Tigers Hammer Thunder

Match Report by Dan Scamozzi

A ruthless Claremont (Reserves) has rounded out its pre-season in style with a 77-point drubbing of Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium last Saturday.

Jack Richardson and Alex Manuel each kicked five goals, while Eddie Simpson chipped in with four, as the Tigers prevailed, 21.16.142 to 10.5. 65 in fine conditions.

The win has Claremont well-prepared heading into the home-and-away season, and was built on the back of some star performances.

Matt Sellers continues to shine in the ruck and around the ground despite being new to the game, and was well supported by Adam Speed, while Justin Speed put on a clinic in midfield.

Toby Plant was impressive in his comeback from a serious knee injury, while Morgan Davies, Ashley Fitzgerald, Lawrence Evans and Hugo Breakey continued their fine form.

Perhaps equally impressive, though, was the Tigers’ ability to lock the ball in their front half thanks to tremendous pressure and a will to work for one another.

In further good news, Aaron Holt got through the game unscathed and was a big part of Claremont’s pressure with his one percenters around the ground.
Brad McGowan kicked three goals for the Thunder, while Jordan Adams and Nicholas Merritt each kicked two.

In what would turn out to be a seven-goal opening term for the Tigers, the visitors kicked to the southern end of the ground, however, a goal to McGowan gave the Thunder an early lead.
Two goals to Simpson in the space of 90 seconds then gave the Tigers a six-point lead, before Dale Wilkinson replied for the hosts five minutes later.

J. Speed and Richardson then made the Thunder pay from errant kick-ins and saw Claremont take a 15-point lead at the 15-minute mark, with Sellers and J. Speed already playing prominent roles.
A goal to Breakey two minutes later from a 50m penalty saw the lead extended, before further majors to Davies and Richardson (second) gave the Tigers a 33-point buffer at quarter-time.

Whilst pleased with the Tigers’ ominous start, coach Kepler Bradley implored his players to not overdo the handball and instead kick the ball long and deep.

After being found by Davies, and a 50m penalty, Richardson kicked his third goal and gave Claremont an ideal start to the second term, before Adams replied for the Thunder.

A second goal to McGowan then saw the hosts register consecutive majors and trim the Tigers’ lead to 28 points, before Fitzgerald took a brilliant intercept mark and restored parity for Claremont.

A third goal to McGowan trimmed the margin once again, despite the efforts of A. Speed in the ruck, with Sellers earning a deserved rest.

Luke Shepherd then gave everyone at the ground a thrill with a high-flying mark and goal, as the Thunder kept up the pace, before a second major to Adams had the hosts trailing by just 16 points at the 21-minute mark.

With the Tigers in need of a reply, up stepped Breakey with his second goal following some brilliant efforts by Evans, however, a major to Jamahl Mulholland saw the Thunder once again close to within 16 points.
The Tigers would have the last say of the first half, though, as goals to Richardson (fourth) and a third to Simpson, after the siren, both resulted from the brilliance of J. Speed and gave Claremont a 28-point lead at the long break.

The Thunder were first to strike in the second half through a major to Merritt, before Richardson kicked his fifth goal after a well-weighted pass by Harrison McCracken not long after some fine efforts by Holt.
A goal to Manuel three minutes later again involved Holt and gave the Tigers a 44-point lead, before Merritt grabbed his second major and kept the Thunder in touch.

Mason Whitehead then kicked truly as he dribbled through a clever goal from the pocket, before a great chase and tackle by Ben Musitano ensured the Tigers took a 36-point lead into the final change.
Despite the visitors extending their half-time lead, Bradley encouraged his players to improve their contested football after it had dropped away since the opening term.

A flying snap gave Manuel his second goal, five minutes into the final term, as the Tigers restored their 44-point lead, before Nicholas Bertola was assisted from the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.
A third major to Manuel quickly followed, before Fitzgerald grabbed his second and pushed Claremont’s lead out to 57 points.

Two more goals to Manuel gave the hard-working Tiger four for the quarter on the back of some brilliant presence and finishing, before a fourth to Simpson as the result of some outstanding ruckwork by Sellers and a fine pass from Davies rounded out a comprehensive display by the Tigers.

Claremont will now turn its attention to round one against East Perth at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Claremont claimed a 50-point win over Peel Thunder in the Colts, 15.15 (105) to 8.7 (55).

CLAREMONT 7.4 12.6 15.10 21.16 (142)
PEEL THUNDER 2.1 8.2 10.4 10.5 (65)

GOALS
CLAREMONT: 5 J. RICHARDSON, A. MANUEL, 4 E. SIMPSON, 2 H. BREAKEY, A. FITZGERALD, 1 M. DAVIES, J. SPEED, M. WHITEHEAD
PEEL THUNDER: 3 B. MCGOWAN, 2 J. ADAMS, N. MERRITT, 1 L. SHEPHERD, J. MULHOLLAND, D. WILKINSON

BEST
CLAREMONT: J. SPEED, J. RICHARDSON, A. MANUEL, E. SIMPSON, M. DAVIES, M. SELLERS, T. PLANT
PEEL THUNDER: B. MCGOWAN, J. ADAMS, N. MERRITT