Tigers on the Brink

Claremont’s (Reserves) chances of playing finals are on a knifes edge after the Tigers suffered a 15-point defeat to Swan Districts at the Show Grounds.

The 9.8 (62) to 11.11 (77) loss sees Claremont remain in sixth position on the ladder, two wins behind fifth-placed East Perth with a game in hand and a superior percentage.

However, the Tigers have won just two of their past eight games and have averaged only 75 points in the process.

Despite the hosts leading by 20 points at half-time, eight goals to three in the second half saw Swans record their 12^th win for the season and replace Subiaco in second position.

Tom Willett, Bailey Rogers and Chaz Flint all won their share of the football for the Tigers, while acting captain Matt Goyder and Isaac Baum combined for 19 tackles.

Keegan Knott and Eddie Simpson were the Tigers’ only multiple goal kickers, while Kaiden Gilbert performed admirably in the ruck.

Jacob Coniglio and Albert Dean were prolific ball winners for Swans, while Dylan Nelson kicked three goals and was a headache for the Tigers’ defence throughout the game.

Ben Higgs was welcomed back in to the Tigers team after missing the loss to West Perth through injury, while Lachlan Davey and Mitchell Andrews earned League recalls.

With Simpson lining up at full-forward and Gilbert taking ruck duties at the first bounce, a goal to Jack Richardson after just two minutes gave the Tigers an ideal start and an early six-point lead.

However, goals to Steven Wityk and Nelson gave Swans a 10-point lead eight minutes later after some wastefulness by the Tigers and an inability to clear the ball from defence.

A late goal to Goyder from a long kick forward by Alex Manuel then handed the Tigers a late second major and saw the hosts draw level at quarter-time.

With Swans wasteful going forward and Goyder and Harrison McCracken prominent, the Tigers were in a positive position with their best football still ahead.

A great snap saw Simpson give the hosts a fast start to the second term before a booming goal to Knott resulted from a pinpoint pass by Flint and saw the team out to a 13-point lead.

A second major to Nelson saw Swans reduce the deficit after some more sloppy play from the Tigers in defence, before Simpson replied with a strong mark and his second goal.

A second to Knott late in the term gave the Tigers their fourth for the quarter and had the team well placed at the long break, with a ferocious attack on the ball and pressure all over the ground hallmarks of their performance so far.

When Peadar Burke kicked his first goal for the club after a pass by Simpson the Tigers extended their lead to 24 points ten minutes in to the third term, before a second major to Wityk following a free kick saw Swans close to within 17 points.

Jackson Slater was the next Swans’ player to benefit from some more uncertain play by the Tigers in defence, and when Chad Daniels added his name to the goal kicking list the Black Ducks trailed the hosts by just four points.

With the Tigers’ work rate and intensity beginning to drop off, a goal to the hard-working Coniglio on the run saw Swans take the lead for the first time since the opening term, and had the hosts searching for answers as they attempted to keep their season alive.

Trailing by three points at three-quarter time, Brad Trpchev implored his players to “accept the challenge” and put in repeat efforts, with the Tigers to be aided by a healthy breeze for the final term.

Despite the advantage, goals to Nelson Ansey and Nelson (third) saw Swans out to a 15-point lead, before two more majors gave the visitors an unassailable 28-point buffer at the 20-minute mark.

Long-range efforts by Lawrence Evans and Steven Edwards added some respectability to the scoreboard for the Tigers, however, it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from suffering their 10^th loss for the season, as a mini final against East Perth awaits the side at Medibank Stadium in round 20.

CLAREMONT 2.4 6.7 7.7 9.8 (62)

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.4 3.5 7.10 11.11 (77)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 K. KNOTT, E. SIMPSON, 1 P. BURKE, L. EVANS, M. GOYDER, J. RICHARDSON

SWAN DISTRICTS: 3 D. NELSON, 2 S. WITYK, C. DANIELS, N. ANSEY, 1 J. SLATER, J. CONIGLIO

BEST

CLAREMONT: C. FLINT, M. GOYDER, E. SIMPSON

SWAN DISTRICTS: J. CONIGLIO, A. DEAN, D. NELSON, T. YUKICH