In what was beautiful conditions at Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont stormed home in an Anzac Day triumph, the WAFL Eagles outclassed in the second half to ultimately fall in the 10.12 (72) to 19.10 (124) defeat.
The good-news story of the day was the return of versatile defender Callum Jamieson, the 24-year-old Eagle having missed the past 10 months of football with a knee and ankle injury.
While West Coast youngsters Clay Hall (25 disposals, three marks), Tom Gross (22 and four), and Harvey Johnston (20 and eight) were impressive throughout the game, the Eagles were unable to come up with the answers to Claremont’s dominant second half.
The visitors burst out of the blocks with a strong start, the young team displaying quick, clean football and consistently delivering the ball inside their forward 50.
Claremont forward Zac Mainwaring was first on the scoreboard, kicking his first of three majors for the day, before Jobe Shanahan opened the Eagles’ account in a quick response.
West Coast enjoyed plenty of the football, moving it with purpose and capitalising on their opportunities, taking a six-point lead into the quarter-time break.
The Eagles opened their second term with intent, with a brilliant piece of link-up play from Malakai Champion and Jack Petruccelle a highlight for the quarter, adding further scoreboard pressure.
Claremont levelled up to produced three unanswered goals, Jye Bolton showing his elite talent before Talon Delacey booted two of his three majors.
The Eagles hit back late in the second quarter, Caleb Datson slotting a vital goal to bring the margin back to within two points heading into the main break.
It was a case of DeJa’Vu for West Coast, holding tight at the half before the third term proved incredibly costly, Claremont kicking away in a dominant display, managing six goals to the Eagles’ two for the quarter, with last round’s loss to Perth unfolding in a similar fashion.
A late goal from Petruccelle offered little relief from the Tigers’ onslaught, with the Eagles staring down a 30-point deficit heading into the fourth.
West Coast started the final quarter with a much-needed goal through Shanahan, but any hopes of a comeback quickly faded, Claremont remaining relentless and piling on the scoreboard digits, with the margin blowing out to 52 points by the final siren.
Bolton was a driving force for Claremont, starring with 34 disposals, six marks, five tackles and goal, while Bailey Rogers impressed with 30 touches and eight inside 50s, and Jaiden Hunter was dominate with a game-high five goals.
The Eagles take on top-of-the-table South Fremantle next Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, bouncedown at 1:40pm, with the game streamed live on 7+.
CLAREMONT 3.1 7.5 13.10 19.10 (124)
WEST COAST 3.7 6.9 8.10 10.12 (72)
Goals
Claremont: Hunter 5; Delacey, Mainwaring 3; Rogers 2; Bolton, Musika, England, Smallwood, Gowdie, Alvarez. West Coast: Petruccelle, Shanahan, Livingstone 2; Gross, Mercer, Hall, Datsun
Best
Claremont: Bolton, Delacey, England, Rogers, Eastland, Hunter. West Coast: Gross, Hall, Johnston, Bazzo, Shanahan, Champion.
