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Round 12 Match Report – East Perth v ClaremontTuesday, June 26, 2018 - 1:45 PM - by Chris Pike
CLAREMONT moved to within a whisker of breaking into the WAFL's top five beating East Perth by 32 points at Leederville Oval on Saturday.
East Perth and Claremont came into the contest at Leederville Oval with plenty on the line for both clubs, but it was the Tigers who were on top from the outset and were never really headed.
Claremont had opened a 33-point advantage just before half-time and while East Perth had got back within nine points by early in the third term, the Tigers pulled away from there.
Claremont went on to kick seven of the game's last 10 goals to come away with the 14.11 (95) to 9.9 (63) victory.
It was a dominant display not just on the scoreboard by Claremont, but the Tigers also had 123 more possessions than the Royals, took 66 more marks, had seven more inside-50 entries and then 25 scoring shots to 18.
The win is the fourth of the season for the Tigers and they now sit just two percentage points behind the fifth placed Royals even though Claremont has played one more game.
But East Perth has now lost five straight games since the State game break. After losing to Subiaco in Round 1, the Royals won four straight heading into the break but they've struggled since despite still just clinging to fifth position.
Claremont had a whole host of standout performers on the afternoon with none better than Bailey Rogers coming off the half-back flank. He delivered the best performance of his 39-game career with 35 possessions and 16 marks.
Jye Bolton continued his brilliant form too with the dual Simpson Medallist and 2016 Sandover Medal winner the best midfielder in the contest with 35 disposals, nine inside 50s and five marks.
Tom Curren also racked up another 29 disposals for Claremont to continue his good form while Kane Mitchell finished with 26 touches, Lachlan Martinis 25, Ryan Lim 24 and Jared Hardisty 22 along with eight tackles.
Anton Hamp was tremendous again as a key defender with 20 disposals and seven marks while Haydn Busher enjoyed his 100th WAFL match with 19 possessions, eight tackles, seven marks and a goal.
Captain Ian Richardson kicked four goals for the Tigers from 15 touches, six marks and four tackles in his 201st WAFL appearance while Tom Lee kicked three goals too from 11 kicks and eight marks.
It was a tough afternoon once again for East Perth who just didn’t have enough players standing up willing to make a stand or a four-quarter contribution.
Half the East Perth team had 11 or fewer disposals for the game including the likes of Mitch Fraser, Will Maginness, Daniel Venables, Matthew Allen, Sharrod Wellingham and Oscar Allen who they would expect plenty more from.
Brayden Ainsworth did put together a strong performance with three goals from 22 possessions, six marks and six tackles for East Perth.
Luke Partington also gathered 27 disposals for the Royals, Dom Sheed 25, Stan Wright 24, Francis Watson 18 and Brendon Ah Chee 18 to go with six marks, five inside 50s and four tackles.
East Perth did at least start well with the first goal of the game courtesy of Brayden Ainsworth but Claremont had the answers with goals to Tom Lee and Ian Richardson.
The Royals did get one back through Will Maginness but the Tigers once more responded thanks to Ryan Lim and that saw them lead by nine points at quarter-time.
Claremont then pulled further away with goals to Jared Hardisty, Lee, Richardson and Keifer Yu in the opening 18 minutes of the second quarter to open a 33-point advantage before a couple of quick East Perth goals to Jack Petruccelle and Ainsworth just before half-time.
The Royals then started the second half strongly too with goals to Luke Partington and Matt Allen so had kicked four consecutive goals to be within nine points by the eight-minute mark of the third term.
Claremont had the answers, though, with goals to Lee, Eddie Simpson and Richardson. Richardson and Tom Curren then added another just before three quarter-time as the Tigers held a match-winning 37-point advantage.
Haydn Busher then celebrated his 100th WAFL game with the first goal of the last quarter and Claremont went on to cruise to the 32-point win to be just percentage outside the top five as a result.
East Perth's reserves did have a big win earlier in the day at Leederville Oval, beating Claremont 17.19 (121) to 9.4 (58).
It was a dominant display by the Royals who finished with 103 more disposals than the Tigers, 30 extra marks, 15 more entries inside the forward 50 and then 36 scoring shots to 13.
Nathan Eaton kicked four goals for East Perth, Aaron Redhead three, Ryan Burrows three and Shayne Hille two to go with 23 possessions and seven tackles.
Mitch Dobson collected 33 possessions for the Royals, Ben Miller 25, Matt Young 22, Hamish Brayshaw 22, Nelson Waite 21, Will Young 18 and Tarir Bayok 18.
Bailey Bennett and James Egan kicked two goals apiece for Claremont.
Tom Ledger gathered 30 disposals for the Tigers, Jacob Sideris 20 and Lewis Davis 18 to go with 10 marks.
East Perth now tries to end its five-game losing streak against the team it began against, South Fremantle, this Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.
Claremont heads to Geraldton this Saturday to play East Fremantle and a win has the chance to take them inside the top five.
EAST PERTH 2.1 4.3 6.6 9.9 (63)
CLAREMONT 3.4 7.6 12.7 14.11 (95)
EAST PERTH – Goals: Ainsworth 3; McGinnity, Maginness, Partington, M Allen, Petruccelle, England.
Best: Ainsworth, Partington, Wright, Watson, Ah Chee, McGinnity, Sheed.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Richardson 4; Lee 3; Yu, Lim, Curren, J Hardisty, Busher, Law, Simpson.
Best: Rogers, Bolton, Richardson, Hamp, Mitchell, Curren, Busher, J Hardisty.
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