Tigers end drought in style

CLAREMONT 7.2 10.6 14.7 20.10 (130)

SWAN DISTRICTS 3.1 3.1 5.7 7.8 (50)

Claremont recorded its first win since Round 5, its and the third-highest score for the season and snapped a five-game losing streak with an 80-point demolition of Swan Districts at the Showgrounds last Sunday.

A seven-goal-to-three opening quarter set up Claremont’s 20.10 (130) to 7.8 (50) win, with the Tigers holding Swans scoreless in the second term and possessing a number of winners across the field.

Claremont also recorded 38 more inside 50s and 15 more scoring shots.

The result leaves the Tigers three wins outside the top five, although a healthy percentage boost sees the team enter its double bye on the back of a morale-boosting performance.

Jye Bolton was best on ground with 37 disposals, 14 marks and four goals, and was well supported by Ryan Neates (32 disposals, two goals) and Ryan Lim (25 disposals) in midfield.

Jack Bradshaw kicked five goals and took a contender for mark of the year, while Jack Richardson made Swans’ defender Justin Simpson accountable, kicked three goals and had a hand in several others.

Bailey Rogers ensured that Swans’ Matt Rogers had no impact on the game, while Tom Shanahan had the better of his duel against the in-form Matt Riggio and Justin Speed won 19 disposals and laid nine tackles on debut.

Meanwhile, Darcy Cameron (eight marks, two goals) and Beau Maister (20 disposals, 11 marks and one goal) worked hard in Claremont’s forward line and provided a constant headache for Swans’ defence.

Swans were best served by midfielder Adam Faulkner (24 disposals, two goals) and defender Alex Howard (20 disposals, seven marks), but lacked winners and a focal point in their forward line as they slumped to their sixth consecutive loss.

Harrison McCracken, Speed, Francis Watson and Zac Langdon all came into the Claremont team who lost to East Fremantle eight days earlier, with Jake Murphy (quad) Jared Hardisty, John Williams and Matthew Palfrey all making way for the quartet.

With Neates captaining the Tigers, Cameron being opposed by Swans’ Nelson Ansey and Brandon Franz guarding Swans’ Ricky Cary, the hosts kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term.

An early goal to Tony Notte gave Swans first blood and a six-point lead, before J. Richardson replied for Claremont after a quick kick and clearance by Bolton.

Faulkner kicked Swans’ second and restored the visitors’ six-point buffer, before Cameron grabbed a reply for Claremont as both sides traded early goals.

Goals to Bolton and Bradshaw then gave Claremont the next two and a 12-point lead, before Cary replied for Swans.

Second goals to Bradshaw and J. Richardson gave Claremont the momentum once more, before a late goal to Neates saw the Tigers take a 25-point lead into quarter-time on the back of their highest-scoring quarter for the season.

A courageous mark by Tom Ledger - running back with the flight of the ball - reaffirmed the Tigers’ appetite for the contest early in the second term, before Langdon kicked the team’s eighth major and extended the lead to 31 points.

A third goal to Bradshaw soon followed, before an inspirational tackle by the returning Watson gave the Tiger faithful a timely reminder of what the mercurial defender is capable of when free of injury.

A booming goal to Keifer Yu gave the Tigers three for the term and a 47-point lead at half-time, with the hosts producing a sensational half of football that had been well overdue.

A second goal to Cameron following a long kick by Jack Beeck saw Claremont continue on their merry way in the second half, before Lindsay Murray grabbed Swans’ first score since the 21-minute mark of the opening term when he added a behind for the visitors.

Rudy Riddoch provided some welcome relief for Swans when he kicked their fourth major just moments later to briefly halt Claremont’s momentum.

Although, third and second goals respectively to J. Richardson and Bolton either side of a second to Faulkner gave Claremont a 49-point lead, before Bradshaw had fans out of their seats with a high-flying grab to remember.

Despite an early leap, the small forward got the perfect ride on the back of Simpson to successfully take a chest mark in what’s sure to be one of the best marks in 2016, before calmly going back and slotting his fourth and Claremont’s 14^th goal.

The result was a 54-point lead to Claremont at the final change, with the Tigers threatening to completely blow Swans out of the water.

An early goal in the final term to Swans’ Tom Smirk briefly put that notion on hold, before the dominant Bolton and Neates registered their third and second majors respectively to restore parity for the Tigers.

Further goals to Maister and McCracken saw Claremont’s lead blow out to 72 points, before Murray replied for Swans.

However, in what seemed an appropriate finish to the game, Bradshaw and Bolton added their fifth and fourth majors respectively to cap off a memorable day for Claremont as the Tigers recorded their third win for the season.

The Tigers will now cool their heels for two weeks before hosting West Perth at the Showgrounds in Round 13 on June 18.

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 J. BRADSHAW, 4 J. BOLTON, 3 J. RICHARDSON, 2 D. CAMERON, R. NEATES, 1 H. MCCRACKEN, K. YU, Z. LANGDON, B. MAISTER.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 2 A. FAULKNER, 1 R. RIDDOCH, R. CARY, L. MURRAY, T. SMIRK, T. NOTTE.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. BOLTON, R. NEATES, J. BRADSHAW, R. LIM, J. RICHARDSON, M. ANDREWS, T. SHANAHAN, B. MAISTER.

SWAN DISTRICTS: A. FAULKNER, A. HOWARD, F. CLUTTERBUCK, R. CARY.