Tigers Obliterate Thunder

Claremont has recorded its fourth straight victory after smashing an insipid Peel Thunder by 72 points at the Showgrounds.

In what was the teams highest score and biggest winning margin for the season thus far, the Tigers slammed on seven goals to one in the first term and never looked back as they prevailed 17.16 (118) to 6.10 (46).

An appetite for the contest and fierce desire around the ground were hallmarks of the Tigers’ memorable display, with just one win now separating second-placed West Perth and the eighth-placed Claremont on the ladder.

Ryan Neates, Tom Ledger and Ryan Lim, playing in just his seventh game, all tallied more than 30 disposals, while Corey Yeo and Francis Watson were solid contributors.

Jack Bradshaw and Shane McAdam kicked four and three goals respectively, while the pair also laid 11 tackles between them as forward pressure was a constant highlight throughout the match.

Kepler Bradley (2.4) and Beau Maister were focal points in the forward line, while Mark Seaby and Darcy Cameron shared ruck duties to great effect, and reliable defender Brandon Franz marshalled the Tigers’ defence.

Jack Beeck, playing in just his fifth game, put in a terrific performance as he restricted livewire Peel forward Leroy Jetta to just one goal, while Anton Hamp was solid and creative along with Matt Davies across the half-back line.

Matt Goyder and Tom Willett came into the team who defeated East Perth in round nine for Lachlan Davey (foot) and Oliver Tate (ankle) as the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, led by acting captain Ian Richardson.

Yeo opposed former Claremont player Matt de Boer, while Neates lined up on Thunder captain Brendon Jones.

McAdam kicked the game’s opening goal at the seven-minute mark after the exciting forward snapped truly following a great spoil by Seaby moments earlier as the Tigers took an early lead.

Two minutes later and the Tigers had their second when Bradshaw kicked his first major to extend the lead to 13 points, before Jetta pulled a goal back for the Thunder.

A second goal to Bradshaw at the 14-minute mark resulted from a handball by Seaby and gave the Tigers a 13-point lead once again, before two goals in four minutes by McAdam (three) saw the hosts’ advantage out to 25 points at the 20-minute mark.

Even more impressive, were the two tackles McAdam laid during this brilliant burst, with the Thunder players under immense pressure when the Halls-Creek product was in the vicinity.

A free kick and goal two minutes later to Bradley followed a long kick to advantage by Hamp and extended the Tigers’ lead to 31 points, before Beeck left the ground momentarily following a heavy tackle by Jetta.

A third goal to Bradshaw at the 28-minute mark was set up by Maister following a Thunder turnover in midfield and gave the Tigers an ominous 36-point lead, which was cut to 35 points at the first break on the back of the teams highest scoring quarter this season to date and arguably some of the finest football played under coach Michael Broadbridge’s rein.

Broadbridge was quick to pay tribute to the outstanding forward pressure and implored his troops to continue a long-kicking style of play.

The Tigers also recorded 33 marks for the term, as the team ran and spread to great effect, whilst also applying constant pressure and an honest work rate.

A fantastic smother by the hard-working Lim continued the Tigers’ excellent intent in the second term, before a scrappy 10 minutes unfolded with both teams guilty of some indecisive play.

A goal to Davies (first for the season) on the run at the 11-minute mark extended the Tigers’ lead to 43 points after the rebounding defender was found by Kiefer Yu, before Jack Hannath pulled in a strong mark and kicked truly for the Thunder four minutes later.

When Gerald Ugle kicked truly, the Thunder had consecutive goals and trimmed the deficit to 31 points, before a late goal to Richardson following a great tackle and pass by Bradshaw gave the Tigers a 40-point lead at half-time.

The Tigers’ score of 9.8 (62) was the teams highest scoring opening half for the season thus far, and was quickly added to following a long goal by Ledger in the early stages of the third term.

Further goals to Yu and Yeo saw the buffer extended to 55 points at the 10-minute mark, before another inspiring tackle by McAdam and prolific run and carry from Neates further emphasised the Tigers’ commitment and will for one another.

A goal to Seaby at the 27-minute mark followed a kick forward by Franz and gave the hosts a thumping 62-point lead, before a behind after the three-quarter time siren by Bradshaw saw the buffer out to 64 points at the final change.

On the back of the Tigers’ highest scoring third term for the season to date, in which they kept the Thunder goalless, Broadbridge implored his team to finish the game off and maintain its disciplined effort, and when Bradshaw registered his fourth goal at the six-minute mark of the final term following a chain of pin-point passes from half-back, the lead was extended to 69 points.

A second goal to Hannath three minutes later gave the Thunder their first goal since the 18-minute mark of the second term, before Bradley kicked his second major.

Maister and Cameron then added their names to the Tigers’ goal-kicking list as the margin blew out to 81 points at the 15-minute mark, before late goals to Craig Moller and Ed Langdon proved little more than consolation on a dark day for the Thunder, but one to remember for those wearing navy and gold.

To compound matters for the visitors, Jetta was reported for rough conduct on John Williams.

On a day where Claremont had 70 more disposals, took 54 more marks, had 22 more I50 entries, registered 17 more scoring shots, and had 11 individual goal kickers, the side saw its percentage rise from 91.41 to 103.07 ahead of a bye in round 11.

The Tigers will look to make it five consecutive wins when they travel to Lathlain Park to face Perth in round 12.

CLAREMONT 7.2 9.8 13.12 17.16 (118)

PEEL THUNDER 1.3 3.4 3.8 6.10 (46)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. BRADSHAW, 3 S. MCADAM, 2 K. BRADLEY, 1 T. LEDGER, D. CAMERON, C. YEO, M. DAVIES, K. YU, M. SEABY, B. MAISTER, I. RICHARDSON

PEEL THUNDER: 2 J. HANNATH, 1 C. MOLLER, E. LANGDON, G. UGLE, L. JETTA

BEST

CLAREMONT: R. NEATES, T. LEDGER, R. LIM, S. MCADAM, C. YEO, J. BRADSHAW, F. WATSON

PEEL THUNDER: E. LANGDON, M. DE BOER, J. HANNATH