Match Report – Tigers roar over Falcons to reach prelimSunday, September 19, 2021 - 8:56 PM - by Alex Ventouras

CLAREMONT had to reach deep down to avoid what would have been a devastating straight sets finals exit to produce a 51-point second half turnaround to beat West Perth in another classic finals encounter on Sunday.

Coming last year's heartbreaking Grand Final loss to South Fremantle and then a one-point last week again to the Bulldogs in the qualifying final, Claremont had to reach deep down again knowing that bowing out in straight sets would make this 2021 season quite the disappointment.

However, West Perth was never going to make that easy having won 12 of their last 15 games to book in a place in Sunday's first semi-final at a jam packed Revo Fitness Stadium.

West Perth had a good history recently against Claremont in finals too and had won 10 of the last 14 overall against the Tigers, and it looked to be another Falcons triumph when the visitors picked up all the momentum during the third quarter.

A remarkabke goal to former Tiger Keegan Knott followed up by two majors to Tyler Keitel saw West Perth open up a 27-point advantage and they appeared heading to another preliminary final.

The Tigers had to turn that momentum around and they did start to do that during the third term to get back to within just six points by three quarter-time.

It was remained tense and tight for much of the final term until Jye Bolton broke the game open with a stunning bomb from way outside 50. 

Alex Manuel did the same soon after and by the time Bailey Rogers ran into an open goal and Callan England kicked one from mid-air, it was celebration time for the Tigers as they won 14.8 (92) to 10.8 (68) in front of 4768 fans.

The result means Claremont resumes hostilities with South Fremantle in next Sunday's preliminary final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval with a spot in the Grand Final against Subiaco on the line. West Perth's brave season is over.

Claremont had plenty of players deliver massive final 45 minutes to the game but one four-quarter contributor was Callan England who finished with four goals from 20 possessions, eight inside 50s and seven marks.

By the end of the game, Jye Bolton was influential on the result with 28 touches and two goals with co-captain Declan Mountford finishing with 27 possessions, Lachlan Martinis 27, Ryan Liam 25 and Ben Edwards 24.

Bailey Rogers again was dangerous in attack with another 22 touches and two goals while down back, Anton Hamp returned strongly with 17 touches and eight marks while Jason Carter had 18 disposals and five tackles.

You couldn’t fault West Perth's Shane Nelson (28 possessions, seven inside 50s) as he fought bravely all game and captain Aaron Black battled a hard tag to finish with 21 disposals before crawling off with a knee injury in the fourth quarter.

Trent Manzone also had 20 disposals, Blake Wilhelm 19, Conal Lynch 18 and Mitch Peirce 18 to go with 10 tackles while Ben Delaporte was the best ruckman on the ground with 17 possessions and 20 hit outs.

Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott kicked three goals each, and Rudy Riddoch two.

West Perth look to blow the game apart at one stage in the third quarter, kicking four consecutive goals to push the margin out to 27-points mid-way through the term.

However, three goals in the final five minutes from a Tigers side beaming with momentum brought the margin back to six points heading into a mouth-watering final quarter.

The first five minutes showed why they call it a game of inches as a kick from Max Spyvee was marked just before the goal line as was a ball landing just out of bounds on the full from Scott Nelson, which saw an inside 50 that resulted in a Ryan Lim goal, levelling the scores. 

The Tigers midfield stars were proving the be too quick for the inside bull midfielders of the Falcons as Edwards, Bolton and Mountford were running rampant in this final term.

But against all the momentum the dangerous Keegan Knott put the Falcons back in front with a good set shot goal on his old home ground. 

In a major blow for the Falcons, captain Aaron Black crawled from the ground with an injured knee. He tried to come back on but could barely run and was forced to sit out the rest of the match. 

Bernie Naylor Medallist Tyler Keitel didn’t make the distance from 40m when attempting to put West Perth back in front only for the Tigers to rebound with a Bailey Rogers goal, giving the Tigers a seven-point lead.

The game was crying out for a hero and with one Sandover Medallist Black being done for the day, Jye Bolton entered the frame as he slotted a freak set goal from 60m out to give the Tigers a two-goal lead.

The final nail in the coffin came seconds later as dangerous forward Alex Manuel kicked his second goal for the term from a similar distance to Bolton. 

TIGERS STORM HOME

West Perth appeared on track to run away with the game after piling on four quick goals in 10 minutes at the start of the third term to lead by 27 points. But Claremont kicked nine of the last 10 goals which was catapulted by three late goals in the third term to bring the margin from 27 to six points at the three quarter-time. Nine disposals to co-captain Declan Mountford and eight to Jye Bolton in the final quarter led the Tigers steam train home, which they’d be hoping continues next week against the Bulldogs.

SANDOVER MEDALLISTS FACE OFF

The 2012 Sandover Medallist Kane Mitchell went to the 2014 winner and West Perth captain Aaron Black from the opening bounce, not giving him an inch for the entire first half. It was clear Mitchell was going after Black off the ball, but this didn’t make too much of an impact on his influence as he gathered 14 disposals and a goal. Mitchell finished the first half with five free kicks against, but he was able to be influential in the Tigers' storming run home as he chases that third premiership of his career.

CLASSIC QUARTER OF A CLASSIC MATCH

Despite the final margin beefing up to 24 points, this was a neck and neck semi-final minus the Falcons purple patch in the third term. Five goals to four in Claremont’s favour in the third term got the crowd on their feet which was highlighted by what would’ve surely been a Goal of the Year finalist from Keegan Knott nailing a banana from deep in the pocket, almost in the Claremont apartments.

COLTS

East Fremantle's colts charge continued to gather steam on Saturday with a 7.11 (53) to 5.6 (36) first semi-final win against East Perth at Leederville Oval.

That sees the Sharks enter the preliminary final against Swan Districts next Sunday while the Royals see their season come to an end in straight sets.

Jack Williams kicked two goals for East Fremantle from 17 possessions and nine marks.

Josh Browne was brilliant as well with 30 disposals for the Sharks while Corey Warner had it 21 times, Sam Emery 20, Taj Woewodin 19 and Jed Hagan 18.

James Chadwick kicked two goals for East Perth with Kalani Brooks finishing with 25 possessions, James Tunstill 23, Luke Lombardi 22, Jayden Peak 19 and Jedd Busslinger 19.

RESERVES

The reserves first semi-final took place at Leederville Oval on Saturday with Subiaco beating Swan Districts 11.11 (77) to 8.5 (53). That sees the Lions set up a preliminary final match with Claremont for the right to take on Perth in the Grand Final.

Jordan Faraone and Jake Stergiou kicked two goals each for the Lions with Matthew Johnson picking up 27 disposals, Corey Robinson 23, Jack Beverley 19, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 16 and Lewit Putt 15 to go with 20 hit outs and a goal.

Tom Edwards kicked three goals for Swan Districts and Nathan Ireland two while Mitchell Bain gathered 21 possessions, Tarir Bayok 20, Jak Watson 20 and Jamison Ugle 20.
 

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – FINALS SERIES
FIRST SEMI-FINAL

CLAREMONT            2.2    3.6    8.7    14.8 (92)
WEST PERTH            3.3    5.5    9.7    10.8 (68)

CLAREMONT: Goals – England 4; Rogers, Bolton, Manuel 2; Lim, Edwards, Buller, Barton.
Best – England, Bolton, Edwards, Rogers, Mountford, Lim, Martinis, Hamp.
WEST PERTH: Goals – Knott, Keitel 3; Riddoch 2; Black, Antonio.
Best – Sh Nelson, Wilhelm, Peirce, Delaporte, Riddoch, Black, Manzone.