BY DAN SCAMOZZI

A scintillating first half set up Claremont Reserves’ 56-point mauling of East Perth in glorious conditions in round five at Revo Fitness Stadium. 

Terrific ball movement and good decision-making saw Claremont kick 11 first-half goals and take an unassailable 58-point lead at the main break, and despite the second half never reaching any great heights, the Tigers prevailed 16.12 (108) to 8.4 (52) to record their fourth win of the season and sit one win clear atop the ladder.

Powerful midfielder Oliver Sheldrick (game-high 26 disposals, equal game-high seven tackles, equal game-high five inside 50s) won best player and the players’ player award for his robust and dominant performance, while creative forward Charlie Malone kicked an equal game-high four goals during the first-half blitz.

Half-back flanker Alex Pearce (25 disposals, game-high 10 marks) gave Claremont strong rebound from defence, while full-forward Coen Jackman (equal game-high four goals) gave the team a focal point inside 50.

Ruckman George Graham (one goal) and energetic forward Lewis Daisley (three goals) were other strong performers as the Tigers recorded their third consecutive win.

With lively forward Zac Mainwaring captaining the Tigers and the hosts kicking to the northern end of the ground in the first term, Malone kicked the opening goal in a sign of things to come, a crumbing Jake Willson then doubling Claremont’s lead after capping off a positive team transition from defence.

Jackman laid a smother at half-forward in a sign of the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, Jack Beeck delivering a spearing kick inside 50 which was converted by forward Isaac Barton.

A squaring pass to full-forward from Willson was converted by Malone for his second goal before the latter kicked his third after punishing East Perth for giving away a 50m penalty.

Lewis Henry kicked the visitors’ first goal just before quarter-time to trim Claremont’s lead to 26 points at the first break, with coach Darren Harper praising the Tigers’ good start and decision-making.

Jackman kicked his first goal early in the second term after winning a holding-the-ball free kick inside 50, Malone then replicating the feat as he kicked his fourth to extend the lead to 38 points.

Tom Albertsen briefly halted the Tigers’ momentum when he kicked East Perth’s second goal, however, goals to Jackman and midfielder Bailey Bennett (equal game-high five inside 50s) gave Claremont a 46-point lead.

Talon Delacey then won a centre clearance and sent the ball inside 50 where Daisley turned sharply and finished with aplomb, Mainwaring converting a kick inside 50 from Bennett to give the Tigers their 58-point lead at half-time.

East Perth forward Mitchell Schofield kicked the first of his equal game-high four goals in the third term, Jackman and Daisley replying with their third and second majors respectively to give the Tigers a game-high 63-point lead.

Three consecutive goals, including two more to Schofield, from East Perth trimmed the margin to 47 points before a high-flying Daisley marked and converted a spearing kick inside 50 from defender Anthony Davis to give the Tigers a 53-point lead at the final break.

Harper urged the Tigers to get back to the footy they played in the first half, however, East Perth kicked the opening two goals of the final term.

Goals to Jackman (fourth) and Graham then capped off an even team performance as the Tigers recorded their highest score of the season.

Meanwhile, Claremont Colts suffered a 20-point defeat against East Perth, 10.8 (68) to 7.6 (48).

Claremont face Peel Thunder at Lane Group Stadium in round six.

CLAREMONT 5.3 11.6 14.8 16.12 (108)

EAST PERTH 1.1 2.2 6.3 8.4 (52)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 C. Malone, C. Jackman, 3 L. Daisley, 1 B. Bennett, I. Barton, J. Willson, Z. Mainwaring, G. Graham.

EAST PERTH: 4 M. Schofield, 1 C. Allsop, T. Wallis, L. Henry, T. Albertsen.

BEST

CLAREMONT: O. Sheldrick, C. Malone, A. Pearce, C. Jackman, G. Graham.

EAST PERTH: M. Schofield, J. Edwards, T. Albertsen, J. Symington.