CLAREMONT got off to a flying start in round 1 of the WAFL Premiership Season, taking down East Fremantle by 62 points at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday.
After a slow opening term that saw the Sharks kick six goals to the Tigers’ one, new coach Darren Harris put the hard word on the team he coached in 2005 at the first break.
It seemed Harris’s address worked, as the visitors booted six goals to East Fremantle’s one in the second quarter, giving Claremont a 13-point lead at half time.
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READ NOWThe third quarter was neither team’s; Claremont only managed to extend their lead to 21 points going into the final break.
The ball spent a lot of time in the Claremont forward line in the last quarter, with the Tigers booting eight more to secure an impressive 19.9 (123) to 9.7 (61) victory.
Former St Kilda player Tom Lee showed he was one to watch for the 2017 season, booting five goals from 19 possessions and seven marks in his first WAFL game in five years.
Subiaco were not as lucky in its season opener, going down by 39 points to South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval.
South Fremantle made a flying start with the opening four goals of the game in the first half of the quarter.
The Lions managed a couple of goals before quarter time, but South Fremantle responded with two more to lead by 23 points at the first break.
Inaccurate kicking in the second quarter cost the Lions, allowing the Bulldogs to lead by 38 points at the main break.
Both teams traded early goals in the third quarter, but South Fremantle still looked well in control, extending their lead to a game-high of seven goals, before the Lions fought back and went into three quarter time 24 points down.
The Lions could not capitalise on opportunities in the final quarter, with the final score 17.14 (116) 11.11 (77).
East Fremantle will take on reigning premiers Peel Thunder at Rushton Park this Saturday, while Claremont has a bye before a round 3 clash with Perth at Lathlain Park.
South Fremantle takes on Swan Districts at Bassendean Oval next Saturday, and Subiaco hosts Perth at Leederville Oval.