WAFL: Claremont Tigers back on the winners’ list as Jaiden Hunter kicks five in victory over West Coast Eagles

Claremont are back on the winners’ list after another stellar performance by star recruit Jaiden Hunter in the 52-point victory over West Coast on ANZAC Day. The former Essendon forward kicked a game-high five goals, including four in a brilliant third quarter, to set the hosts up in the 19.10 (124) to 10.12 (72) win at Revo Fitness Stadium on Friday. The Tigers’ trio of Sandover Medallists in Bailey Rogers (30 disposals, two goals), Jye Bolton (34 touches, one goal) and Callan England (23 disposals, one goal) were prolific out of the middle while opposing big men Bailey Williams and Ollie Eastland had an enthralling ruck battle. Claremont got off to a hot start with three of the first four goals, despite coming up against a strong Eagles side boasting 16 AFL-listed players. First-year Eagles forward Jobe Shanahan was impressive early, out-muscling his opponent to stroll in for the visitors’ first from the goal square. Fresh from being dropped from the AFL side, young midfielder Tom Gross was prolific with eight touches and a goal from 50 metres out in the opening term, while Bo Allan had a busy first quarter off the half back line. But West Coast were left to rue early inaccuracy in front of goal, kicking 3.7 to Claremont’s 3.1 to hold just a six-point lead at the first break. After a scrappy start to the second term, Delacey put the Tigers back in front before the Eagles responded with back-to-back majors. The resistance was short-lived as Claremont kicked three unanswered goals to turn an 11-point deficit into a one-goal lead, as Hunter kicked his first of the afternoon. As the Tigers missed chances of their own, Eagle Caleb Datson nailed his opportunity to cut the margin back to two points at half time. A mammoth third term by Hunter, who kicked an incredible four majors from six touches and five marks in the quarter, set up the victory as the home side extended their lead with six goals to two. Claremont repeated that in the last to stretch the margin out to a game-high 52 points as the final siren sounded. SCOREBOARD CLAREMONT 3.1 7.5 13.10 19.10 (124) WEST COAST 3.7 6.9 8.10 10.12 (72) Goals - CLAREMONT: J Hunter 5 T Delacey 3 Z Mainwaring 3 B Rogers 2 J Bolton C England J Musika T Smallwood K Gowdie S Alvarez. WEST COAST: J Petruccelle 2 J Shanahan 2 C Livingstone 2 C Datson T Gross C Hall A Mercer. Best - CLAREMONT: B Rogers J Hunter C England J Bolton O Eastland. WEST COAST: T Gross H Johnston J Shanahan B Williams C Hall. Injuries: M Mumme and D Melrose replaced in the selected side by S Brock and T Gross (AFL). Umpires: J Gibb L Fahey-Gilmour N Bevan L Jago. Crowd: About 1200 at Revo Fitness Stadium.