Match Report – Tigers regain confidence at expense of EaglesSunday, August 29, 2021 - 10:10 AM - by Alex Ventouras

CLAREMONT regained some important confident and lifted its percentage to give themselves a crack at a home qualifying final or at least strengthen its hold on a top three finish with a 96-point hammering of the West Coast Eagles.

The Tigers were back in action on home soil at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday having slipped to fourth position on the WAFL ladder having lost two of their last three matches, and only just having overcome Perth in their last hit out.

Not only did Claremont need to win to avoid being stuck in fourth, or even fifth, spot going into the finals without a double chance, but the Tigers also needed to regain their confidence from earlier in the season.

Claremont opened up 2021 on fire winning eight of the first nine matches, but coming into Saturday against the Eagles the Tigers had won just three of the last seven and needing to regain some of that form and confidence.

Saturday turned out just the occasion for Claremont to showcase what they are capable of delivering a dominant performance that was set up with eight goals to nil against West Coast in the opening quarter.

By the end of the afternoon the Tigers were dominant on the way to the 19.15 (129) to 4.9 (33) victory that saw them return to third position ahead of West Perth and remain a chance of snatching second and a home qualifying final with a win over Swan Districts next Saturday.

There were star performers everywhere on the afternoon for Claremont and it started in the middle with Bailey Rogers unstoppable with 36 possessions, 16 marks and three goals. Jye Bolton also had 41 disposals, nine marks and a goal.

Ryan Lim finished with 29 disposals, Jack Lewsey 28, Declan Mountford 28, Callan England 25 and co-captain Jared Hardisty 21 to go with 10 tackles and a goal.

Then up forward, Isaac Barton kicked a career-best five goals from 11 kicks and nine marks while Alex Manuel kicked four majors, Jack Buller three and Timm House.

It was a rough afternoon for West Coast but Brayden Ainsworth still racked up 33 possessions, Hamish Brayshaw 28, Ben Johnson 24, Xavier O'Neill 23 and Lennon Marlin 18.

The Tigers asserted their dominance from the opening bounce reflected by the eight goal to zero first term. Star midfielder Bailey Rogers was superb with 10 disposals and goal before the first break as Claremont’s midfield bullied the Eagles' smaller bodies. 

The Eagles managed to close the floodgates in the second holding Claremont to just the one goal, however the Tigers inaccuracy played a crucial role in this kicking six points for the quarter. 

West Coast started the second half strongly with an impressive goal from the boundary by former Claremont reserves player Cooper Nitschke.

But Claremont steadied the ship, getting the game back on their term thanks strong contested work at the stoppages kicking the next five goals of the quarter before Zane Sumich booted a late goal coming from strong mark on the eve of three quarter-time. 

ROGERS CAN HURT YOU ANYWHERE
It seems a lifetime ago that Bailey Rogers was once a reliable, no-nonsense attacking defender for Tigers. He’s now one of the league’s best midfielders and in recent weeks has added another string to his bow, kicking goals from his role in the middle. The 24-year-old’s impact all over the ground makes him one of the most dangerous players coming into finals as he was a clear best on ground playing midfield and getting forward. He finished with t36 possessions, 16 marks and three goals.

EAGLES' FIRST QUARTER WOES CONTINUE 
Much like their AFL affiliated side in recent weeks the Eagles coughed up a significant score in the first quarter with Claremont kicking 8.5 (53) to West Coast’s 0.4 (4) all but ending the game at quarter-time. West Coast were on the back foot for the rest of the game, however, did manage to slow the scoring at times. But another effort like this against reigning premiers South Fremantle next week will almost certainly see West Coast lock in the wooden spoon.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 21

CLAREMONT            8.5    9.11    14.14    19.15 (129)
WEST COAST EAGLES        0.4    1.6    3.8    4.9 (33)

CLAREMONT: Goals – Barton 5; Manuel 4; Rogers, Buller 3; House 2;. Bolton, J Hardisty.
Best – Rogers, Bolton, Barton, Lim, Buller, Mountford, Manuel, J Hardisty.
WEST COAST EAGLES: Goals – Johnson, Hug, Nitschke, Sumich.
Best – Ainsworth, Johnson, Brayshaw, O'Neill, Marlin.