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Tigers Break Losing Streak

Monday, July 20, 2015 - 11:10 AM by Dan Scamozzi

Claremont (Reserves) have ended a three-game losing run after thrashing a woeful Peel Thunder by 89 points at the Show Grounds.

The 18.11 (119) to 4.6 (30) victory sees the Tigers move to sixth position on the ladder and was set up by a four-goal-to-one opening term.

Shane McAdam and Lawrence Evans both kicked three majors, while the Tigers had 10 individual goal kickers and restricted the Thunder to their second-lowest score for the season.

Jake Murphy, Harrison McCracken, Aden Wilkins, Steven Edwards and Jack Richardson all won plenty of the football, while Darcy Cameron continued his outstanding form as he took eight marks, won 54 hit outs and kicked two goals.

Declan Mountford and Bailey Rogers were handed debuts and showed that they weren’t out of place at the higher level, with Mountford impressive across half-back and Rogers solid through the midfield.

Eddie Simpson was an important focal point in the forward line and a handy back-up for Cameron in the ruck, with the second-gamer kicking two goals and winning 22 hit outs, while the Tigers’ defence stood tall all day and was led by Tom Willett and Ben Higgs.

The Thunder were best served by Corey Griggs, Corey Morris, Harrison Tyler and Brennan Gillam, while Jamahl Mulholland was their only multiple goal kicker and defender Alex Silvagni played his first game since round six after returning from a hamstring injury.

With Keegan Knott and Tom Swift called up to League ranks and replaced by Isaac Baum and Matt Goyder, acting captain Simpson kicked the opening goal of the game after marking strongly from a pass by Rogers.

A goal to Laine Wilkins saw the Thunder take a two-point lead six minutes into the contest, as Mountford was showing promising signs for the Tigers with his composure across the half-back line.

Goals to Richardson and Sam Bevan (two) saw the Tigers take a 16-point lead at the first change, with Brad Trpchev imploring his team to “control the football” and take more marks.

A free kick and goal to Gillam saw the Thunder strike first in the second term, before Rogers took an intercept mark and finished with aplomb on the run as the highly-talented Tiger gave a glimpse of what he is capable of and restored the hosts’ 16-point buffer.

Two goals to Evans and one to Manuel saw the Tigers’ lead out to 36 points at the 24-minute mark after some dominant play and costly turnovers by the visitors, with the hosts now in complete control of the game.

Further goals to McAdam and Manuel (second) saw the lead out to 49 points at the long break with a clear gulf between the sides on show and a blowout well and truly on the cards.

Mulholland gave the Thunder a quick start to the third term and trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 43 points, before Cameron marked strongly and kicked truly after some fine work by Murphy in midfield.

Murphy then went from goal provider to scorer as he kicked truly and gave the hosts a 57-point lead half way through the term, before Evans and Simpson added their third and second goals respectively to give the Tigers a whopping lead of 68 points at the final change.

With a healthy percentage boost beckoning, the Tigers began the final term in ominous fashion through goals to Bevan (third) and McAdam (second) as the lead was extended to 82 points, before Mulholland grabbed his second major to kick the Thunder’s only goals in the second half.

Third and second goals to McAdam and Cameron respectively capped off a memorable victory for the navy and gold, with the Tigers now one win outside the top five and facing a trip to HBF Arena to take on West Perth in round 18.

CLAREMONT 4.1 10.4 14.7 18.11 (118)

PEEL THUNDER 1.3 2.3 3.5 4.6 (30)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 S. MCADAM, L. EVANS, 2 S. BEVAN, E. SIMPSON, A. MANUEL, D. CAMERON, 1 B. ROGERS, C. PALMER, J. RICHARDSON, J. MURPHY

PEEL THUNDER: 2. J. MULHOLLAND, 1 B. GILLAM, L. WILKINS

BEST

CLAREMONT: D. MOUNTFORD, D. CAMERON, J. MURPHY, J. RICHARDSON, B. ROGERS

PEEL THUNDER: C. GRIGGS, C. MORRIS, B. GILLAM, J. MULHOLLAND, B. LAWLER