Dynamic Bolton Helps Tigers Sink Swans

By Dan Scamozzi

A best-on-ground performance by Jye Bolton saw Claremont record consecutive wins for the first time this season after defeating Swan Districts by 54 points at Steel Blue Oval last Saturday.

Bolton, 24, enhanced his chances of winning the Sandover Medal with 40 disposals, 10 clearances and 11 inside 50s in the 14.15 (99) to 6.9 (45) win, as he capitalised on Mitchell Andrews’ dominance (19 disposals, 38 hit outs) in the ruck.

Claremont won every quarter and led at every change, recorded 26 more inside 50s and 14 more scoring shots and recorded its sixth win for the season to replace Perth in seventh position on the ladder.

Beau Maister spearheaded Claremont’s forward line with five goals and several contested marks, as he saw off Swans’ Tony Notte and Tallan Ames to be one of 10 goal kickers for the Tigers.

Jared Hardisty (24 disposals, seven tackles, one goal), Justin Speed (26 disposals, seven tackles, one goal) and Ryan Lim (26 disposals, one goal) were all busy in Claremont’s midfield, while Tom Shanahan nullified the impact of Swans’ Matt Riggio before finishing with 29 disposals.

Anton Hamp and Haydn Busher were resolute in Claremont’s defence, while Morgan Davies impressed with 24 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s and one goal in just his second game.

Swans were best served by Laurence Grescos, who restricted Claremont’s Jack Bradshaw to two marks and one goal, while Jesse Turner held Ian Richardson goalless and Brandon Erceg blanketed Jake Waterman.

Jacob Coniglio (26 disposals, one goal) and Jacob Burnham (25 disposals, six tackles) battled manfully, however, Swans could only record 34 inside 50s as they slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat.

To compound Swans’ woes, Jake Nuich was reported for rough conduct against Claremont’s Francis Watson in the opening term, while Burnham and Riggio also had their numbers taken.

From the Claremont team who defeated Peel Thunder seven days earlier, Hamp and Speed replaced Ryan Neates (foot) and Dylan Ross (knee).

Waterman kicked the game’s opening goal after kicking five on debut seven days earlier, before Darcy Cameron converted after being awarded a free kick before the ball had returned to the centre.

That gave Claremont an early two-goal lead in what was a feisty start to the contest.

Swans then started to work their way into the game but could only register five behinds, as Claremont took a seven-point lead into quarter-time on the back of dominant efforts by Andrews and Bolton.

The Tigers then dominated the opening stages of the second term but were unable to capitalise, as Maister, Bolton and Zac Langdon all missed gettable shots at goal.

Lim broke the deadlock at the 13-minute mark to give Claremont its third goal, before Swans debutant Dylan Smith kicked truly with his first kick in League ranks to give the hosts their first major.

Claremont’s Morgan Davies then kicked his first goal in League ranks to give the Tigers a quick reply, before further majors to Maister and Alex Manuel saw Claremont take a 28-point lead at the long break on the back of six goals to one in the opening half and 23 disposals to Bolton.

A pair of goals to Maister gave Claremont a fast start to the third term and extended its lead to 40 points, before Warrick Wilson replied for Swans.

Langdon then kicked the Tigers’ ninth goal, before majors to Griifin Logue and Riggio gave Swans consecutive goals for the first time in the match.

The result was a 33-point lead to the Tigers at the final change, with Bolton now up to 35 disposals.

A fourth goal to Maister gave Claremont the opening goal in every term as it extended its lead to 42 points at the seven-minute mark of the final quarter, before Freddie Clutterbuck and Coniglio replied for Swans.

Bradshaw then kicked truly to give the Tigers a 37-point lead, before Maister kicked his fifth.

It was also Maister’s 150^th goal in what was his 124^th League match.

Hardisty then capped off a fine performance by adding his name to the goal kickers’ list, with the solid midfielder benefiting from a determined tackle by Bradshaw in Claremont’s forward line.

Speed then added further icing to Claremont’s cake after being found by Morgan Davies, as the Tigers recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds 14-16, 2015, and consigned Swans to their 15^th defeat for the season.

In further good news, Claremont captain Jake Murphy (29 disposals) featured up for the Reserves as he works his way back from a calf injury.

Claremont will look for three straight wins when it faces West Perth at HBF Arena in Round 21 on Saturday.

CLAREMONT 2.0 6.5 9.10 14.15 (99)

SWAN DISTRICTS 0.5 1.7 4.7 6.9 (45)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 B. MAISTER, 1 J. SPEED, Z. LANGDON, A. MANUEL, J. WATERMAN, MORGAN DAVIES, R. LIM, J. HARDISTY, D. CAMERON, J. BRADSHAW.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 1 W. WILSON, M. RIGGIO, G. LOGUE, J. CONIGLIO, F. CLUTTERBUCK, D. SMITH.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. BOLTON, B. MAISTER, M. ANDREWS, J. HARDISTY, T. SHANAHAN, J. SPEED.

SWAN DISTRICTS: L. GRESCOS, B. ERCEG, J. TURNER, J. CONIGLIO, J. BURNHAM, A. FAULKNER.