Tigers Overrun by Falcons

Claremont have suffered a last-quarter fadeout for the second week running after West Perth stormed home to defeat the Tigers by 10 points at HBF Arena.

Despite leading by 21 points at three-quarter time, the Tigers could only manage three behinds in the final term as the Falcons piled on 5.4 to run out winners, 13.12 (90) to 12.8 (80).

The result leaves Claremont languishing in seventh position on the ladder after consecutive losses, as the Tigers went goalless in a term for the third match in a row.

Perhaps more concerning, is the Tigers’ inability to string together a four-quarter performance and run out a game.

So far this season the Tigers have won every quarter in a match just twice, while the side has lost nine final terms and drawn one (round four against East Fremantle).

The win was West Perth’s eighth from as many matches at home this season, and first against Claremont at the venue since round 16, 2011.

The Tigers’ cause was not helped after Francis Watson suffered what appeared to be an ankle injury in the third term – leaving the visitors a man down in the final quarter.

Kepler Bradley continued his fine run of form by taking six marks and kicking three goals, while Ian Richardson and Beau Maister chipped in with three and two majors respectively.

Darcy Cameron was recalled for his first game since round 12 and responded by taking six marks and winning 61 hit outs, largely in the absence of Mark Seaby who suffered an early injury before returning to the field, while Tom Ledger, Kiefer Yu and the returning Jake Murphy were prominent in midfield.

Ryan Lim was handed the job on Aaron Black who was celebrating his 100^th game for the Falcons, with the Tiger putting in another promising performance after his solid game on Tendai Mzungu a week earlier.

Jack Beeck missed the game through injury while Keegan Knott and Mitch Andrews were omitted.

Shane Nelson, Jay Van Berlo and Trent Manzone all featured heavily for the hosts while Corey Chalmers kicked three second-quarter goals and Aidan Lynch layed 13 tackles.

With Seaby opposing Tyler Keitel in the ruck at the opening bounce on an overcast day for football, a booming goal to Bradley after the former Falcon was found by Oliver Tate gave the Tigers an ideal start and an early six-point lead.

When Maister doubled the Tigers’ tally after being found by Seaby, the visitors were out to a 13-point lead before the ruckman was forced to leave the ground with a knee injury.

A goal to Black after 17 minutes saw the Falcons close to within seven points before Murphy kicked his first major for the season and reclaimed the Tigers’ 13-point advantage.

Andrew Strijk then kicked truly for the Falcons before Yu set sail from 55m on the boundary and handed the Tigers a 14-point lead at the first change.

With Bradley and Watson firing for the Tigers at opposite ends of the ground, Michael Broadbridge was encouraged by the visitors’ efforts, although he implored his players to tighten up on Nelson and Black, while demanding no space for the dangerous and skilful Strijk.

A second goal to Maister following a pass by Yu gave the Tigers a 20-point lead and an ideal start to the second term, before Chalmers grabbed the first of his goals to respond for the hosts.

When Ledger found Bradley after a fantastic passage of play which was started by Watson at half-back it allowed the big man to kick his second major and hand the Tigers a 19-point buffer, as a fantastic duel between Maister and Marcus Adams was developing.

A free kick and goal to Richardson resulted from some dubious umpiring but more importantly some fine second and third efforts by Haydn Busher as the Tigers’ lead was extended to 25 points, before Matthew Johnson replied for the Falcons.

A flying snap and second major for Richardson saw the Tigers hit back once more, before Chalmers added two more goals (three) and Black grabbed his second to trim the Tigers’ lead to just five points at the long break in what was a pulsating half of football.

A goal to Keitel at the seven-minute mark of the third term resulted from a dangerous kick across defence by Watson and saw the Falcons take the lead for the first time, before a long-range effort by Richardson gave the Tiger his third major and reclaimed the advantage for the visitors.

With Ledger working hard and covering the ground in ominous fashion, the returning Shane McAdam ran in to an open goal after multiple bounces and extended the Tigers’ lead to eight points.

Jack Bradshaw then kicked his first goal and took his season tally to 30 after some fine clearance work by Murphy and a smart tap by Seaby as the Tigers raced to a 14-point lead, before Bradley’s third pushed the margin out to 20 points.

In a worrying sign for the Tigers and the coaching staff, Watson then left the field after pulling up sharply on the wing, with the silky Tiger to play no further part in the game.

With Tate solid in defence and the Tigers turning for home with a 21-point lead, Broadbridge encouraged his players to put in a four-quarter performance despite being a man down, with the Falcons showing on more than one occasion this season that they are capable of a big comeback.

When Adams kicked truly after a 50m penalty and Blake Wilhelm registered his first goal at League level the Falcons closed to within eight points as the Tigers’ run and carry began to dry up and the hosts asserted their dominance in midfield.

Three further goals, including one as a direct result from an errant kick-in by Tate completed the hosts’ comeback and handed the Tigers their eighth loss for the season, with the Falcons retaining their hold on second position and leaving the Tigers facing a must-win clash against Swan Districts at the Show Grounds in round 19.

In positive news for Claremont, John Williams lined up in his first game since round 13 as he returned from injury in the Reserves.

CLAREMONT 4.3 8.4 12.5 12.8 (80)

WEST PERTH 2.1 7.5 8.8 13.12 (90)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 K. BRADLEY, I. RICHARDSON, 2 B. MAISTER, 1 J. BRADSHAW, K. YU, J. MURPHY, S. MCADAM

WEST PERTH: 3 C. CHALMERS, 2 A. BLACK, M. JOHSNON, 1 S. NELSON, M. ADAMS, M. LOUREY, T. KEITEL, B. WILHELM, A. STRIJK

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. YU, R. LIM, T. LEDGER, K. BRADLEY, D. CAMERON, J. MURPHY

WEST PERTH: S. NELSON, J. VAN BERLO, A. LYNCH, C. CHALMERS, M. ADAMS, T. MANZONE