The Claremont winning machine has rumbled on, with the Tigers further cementing their flag favouritism thanks to a 52-point victory over Perth at Mineral Resources Park.
While Claremont certainly did not have things all their own way against a battling Perth outfit, they staved off a series of attempted Demons insurgencies to prevail 17.9 (111) to 8.11 (59).
With South Fremantle pummelling West Coast earlier in the afternoon, Claremont’s sixth-straight win not only continued their unbeaten start to the season but kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length as the Tigers maintained their hold on top spot.
The Tigers’ tried-and-tested midfield did the damage and were up for the fight, with Bailey Rogers kicking a pair of second-half goals to go with 27 disposals and eight inside 50s, while Ben Elliott added 23 disposals, five marks, five tackles, and five clearances. The hard-running Zac Mainwaring collected eight inside 50s from 21 touches.
But the match was not quite as one-sided as the scoreline may suggest, with Perth well and truly in the contest until a goalless final quarter extinguished their flame.
Corey Byrne tallied an equal game-high 30 disposals, Charlie Constable helped equalise Claremont’s initial midfield stampede with 23 touches and six inside 50s, while the reliable Matthew Taylor had 25 disposals.
The first half was a game of runs; Claremont kicked the opening five goals of the game, Perth the next five, then the Tigers got another four on the bounce before Demons forward Aaron Clarke nabbed his third to cut the deficit to 17 at the main break.
Claremont’s pressure in the opening quarter was outstanding, and their stoppage wins helped lay the platform for their commanding 30-point lead.
Everything was going the Tigers’ way in the first term, best evidenced by Alec Waterman’s hacked soccer ending in a mark inside 50, before Kieran Gowdie bettered him as he volleyed the ball up the wing out of mid-air, and it eventually ended in a Sam van Rooyen goal.
Clarke’s first major of the game – his 100th for Perth – ensured his side did not end the opening quarter goalless, and after the restart, the spearhead’s second of the match kickstarted a Demons revival.
Having arrested the Tigers’ clearance dominance, Perth’s structure behind the ball denied Claremont easy progress out of the backline as the hosts kicked three on the trot, with Riley Wills’ exquisite soccer from the boundary line levelling the scores.
But Claremont regained the lead soon after as Jaiden Hunter kicked two of the next three to restore their control over proceedings.
With a nearly three-goal lead to begin the second half, Rogers’ early goal extended the visitors’ advantage, but not for the first time on the afternoon, Perth kept themselves in the hunt, and a six-pointer to Jack Kluske helped trim the lead to just 10 points.
However, Ben Elliott’s goal off some desperate front 50 defence eased Claremont nerves, and Talon Delacey grabbed another steadying goal before the final term.
Any hopes of another Perth fightback were ended early in the fourth term as van Rooyen’s second and Jack Musika’s first of the day took the wind out of the Demons’ sails, and a slew of late goals padded the Tigers’ margin.
Scoreboard
CLAREMONT: 5.2, 9.2, 12.4, 17.9 (111)
PERTH: 1.1, 6.3, 8.6, 8.11 (59)
Goals
CLAREMONT: S van Rooyen 3, J Hunter 2, B Rogers 2, J Musika 2, Z Mainwaring, D Mountford, K Gowdie, M Spyvee, T Headland, A Waterman, B Elliott, T Delacey.
PERTH: A Clarke 3, C Byrne, L Paton, R Wills, K Johnston, J Kluske.
Best
CLAREMONT: B Rogers, Z Mainwaring, S Alvarez, O Eastland, A Pearce, B Elliott, A Davis.
PERTH: C Byrne, A Clarke, M Taylor, C Constable, A Davis, E Scoble.
Injuries
PERTH: C Sing (leg) replaced in selected side by Z Harding.
CLAREMONT: S Jennings-Hopkins (knee), K Gowdie (ribs).
Umpires: O Wharton, M Adams, J Gibb, B Laycock.
Crowd: About 900 at Mineral Resources Park.
