Glorious Tigers set record

By Ken Casellas

Oh, what a glorious afternoon! The Claremont league side gladdened the hearts of Tigers supporters with an exhilarating exhibition of committed team football to beat East Fremantle by 39 points at East Fremantle Oval on a warm, sunny Saturday.

In a celebration of the much-loved Mitch Andrews’ 100^TH senior match in WA, it was an absolute delight to watch youngsters Jared Hardisty and Darcy Cameron setting the side alight with their sheer determination and brilliance.

It was Andrews in the ruck and Hardisty’s ferocious attack on the ball and the thrilling aerial skills of Cameron that set the Claremont flame ablaze.

Captain Jake Murphy led the side superbly with a typically vigorous and courageous exhibition in the midfield, while 20-year-old debutant Harry McCracken fitted seamlessly into the side with a strong performance deep in defence where he used his great pace to break the lines and set up attacks.

And the Tigers faithful also marvelled at the great versatility of veteran Beau Maister, who was switched from attack to take over at full-back early in the third quarter after a knee injury forced the wonderfully dependable and coolly efficient Brandon Franz out of the contest.

Capping the grand effort by Claremont in toppling the heavily fancied Sharks was the record performance of accuracy. The Tigers finished with a remarkable scoreline of 19.2.

This was, by far, the most accurate display by a Claremont league side in the club’s 91-year history of 1894 league matches. It was also the best goal percentage in WAFL history, beating Subiaco’s score of 17.2 in a losing encounter with Perth (21.22) in a round-17 contest at Subiaco Oval on August 8, 1970.

Claremont’s goal percentage against East Fremantle last Saturday was an amazing 90.48; Subiaco’s percentage against Perth in 1970 was 89.47.

The fans sat enthralled as Claremont dictated the terms from the outset and kicked at goal with unerring accuracy. At half-time Claremont had booted ten goals straight and held a 25-point lead. This was the first time that the Tigers had scored ten goals without a behind since the match against Perth at Claremont Oval on June 22, 1929.

In that match Claremont-Cottesloe (as the club was then known) added ten goals without a point, going from 5.2 late in the first quarter to 15.2 midway through the third term. The ten goals straight set a WAFL record. The Tigers won, 19.9 to 12.13.

Before the 19.2 tally against the Sharks, Claremont’s best records of accurate shooting were: 16.3 against East Perth at Leederville Oval in August 2005, 17.4 against East Perth at Claremont Oval in May 2010, 35.8 against Perth at Claremont Oval in August 1979, 24.5 against Perth at Lathlain Park in May 1994, 20.5 in a losing cause against East Perth at Perth Oval in May 1938 (after having scored 16.2 at three-quarter time), 10.2 in a losing cause against Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval in August 2001, 13.3 in a losing cause against West Perth at Leederville Oval in May 1975. The Tigers also have had scores of 15.4, 14.4 and 13.4 (twice).

Claremont were on fire right from the opening bounce against East Fremantle, with Andrews gaining the knock at the opening bounce. Winger Tom Ledger gained possession and a good passage of play involving Andrews and Jye Bolton resulted in Jack Beeck driving the ball forward where Cameron soared to bring down the first of his ten marks for the afternoon before he set the pattern for goalfront accuracy.

Hugo Breakey had to be assisted from the field after a heavy clash, but the Tigers maintained their dominance. Bolton got the second goal after some excellent work from Andrews, Ryan Neates, Ryan Lim, Cameron, Murphy and Oliver Tate. A minute later it was Hardisty to Keifer Yu to Bolton, whose kick was marked by a high-flying Maister for his first major.

Claremont’s fourth goal was a snap from Tate after Murphy and Jack Richardson combined to send the ball forward. Not to be denied, East Fremantle posted goals from Brett Peake and George Hampson.

Breakey returned to action after a brief recovery period and he immediately was under notice with a great smother off the boot to foil Hampson’s attempt at a shot at goal. Soon after that Breakey further illustrated his great value to the side by applying a fierce tackle on East Fremantle’s Cameron Eardley.

The Sharks got to within four points of the Tigers, courtesy of another Hampson major. Hardisty gained the clearance from the resultant centre bounce and he delivered to Jack Richardson, whose kick was marked by Cameron for Claremont’s fifth goal.

Soon afterwards Cameron bobbed up at half-back, taking a mark and getting g the ball on to Yu. Jack Bradshaw and Lim then paved the way for Murphy to deliver the ball to the goalsquare where Maister took a mark and booted his second.

A goal to Dion Anthony 30 seconds into the second term enabled the Sharks to reduce the deficit to eight points. The Tigers replied with the next two goals --- the first to Ian Richardson (after receiving from Franz) and the second after Tate had driven the ball forward where Jack Richardson cleverly sidestepped an opponent and snapped truly from close range.

Perham then got his second before Claremont scored the final two goals of the first half. A free-kick and a 50m penalty saw Murphy boot the ball deep into attack where Jack Richardson took an excellent high mark before kicking his second goal.

A couple of minutes later Matt Davies, Ian Richardson, Jack Richardson and Tate worked hard to get the ball forward where Maister’s rushed kick saw Bradshaw hold a strong mark in a pack before booting Claremont’s tenth straight goal.

Then it was Bradshaw who had the task early in the third term of kicking his side’s eleventh straight goal. After some good work from Andrews and Tate Bradshaw held a diving mark before his shot at goal was directly on target. But it was touched on the line to register a behind.

Hardisty scored the next goal after taking a diving mark in the right pocket. Four minutes later the action was again in the right pocket where Zac Langdon received a high tackle and was awarded a free-kick which he converted into Claremont’s 12^th goal. Six minutes elapsed before Claremont’s next goal, also from the right pocket where Bailey Rogers marked a pass from Lim.

Pictured: Jared Hardisty taking a kick during Saturday's game.

Meanwhile the Sharks scored four goals for the quarter which was 25 minutes old when Cameron marked a Murphy kick and took a shot dead in front. But his kick slewed slightly to the right to register a behind.

Claremont’s remarkable accuracy continued with six goals straight in the final quarter. Langdon scrambled the first of these from close range and then Yu made the most of a good passage of play involving Ledger, Lim and Beeck.

Bolton marked an East Fremantle clearing kick 50m out before the fans were ecstatic as they watched the ball sail through for yet another major. Jack Richardson scored the next two goals to boost his tally to four.

In the dying moments of the contest Langdon drove the ball forward before being interfered with. A free-kick was awarded where the ball landed. Tate was the recipient. The siren sounded and Tate then calmly slotted home his side’s 19^th goal.

It was a comprehensive victory by the Tigers, who revealed the desperation, determination and fierce attack on the ball which is required for succeed at league level. The good news is that Claremont’s performance was not perfect and there is certainly room for improvement. There were quite a few turnovers and some of the tackling was not as strong and efficient as the coaching panel would like.

However, it was a grand victory which showed that the Tigers have the ability and desire to beat any team in the competition.        

Details:

Claremont 19.2 (116) beat East Fremantle 11.11 (77)

Scorers

CLAREMONT: J. Richardson 4.0; D. Cameron 2.1; J. Bolton, Z. Langdon, B. Maister, O. Tate 2.0; J. Bradshaw 1.1; J. Hardisty, I. Richardson, B. Rogers, K. Yu 1.0.

EAST FREMANTLE: G. Hampson 4.1; B. Peake 2.1; J. Perham 2.0; B. O’Brien 1.2; D. Anthony 1.0; J. Bristow, T. Bristow, J. McNamara 0.1; 2pts forced.

Best

CLAREMONT: J. Murphy, J. Hardisty, J. Bolton, T. Ledger, M. Andrews, D. Cameron, B. Maister, J. Richardson, R. Neates, O. Tate.

EAST FREMANTLE: J. Crichton, L. Anthony, G. Hampson, C. Eardley, D. Anthony, R. Lester-Smith, T. Bristow, J. McNamara.