Tigers Suffer Consecutive Losses

Claremont (Reserves) has lost its second straight game after East Fremantle defeated the visitors by 22 points at ATOM Stadium to claim just their third win for the season.

Despite the Tigers holding a one-point lead at three-quarter time, the hosts kicked seven goals to one in the final term and prevailed 14.6 (90) to 10.8 (68).

The result sees the Tigers drop out of the top five, although they do have a game in hand on fifth-placed Perth ahead of a bye in round 15.

Hugo Breakey, playing his first game since round four, and Tom Swift both won plenty of the football as they made their returns from injury, while Sam Bevan and Tom Willett were both strong contributors.

Ben Higgs was outstanding in defence and repelled a number of forward entries by the hosts, while Darcy Cameron was herculean in the ruck, winning 50 hit outs, 20 disposals, laying six tackles and kicking two goals.

Keegan Knott, Jack Richardson and Alex Manuel also kicked two goals each for the Tigers.

Jacob Green, Dion Anthony and Julian Locantro were all solid contributors for the hosts, while Adrian Ricciardello kicked four goals in the final term to almost single-handedly drag the Sharks across the line.

From the Claremont team who were beaten by Subiaco in round 13, Toby Plant and Max Bentley (both injured) were replaced by Breakey and Swift, while Willett, Nicholas Steens and Lachlan Davey (first game since round nine) rounded out the inclusions.

Isaac Baum, Francis Watson and Matthew Palfrey all made way as they lined up for the League side.

Swift was in the thick of it early as the midfielder gathered three early touches, with the Tigers kicking to the northern end of the ground in the opening term.

Consecutive goals to Jeff Carter gave the Sharks a 10-point lead 16 minutes into the contest, before Knott kicked truly after keeping the ball alive near the boundary line and finishing exquisitely on the run.

The Tigers found themselves trailing by five points at the first change after just three goals were scored in the opening term, as coach Brad Trpchev implored his players to be more effective when going forward.

Despite the narrow deficit, the Tigers led the clearances, however, a goal to Green six minutes into the second term extended the hosts’ lead to 12 points.

A second goal on the run to Knott saw the Tigers close to within seven points, before Locantro responded for the hosts and re-established their 12-point buffer.

Tom Bowey then kicked truly after the Shark found himself without an opponent, with the hosts extending their lead to 16 points at the long break on the back of a disappointing half by the Tigers.

Harrison Court was playing a solid sweeping role in defence, however, the Tigers needed a spark and more commitment at the contest.

Davey then sat out the second half as the defender works his way back from injury.

A third goal to Carter gave the Sharks an ideal start to the third term and extended the hosts’ lead to 22 points, before the Tigers were finally stung into action.

Goals to Swift, Manuel, Cameron and Richardson had the visitors trailing by just one point at the 19-minute mark after some brilliant work in and around the stoppages by Swift and Breakey, and some outstanding forward pressure by Knott.

A goal to Andrew Stokes saw the Sharks out to a seven-point lead in the shadows of three-quarter time, before a second major to Richardson followed the classy Tiger baulking an opponent and finishing on his non-preferred (left) side to have the visitors trailing by the narrowest of margins at the final change.

With the Tigers now running and taking the game on, Trpchev was quick to pay tribute to his midfield and defence.

Consecutive goals to Ricciardello gave the Sharks an 11-point lead just two minutes into the final quarter as the Tigers were made to pay early for the fourth term in a row, before Cameron kicked his second major to trim the hosts’ lead to five points.

Goals to Matthew Bannister and Green (second) then gave the Sharks a 17-point lead and some breathing space halfway through the term, before Manuel kicked his second major after being paid a fortunate mark following a pass by Josh Barrett.

Two more goals to Ricciardello (four) and a second to Stokes ended any chance of a late comeback from the Tigers as the Sharks took an unassailable 28-point lead, before Lawrence Evans grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.

The Tigers will now serve their third and final bye for the season before hosting South Fremantle in round 16.

CLAREMONT 1.3 2.6 7.7 10.8 (68)

EAST FREMANTLE 2.2 5.4 7.6 14.6 (90)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 A. MANUEL, J. RICHARDSON, K. KNOTT, D. CAMERON, 1 L. EVANS, T. SWIFT

EAST FREMANTLE: 4 A. RICCIARDELLO, 3 J. CARTER, 2 J. GREEN, A. STOKES, 1 T. BOWEY, J. LOCANTRO, M. BANNISTER

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. SWIFT, H. BREAKEY, B. HIGGS, K. KNOTT, D. CAMERON, T. WILLETT, S. BEVAN

EAST FREMANTLE: J. GREEN, J. LOCANTRO, A. RICCIARDELLO, D. ANTHONY