Tigers Rolled by Thunder

Claremont suffered an 18-point defeat to Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium last Saturday despite kicking the final five goals of the game.

Some better decision-making, skill execution and an ability to transfer the ball from defence were hallmarks of Peel’s win, as the hosts prevailed, 11.13 (79) to 9.7 (61).

Matthew Palfrey continued his terrific form with three goals and numerous pressure acts, while Beau Maister and Jack Bradshaw each kicked two majors for the Tigers.

Tom Ledger worked tirelessly and accumulated plenty of the ball, while Bailey Rogers did well to nullify the influence of Thunder captain Gerald Ugle and Oliver Tate was prominent.

In further good news for Claremont, captain Jake Murphy played the second half and performed strongly after replacing Jack Beeck who suffered a corked calf, while ruckman Mitch Andrews returned after missing the win over East Fremantle.

Rory O’Brien was busy for the Thunder along with Matt de Boer, who was a number of Fremantle-listed players representing the hosts, while Brad Walsh and Matthew Uebergang each kicked two goals.

With the Tigers kicking to the southern end of the ground in the opening term (against the breeze), Darcy Cameron took first ruck duties, with Andrews lining up at full-forward.

A goal to Maister five minutes into the contest after being found by Werribee-recruit Jye Bolton gave the Tigers an ideal start, before de Boer replied for the Thunder.

From then on, the hosts dominated the rest of the term, as goals to Uebergang and Josh Bootsma saw Claremont trailing by 19 points at quarter-time.

A goal to Palfrey in the opening minute of the second term was just what the doctor ordered following a quick kick forward by Ian Richardson, before O’Brien relpied for the Thunder and restored their 19-point lead.

A second goal to Uebergang then extended the buffer to 24 points at the 16-minute mark, with Claremont needing a goal to stay in touch with the breeze at their backs.

With Ledger already busy and covering the ground in ominous fashion, a second major to Palfrey resulted from a tremendous effort by Ryan Lim who bravely ran with the flight of the ball to intervene a pass moments earlier.

A brilliant tackle by Ledger capped off the second term for the Tigers, although, they still had a fair amount of work ahead of them after managing just three goals for the half.

With Murphy on in place of the injured Beeck, the Tigers were in need of a bright start to the second half, however, this would be the time when the hosts set up their win.

Majors to Hayden Crozier, Brayden Lawler, Brady Grey and Calvin Thorne gave the Thunder a commanding 43-point lead 17 minutes into the third term, before Ledger wobbled through a badly-needed goal for Claremont.

A late goal to Walsh capped off a dominant term for the hosts and saw them lead by 44 points at the final change, with Tigers coach Michael Broadbridge encouraging his players to kick the ball long and deep to Cameron at full-forward in the final term.

Despite the plan, a second goal to Walsh gave Peel a commanding 50-point lead early in the quarter, before Palfrey replied for Claremont with his third major.

A second to Maister quickly followed after a long kick by Bradshaw, before the small forward went from provider to scorer with a couple of his own.

A late goal to John Williams resulted from some second and third efforts by Cameron and added some respectability to the scoreboard, as the Tigers finished strongly and will look to take that form into next week’s season-opener against East Perth at Medibank Stadium.

CLAREMONT 1.0 3.4 4.5 9.7 (61)

PEEL THUNDER 3.7 5.8 10.13 11.13 (79)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 M. PALFREY, 2 J. BRADSHAW, B. MAISTER, 1 T. LEDGER, J. WILLIAMS

PEEL THUNDER: 2 B. WALSH, M. UEBERGANG, 1 R. O’BRIEN, B. LAWLER, M. DE BOER, J. BOOTSMA, H. CROZIER, B. GREY, C. THORNE

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. LEDGER, M. PALFREY, B. ROGERS, O. TATE

PEEL THUNDER: M. DE BOER, R. O’BRIEN, J. BOOTSMA