Tigers Blow Sharks out of Water

Claremont has bounced back from its disappointing defeat to Subiaco by thumping a woeful and listless East Fremantle to the tune of 68 points at ATOM Stadium.

After keeping the Sharks goalless until just before three-quarter time, the Tigers prevailed 14.9 (93) to 3.7 (25) and in the process restricted the hosts to their lowest ever score between the two sides.

The win sees the Tigers back in the top five, having recorded their sixth win in seven matches, while the Sharks have now suffered six straight losses and look like being spectators come September.

Despite the big win and percentage boost, the win was far from complete for the Tigers, with disappointing second and final terms an aspect to work and improve on.

Corey Yeo continued his stellar form and was joined by Kiefer Yu, Matt Davies, Ryan Neates, Ian Richardson and Tom Ledger in winning plenty of the football, while Kepler Bradley’s eight marks, two goals and a hand in several others were a key component in the one-sided result, and Isaac Baum made his League debut.

Mark Seaby and Mitchell Andrews worked well together in the ruck, while Beau Maister kicked three goals and provided a contest throughout the afternoon.

In further pleasing news for the Tigers, Hugo Breakey, Tom Swift and Lachlan Davey all made their returns from injury in the Reserves as they push for senior selection in the coming weeks.

On a bleak day for the Sharks and the retiring Mark McGough, Rory O’Brien led the hosts’ midfield brigade, however, there were few, if any, positives for the blue and white as they created a piece of unwanted history.

Francis Watson was recalled and joined by Baum and Matthew Palfrey into the side who lost to the Lions seven days earlier, with Tom Willett, John Williams (broken finger) and Shane McAdam (ill) making way.

Barry Barone became the Sharks’ 12^th debutant in 2015, while the hosts also welcomed back Andrew Stephen and Brandon Ellis.

With the Tigers kicking to the northern end in the opening term and led by acting captain Richardson, Neates opposed McGough in the centre and Yeo lined up on Liam Anthony.

A classy one-handed mark by Palfrey three minutes into the contest gave fans a glimpse of what they can look forward to from the hard-running Tiger in seasons to come, while Davies was already prominent for the visitors.

A goal to Bradley following a pinpoint pass by Richardson gave the Tigers an early six-point lead on a perfect afternoon for football, before a goal to Yu just moments later saw the lead doubled.

A goal to Palfrey following a quick kick forward by Andrews rewarded the Tiger for playing in front and saw the Tigers out to an 18-point lead, as the second gamer celebrated his first goal in League ranks.

A committed attack on the football by Jordan McAllister further signalled the Tigers’ intent and appetite for the contest as the defender put his body on the line, before a goal-saving mark from Brandon Franz was followed with a tremendous smother by Ryan Lim.

In what were pleasing signs for Michael Broadbridge and his coaching staff, the Tigers then extended their lead to 26 points after Maister kicked truly following a smart tap by Seaby, which resulted from a ferocious attack on the football by Palfrey.

A solitary behind (off hands) was all the Sharks had to show for their insipid first term, as a more committed and hungry Tigers outfit took a 25-point lead at the first change.

Broadbridge paid tribute to the efforts of Palfrey and leadership shown by Matt Goyder, but implored his side to improve its forward entries.

With the Tigers eager to build on their early dominance, a goal to Ledger in the first minute of the second quarter saw the lead out to 31 points, before an error-riddled and forgettable term played out with no further goals or highlights.

The result was a 28-point lead to the Tigers at half-time, however, a lapse in intent and application saw the side with some work to do in the second half.

Fortunately, the Sharks’ second term was barely an improvement on their first, and saw the Tigers still well in control of the contest.

Goals to Maister (second) and Seaby saw the Tigers out to a 40-point lead in the opening stages of the third term, before a second to Ledger pushed the margin to 46 points.

With the Tigers now rediscovering the football that served them so well in the opening term, Jack Bradshaw kicked his first goal following a squaring pass by Bradley, before the big man went from provider to scorer and added his second.

A short pass by Neates allowed Richardson to add his name to the goal kicking list and gave the Tigers a whopping 65-point lead, before Baum kicked his first goal in League ranks after finding himself in space and handed the visitors a 72-point lead in the shadows of three-quarter time.

With the Sharks in danger of being held goalless for the match, Mitchell Boyle kicked the hosts’ first major at the 32-minute mark to the sound of ironic applause from the home fans, although the Tigers turned for home with a 66-point lead.

Broadbridge was pleased by the Tigers’ work at stoppages as the visitors kicked seven goals in a dominant third term, but encouraged the players to not give up any easy goals in the final term.

Second and third goals to Richardson and Maister respectively saw the Tigers take an almighty 80-point lead after the pair were found by Bradley, with the Sharks now in danger of suffering their heaviest loss ever to the Tigers.

However, goals to Jamie McNamara and Josh Cuneo added mere consolation on a dark day for the hosts, while the Tigers will look to apply a four-quarter performance when they return from their third and final bye to host South Fremantle in round 16.

CLAREMONT 4.2 5.3 12.5 14.9 (93)

EAST FREMANTLE 0.1 0.5 1.5 3.7 (25)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 B. MAISTER, 2 K. BRADLEY, T. LEDGER, I. RICHARDSON, 1 J. BRADSHAW, I. BAUM, K. YU, M. PALFREY, M. SEABY

EAST FREMANTLE: J. CUNEO, M. BOYLE, J. MCNAMARA   

BEST

CLAREMONT: C. YEO, K. YU, M. DAVIES, T. LEDGER, K. BRADLEY, I. RICHARDSON, O. TATE

EAST FREMANTLE: R. O’BRIEN, D. CHARTRES, J. MCNAMARA, B. WILLIAMSON