By Dan Scamozzi 

A ferocious and precise performance from Claremont’s Reserves saw the Tigers smash East Perth by 80 points at Claremont Oval in round 11, with the commanding 16.13 (109) to 4.5 (29) win extending the hosts’ unbeaten run to eight games.

91 more disposals, 38 more marks, 33 more inside 50s and 20 more scoring shots reflected the Tigers’ dominance from a statistical perspective, but the hosts’ relentless pressure, ferocious tackling, immaculate field kicking and direct ball movement was just as impressive.

11 goal-kickers reflected the Tigers’ evenness and many avenues to goal, with the mauling set up during a five-goals-to-none opening term.

Midfielder Jake Murphy (24 disposals, eight tackles, six inside 50s, one goal), who led the team in the absence of regular captain Jesse Laurie (calf), delivered another outstanding performance to win best player and the players’ player award, with fellow midfielder Jared Hardisty (19 disposals, five tackles) providing fine support.

Hard-running wingmen Ben Rushforth (25 disposals, equal game-high nine marks, game-high eight inside 50s) and Callan England (18 disposals, one goal) broke the lines and drove the Tigers forward, while Isaac Barton (equal game-high nine marks) kicked a game-high four goals playing as a deep forward.

Ruckman Jordon Reid (16 disposals, 21 hit-outs) continued his strong form with another commanding performance, while the hardworking Jacob Sideris (19 disposals, one goal) returned from a long-term groin injury to play the first half and provided the highlight of the game when he kicked truly on the stroke of half-time before being mobbed by his jubilant teammates.

Kaiden Gilbert, Chris “CJ” Oakley, Cooper Nitschke and Jalen McGee were also among the inclusions, as Murphy won the coin toss and elected to kick to the southern end of the ground in the opening term with the aid of the breeze.

Swingman Lewis Davis kicked the game’s opening goal after being set up by Hardisty on his non-preferred right foot before the robust Jacob Orr thumped through the Tigers’ second from 50m as he made the Royals pay for a turnover.

A courageous mark from McGee in defence soon followed, before Josh Bennett kicked the Tigers’ third goal after passes from Jake Anderson and Nitschke respectively.

England then snapped truly from a stoppage at full-forward before Gilbert kicked the Tigers’ fifth goal after the prominent Harrison McCracken gathered the ball on the wing before miraculously flicking it around his back and sending it forward.

This gave the Tigers a healthy 33-point lead at quarter-time after a dominant term, with the hosts +6 in contested disposals and inside 50s as coach Brayden Duckworth praised the team for its bright start but implored them to keep it going.

A centre clearance from midfielder Rylie Morgan (game-high nine tackles) set up Barton for his first and the Tigers’ sixth goal to extend the lead to 39 points early in the second term, before he soon added his second after repeat efforts from Hardisty.

Repeat efforts from the uncompromising Orr and a ferocious tackle from Lewis Daisley emphasised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest, with Claremont’s precise field kicking slicing through the Royals, and the hosts’ relentless pressure suffocating the under-siege visitors and producing repeated turnovers.

East Perth’s Mitchell Gupanis then kicked the Royals’ first goal after a rare inside 50, before Anderson replied for the Tigers after some more precise ball movement.

An unselfish Jake Stergiou then set up an unmarked Sideris for the Tigers’ ninth goal in what would be his final involvement for the game, as the hosts extended their lead to 56 points at half-time after another dominant term.

A great pass from rebounding defender Ryan Murphy set up Barton for his third major and extended the lead to 62 early in the second half, before Stergiou split the middle after being found by Oakley, with a brilliant squaring pass from England instigating the goal.

J. Murphy then brilliantly roved a throw-in and finished with aplomb to kick the Tigers’ 12^th major before second goals to Anderson and Bennett extended the lead to a whopping 88 points.

The skilful Nitschke then made it 94 at the final change after another goalless term from the Royals, with the Tigers now +38 in contested disposals and +30 in inside 50s, with Duckworth imploring the team to finish the game off strongly.

Three consecutive goals to the Royals provided little more than consolation in the final term, before Barton capped off the dominant performance with his fourth major.

The top-of-the-ladder Tigers will aim for their ninth consecutive win when they face East Fremantle at New Choice Homes Park in round 12.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts saw their three-game winning run come to an end after a 13-point loss to East Perth, 9.10 (64) to 7.9 (51).

CLAREMONT 5.4 9.10 15.13 16.13 (109)

EAST PERTH 0.1 1.2 1.3 4.5 (29)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 I. Barton, 2 J. Bennett, J. Anderson, 1 J. Murphy, C. England, J. Sideris, L. Davis, K. Gilbert, J. Stergiou, C. Nitschke, J. Orr.

EAST PERTH: 2 K. Caporn, 1 M. Gupanis, E. Bashemule.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Murphy, B. Rushforth, J. Hardisty, I. Barton, C. England.

EAST PERTH: K. Caporn, N. Waite, T. Amos, J. Msando, P. Reilly.