Miller Stands Tall

Round 13 Match Report | Daniel Scamozzi

The mighty Claremont Tigers recorded consecutive wins after defeating South Fremantle by 47 points in the Reserves at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in round 13.

Aided by a career-high four goals from ruckman/forward Steve Miller (team-high 14 hit-outs), the Tigers recorded 10 more inside 50s and seven more scoring shots than the Bulldogs as they won every quarter and notched their sixth win of the season, 14.9 (93) to 6.10 (46), to remain in fourth position on the ladder.

Inside midfielder Finn Moloney and wingman Sam Alvarez (equal team-high six tackles) both recorded a game-high 27 disposals, with half-back flanker Morgan Davies (26 disposals) and key defender Luke Brown (game-high eight marks) repelling the Bulldogs.

Forwards Dylan Mulligan (three goals) and Rhori Williams-Jolley (two) were dangerous along with Miller, midfielders Max Mumme (equal team-high six tackles, equal game-high six inside 50s) and Mitch Barron (equal game-high six inside 50s, one goal) winning their share of the ball and sending the Tigers forward.

Alvarez replaced midfielder Ben Edwards (League) in the team with forward Jason Carter captaining Claremont as part of NAIDOC Week, fellow wingman Ben Clarke returning from injury for the first time since round seven and small forward Corey Mitchell lining up for his first game since 2019 as the Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term.

Defender Sean Williams displayed early courage when he went back with the flight of the ball across half-back, Mumme producing a dashing run through midfield and delivering the ball inside 50 to Mulligan.

Carter laid repeat tackles across half-forward in a sign of Claremont's appetite for the contest, key forward Coen Jackman kicking the first goal of the game before South Fremantle's Edward Graham replied with the first of his two majors.

A kick to full-forward from Barron dribbled through for Claremont's second goal and gave the Tigers a six-point lead at quarter time, coach Darren Harper happy with the visitors' start to the game and willingness to play on.

A couragous mark from Brown at half-back and consecutive goals to Mulligan from consecutive kicks inside 50 from Barron gave Claremont a strong start to the second term and increased the lead to 19 points, Miller snapping truly from the pocket and Williams-Jolley converting a squaring pass from Carter to give the Tigers five majors in a row.

Zachary Jones replied with South Fremantle's second goal before  Williams-Jolley finished brilliantly with the outside of his boot to extend Claremont's lead to 32 points at half-time after a brilliant five-goals-to-one term.

Mulligan smothered a kick inside 50 and snapped his third goal early in the second half before Miller laid an inspirational smother on the wing which briefly took the wind out of his sails, Graham replying with his second goal from a tight angle.

Miller's second goal gave Claremont a 36-point lead at the final change as Harper urged the Tigers not to overuse handball and move the ball forward, Jackman moving into the ruck to start the final term.

Small forward Felix Rogers dribbled through a major from the pocket to give Claremont the first goal of every term, a kick inside 50 from Clarke finding Miller who kicked his third major to make it a 48-point margin.

F. Rogers then kicked an almost identical goal to his first and Carter added his name to the goal kickers list as Claremont took a game-high 60-point lead, the Bulldogs replying with three consecutive majors to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

Fittingly, Miller had the last say of the game when he split the middle from 45m on a tight angle after the final siren to round out a comprehensive win for the Tigers, who will face East Perth at Leederville Oval in round 14.

Meanwhile, Claremont recorded their third consecutive win in the Colts after defeating South Fremantle by 49 points, 13.14 (92) to 6.7 (43), to remain in second position on the ladder.

CLAREMONT 2.3 7.7 9.8 14.9 (93)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 1.3 2.5 3.8 6.10 (46)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 S. Miller, 3 D. Mulligan 2 R. Williams-Jolley, F. Rogers, 1 J. Carter, C. Jackman, M. Barron.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 2 O. Armstrong, E. Graham, 1 A. Fraser, Z. Jones.

BEST

CLAREMONT: F. Moloney, M. Davies, S. Miller, S. Alvarez, L. Brown.

SOUTH FREMANTLE: S. James, A. Drage, A. Fraser, R. Vidovich, E. Graham.