Claremont’s (Reserves) three game winning streak is over after the Tigers lost to East Perth by 32 points, 15.13 (103) to 11.5 (71) at Medibank Stadium.

The Royals slammed on 10 goals to four in the second half, handing the Tigers their second loss for the season.

Not for the first time, coach Nigel Wilson had to contend with several changes to the team who defeated the Bulldogs in round seven.

Mitch Andrews returned after playing consecutive League games, while Kiefer Yu returned from concussion.

Luke Cameron also returned, having made his League debut in the round six win over Peel.

Matt Davies was rewarded with a League berth after his splendid form in the big win over the Bulldogs, as was Bernard Sneeuwjagt.

Brenden Abbott and Ben Taylor both returned to the side, with Sam Lamont and Luke Salomone making way.

Joel Ebert was another player to not line up from last round.

The Royals were first to strike when Steven Wityk kicked the first of his three majors, after the Tigers failed to spoil the ball over the goal line from a set shot.

A goal to Cameron got the Tigers on the board, before repeat tackles from Shane McAdam helped the team exert some pressure in the forward line.

Abbott would then set up Jayden Brooks for his first major, and with it the Tigers had a six point lead midway through the opening term.

The home side then responded with two goals through Dylan Main and Mitchell Howlett, before Jordan Aitken hit back for the Tigers.

A goal to William Magginness moments before the quarter time siren saw the home side take a six point lead into the first break.

Wilson implored his players to lift their work rate and aggression at the contest for the second term, however, the Royals would make the early running again, this time through a goal to Matt Gordon.

That was as good as it got for the Royals in the first half, with the Tigers exerting their control on the contest.

A running goal to Michael Trevenen after some wonderful transition from defence saw the deficit reduced, before quick-fire goals to Ben Higgs, Yu, and Keegan Knott handed the side an 11 point lead at the major break.

An ankle injury to Cameron would see him play no further part in the game, depriving the Tigers on the interchange bench.

Despite being a man down, the Tigers made the perfect start to the second half when Brooks kicked his second goal after being set up by Ben Daniher.

The instant reply came through Kane Moulton as the Royals closed to within twelve points, before Yu’s second goal was set up by Higgs.

A second goal to Gordon was to spark a spectacular run for the home side, as they kicked five consecutive goals heading into the last change.

Despite Wilson encouraging his players to lift their pressure and win the contest, the Royals proved too strong in the last term, kicking four goals to two on their way to victory.

The Tigers were well served by Daniher and Henry Roberts who both won their fair share of the football, while Timm House took out the players’ player award for his tremendous efforts in defence.

Wilson identified the opening quarter as an avenue for improvement.

“We were reasonable in the first quarter, but not quite how we wanted to play,” Wilson said.

“To our boy’s credit in the second quarter they came out and stuck to some processes and we did alright to get our noses back in front at half time.

“After half time, full credit to East Perth, they played a lot more aggressive football.

“Subiaco and East Perth are the two teams that have put that pressure on us, and today we lost a couple of players before half time, which is not an excuse, because it’s character building when those things happen, but we just didn’t quite respond to the pressure they put on us.”

Further compounding the loss were injuries to Cameron and McAdam.

“He (Cameron) went up for a mark in the second quarter, came down and actually rolled his ankle,” Wilson said.

“Unfortunately that may well be no good for him next week and then we’ve got the bye the following week so hopefully he’ll be alright in three weeks’ time.

“He (McAdam) got a knock to the head and he was feeling pretty uncomfortable so we were better off leaving him out of the game after half time.”

Despite the loss, Wilson paid tribute to his defenders.

“The defenders were under the pump, but full credit to them,” Wilson said.

“I think Timm (House) is coming along really well. His spoiling and defensive pressure’s fantastic.

“The ball was down there a lot more in the second half and to their (defenders) credit they stood up the best they could under enormous pressure, including Lachlan Davey and Aaron Hayes.

“That was a shining light from the game and for Timm to win the players’ player award was just a credit to the way he played.”

The Tigers head to Steel Blue Oval in round nine where they’ll look to get back on the winners list against Swan Districts.

by Dan Scamozzi

CLAREMONT 3.2 7.3 9.4 11.5 (71)

EAST PERTH 4.2 5.4 11.11 15.13 (103)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 K. YU, K.KNOTT, J.AITKEN, J.BROOKS, 1 M. TREVENEN, L. CAMERON, B. HIGGS,

EAST PERTH: 3 M. GORDON, S. WITYK, 2 K. MOULTON, 1 W. MAGGINNESS, M. HOWLETT, J. SLATER, S. JONES, A. VERNON, M. BLACKLEY, D. MAIN

BEST

CLAREMONT: T. HOUSE, B. DANIHER, H. ROBERTS, A. HAYES, M. ANDREWS

EAST PERTH: C HART, M.HOWLETT, M.GORDON, S. WITYK