off to a flyer and held a 12-point lead.

Flint was proving prominent across half-back, while Manuel looked in ominous touch in the forward line.

It took the Thunder 13 minutes to register their first score – albeit a behind, before Mitchell Wallace kicked truly at the 18-minute mark to trim the Tigers’ lead to six points.

That lead was narrowed to three points at quarter-time, as Brad Trpchev instructed the Tigers to “switch on” and regain the intensity they had shown in the opening five minutes.

A scrappy 10 minutes engulfed the opening stages of the second term, before Corey Morris kicked the Thunder’s second goal and gave the visitors a three-point lead.

The Tigers orchestrated a quick reply, as Hitchcock kicked truly after being found by the hard-working Flint and restored the hosts’ three-point advantage.

A second goal to Knott at the 20-minute mark saw the buffer extended to 10 points after the silky forward was found by Joshua Barrett, before the Thunder responded through a major to Stephen Kane.

Cameron Palmer then had his number taken for a tackling incident involving the Thunder’s Brennan Gillam, as the Tigers took a four-point lead into the main break.

A goal to Reise Wilkey at the nine-minute mark of the third term saw the Thunder regain the lead once more, before a major to Fahey extended the visitors’ advantage to nine points moments later.

Harrison McCracken kicked truly at the 15-minute mark to pull the Tigers to within three points after being on the end of a handball by Manuel, however, a second major to Fahey seven minutes later saw the Thunder out to an 11-point lead.

That lead quickly became 23 points at three-quarter time after two late goals to the visitors, as Trpchev implored his troops to “take risks” and move the ball quickly if they were to get back into the game.

Three goals in the opening nine minutes of the final term to Manuel, Gilbert (second) and Knott (third) had the Tigers trailing by just three points following a spirited patch of play, before a third major to Fahey gave the Thunder a nine-point lead and some breathing space at the 11-minute mark.

A fourth and fifth goal to Knott saw the Tigers hit the front and take a three-point lead at the 22-minute mark, with the forward’s fifth major thrilling everyone in attendance.

After receiving the ball deep in the left pocket at the northern end, the in-form forward dribbled through an end-over-end effort, which had class written all over it and was fitting of a finish to remember.

Unfortunately for the navy and gold, a second goal to Kane three minutes later saw the Thunder take a three-point lead that they wouldn’t relinquish, and handed the Tigers an agonising loss.

Claremont will now regroup and cool their heels before travelling to Lathlain Park to take on Perth in round 12.

CLAREMONT 2.1 4.4 5.4 10.6 (66)

PEEL THUNDER 1.4 3.6 8.9 10.9 (69)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 K. KNOTT, 2 A. MANUEL, K. GILBERT, 1 B. HITCHCOCK

PEEL THUNDER: 3 N. FAHEY, 2 S. KANE, M. WALLACE, N. GAJEWSKI, 1 R. WILKEY

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. KNOTT, M. ANDREWS, I. BAUM, B. HIGGS, C. FLINT, A. MANUEL

PEEL THUNDER: C. GARLETT, B. HANCOCK, B. GILLAM, D. WINTON, N. FAHEY, C. MORRIS