Dynamic Tigers Pounce on Bulldogs

A scintillating six-goal-to-one opening term paved the way for Claremont’s Reserves’ outstanding 49-point win against a sluggish South Fremantle at Claremont Oval.

The 14.9 (93) to 6.8 (44) triumph resulted from great pressure, repeat inside 50s, blue-collar efforts and slick ball movement as the Tigers recorded their third win of the season.

The Tigers also dominated inside 50s (47-31), recorded nine more scoring shots and held the Bulldogs goalless in the final term.

Unflappable defender Dylan Smallwood marshalled Claremont’s defence and took a game-high nine marks to win the players’ player award, while the tireless Jacob Sideris (29 disposals) got to contest after contest through hard running, won several clearances and applied constant pressure to

opposition.

The powerful Isaac Wallace continues to press his case for a League debut with his unwavering attack on the ball, while Tom Ledger (33 disposals, one goal) and Nick Winmar (six inside 50s) responded to their League omissions with strong performances.

James Egan kicked a game-high four goals, had a hand in several others and was the architect of the Tigers’ stunning burst in the opening term through his nous and immaculate foot skills, while Rhett Lloyd chipped in with three.

Ruckman Jeremy Goddard (39 hit-outs) impressed with his marking, while Ben Rushforth drove the Tigers forward with his rebound from half-back.

In further good news, Nick Bucknall made his club debut, Cooper Nitschke (two goals) his Reserves debut, Tom Lawrence and Cameron Quenby played their first games of the season and Shaquille Morton (one goal) returned from a quad strain to lay a team-high five tackles.

However, forward Jack Richardson was concussed in the second term and took no further part in the game.

Jesse Musika kicked a team-high three goals for the Bulldogs, however, the visitors had no answers to the Tigers’ early onslaught and looked well off the pace in perfect but hot conditions.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term and wasted no time in stamping their authority on the contest, as Eddie Simpson kicked truly after a great turn of speed and pass from Egan.

Egan then set up Kaiden Gilbert in almost identical fashion as the Tigers made it two goals in the opening five minutes, before the electric Egan crumbed to make it three in seven and give the hosts a 17-point lead.

Lloyd then kicked the Tigers’ fourth after being found by Morton, with Egan again involved, before Nitschke benefited from outstanding pressure from Sideris, who created a turnover at full-forward, to slam through the hosts’ fifth major halfway through the term.

Ruckman Jake Solomon then responded for the Bulldogs, before Lloyd kicked his second goal after great defensive pressure from the Tigers to give the hosts a commanding 33-point lead at quarter-time.

Coach Steven Armstrong lauded the Tigers’ great pressure, repeat inside 50s and blue-collar efforts, before a scrappy start to the second term unfolded.

A booming second goal to Egan resulted from a fierce tackle from Wallace moments earlier and extended the Tigers’ lead to 39 points, before Richardson was assisted from the field.

A blistering run and kick forward from Morton then allowed Egan to kick his third goal and give the Tigers three in a row, before Musika responded for the Bulldogs on the stroke of half-time.

Consecutive goals to the Bulldogs trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 25 points early in the second half, before great pace and a pinpoint squaring pass from Declan McNamara allowed Morton to respond.

The busy Ledger then speared through the Tigers’ 10^th goal, before Riley Burke responded for the Bulldogs.

A second to Nitschke involved a one-two with Sideris, before a third to Musika trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 30 points at the final change.

Fourth and third goals to Egan and Lloyd respectively extended the Tigers’ lead to 45 points halfway through the final term, before a squaring pass from Morton allowed McNamara to put the final touches on a clinical performance.

The Tigers will be aiming for consecutive wins when they face Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium in round six.

Meanwhile, an outstanding performance from Claremont’s Colts resulted in a 35-point win against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, 11.6 (72) to 5.7 (37).

CLAREMONT 6.4 8.5 11.6 14.9 (93)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.1 2.3 6.6 6.8 (44)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. Egan, 3 R. Lloyd, 2 C. Nitschke, 1 T. Ledger, E. Simpson, K. Gilbert, S. Morton, D. McNamara.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 3 J. Musika, 1 R. Burke, A. Coutinho, J. Solomon.

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. Smallwood, J. Sideris, I. Wallace, T. Ledger, N. Winmar.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: B. Della Franca, M. Grubelich, D. Fiamengo, G. Byron, Z. De San Miguel.

By Dan Scamozzi