By Mark Thornber
Round 17, Perth v Claremont
Claremont Oval
Saturday, 18 July 2010
Perth 6.2 7.3 10.5 12.6 78
Claremont 2.5 8.8 9.12 15.16 106
Perth tried valiantly all day against the Tigers with the home side only pulling away in the last term to run out 28 point winners at Claremont Oval on Saturday.
With the ground in heavy condition Perth Captain Steven Armstrong won the toss and kicked with a slight breeze to the northern or showground’s end of Claremont Oval.
Despite missing spearhead Chad Jones the home side was bolstered with a number of quality AFL players that were certainly prominent early and scored the first goal at the 3 minute mark.
Ruckman Will Sullivan continued his good form from last week to drift forward and boot Perth’s first major at the 5 minute mark to level the scores. Perth was looking like a free running side and it wasn’t long until Joel Houghton bounced through a clever goal to give the visitors the lead.
The Phoenix Demons were taking the match right up to their more fancied opponents in what was proving to be a very physical encounter. With the run of play Aaron Elari squeezed through a goal and then a piece of sheer brilliance saw Tendai Mzungu bounce up after playing on from a free kick to kick a wonderful running goal.
When youngster Liam Smith on debut slotted a great goal on the run much to the delight of Perth fans a real upset looked on the cards as Perth opened up a lead of 21 points. When the siren sounded for quarter time Perth had kicked away to lead 6 goals 2 to 2 goals 5 after playing some excellent team football.
At the start of the second quarter the Tigers really came out firing as the likes of Byron Schammer and Tom Swift started to exert their influence around the stoppages. The Tigers answered back with a couple of successive goals through the lively Ian Richardson and Beau Wilkes.
The Phoenix Demons were certainly receiving plenty of drive from their youngsters with Reece Conca and Liam Smith showing their skills in heavy conditions. With Claremont constantly driving forward Perth’s overworked defence was trying hard through Casey Sibosado and Matthew Fergusson.
In a rare move forward Perth snapped a goal through Justin Bollenhagen and with the game now on a level pegging close to half time Perth really needed to hold the Tigers out leading up to half time. In the dying minutes though Richardson snapped truly and when Shammer kicked truly after the half time siren Claremont held a 11 point lead at half time after kicking 6 goals to 1 for the second term.
The home side again looked the better of the two teams in the early stages of the third term and despite Clay McLernon and Brett Hodge teaming together well to negate danger man Luke Blackwell it was again Schammer and Swift that were doing the damage.
The home side kicked the next 2 goals and at the half way mark had opened up a lead of 4 goals. With the signs not looking good for Perth they suddenly lifted as the momentum of the match changed. The lively Jason Brennan came off the bench and bobbed up to kick a goal and this was then followed by another to Houghton.
The real highlight of the match though was to follow. In a fiery clash on the wing the talented Bollenhagen took possession of the ball and ran forward to kick what can only be described as a sensational goal deep up against the boundary line. The goal was certainly worthy of any AFL match and carried over 60 metres and certainly didn’t suit Bollenhagen’s left foot.
More importantly though it now closed the margin to only a point as the siren sounded for three quarter time.
With the match now up for grabs early goals in the last term were always going to be crucial for either side. It was the Tigers that started to gain control with Richardson and former Docker Andrew Browne both kicking majors.
When Schammer found space and kicked his second goal for the Tigers it appeared that sadly Perth had been overrun. To their credit though the Phoenix Demons never stopped trying and through Brennan and Dene White kicked late goals to narrow the margin again.
As the final siren sound the win to the Tigers of 28 points perhaps didn’t really provide a true indication of the match and certainly the first three quarters. In the end it was probably a case of Claremont’s experience with their AFL players that proved the difference, however Perth supporters can certainly be proud of their side and especially the performance of some of the youngsters.
For Perth none played better than youngster Reece Conca, who was outstanding in just his second game. Mzungu played another great game amassing 31 quality touches. Armstrong continues to show that he is better suited to a midfield role and was influential picking up 28 possessions.
McDougall continued his run of good form and Sullivan worked hard all day picking up 27 hit outs.
Perth had two players that made their league debuts on Saturday Rowan Garlett, a 17 year old from Federals became league player number 1497 and Liam Smith, who kicked a goal in his first match was rewarded with some good form in the reserves and became player number 1499.
Next week Perth plays their traditional rivals the Royals at EFTel Oval.
Goals: Houghton 3, Brennan, Sullivan, Bollenhagen 2, Elari, White, Smith.
Best: Conca, Mzungu, Armstrong, Elari, McDougall, Sullivan.
Reserves:
Score: Claremont 15.14 104 defeated Perth 7.16 58.
Goals: Fry 3, McLeod, Venditti, Moody, Eades 1.
Best: Venditti, Blackburn, Sneeuwajt, Fiegert, McLeod, Moody.
Colts:
Score: Claremont 13.18 96 defeated Perth 9.4 58.
Goals: McInnes 3, Tunbridge, Hansen 2, Stuart, Boyle 1.
Best: Murray, Leeson, Warner, Walsh, McIness, Waldon.
