TIGERS PIPPED BY DEMONS

BY DAN SCAMOZZI 

A wasteful Claremont suffered a frustrating 17-point defeat against an efficient Perth at Revo Fitness Stadium despite recording six more inside 50s and three more scoring shots,.

In a similar performance to their round three defeat against South Fremantle, the Tigers couldn’t convert enough of their opportunities, as the accurate Demons prevailed 11.4 (70) to 7.11 (53).

The defeat leaves the Tigers with areas for improvement, with connection between the midfield and forward line still high on the list.

The Tigers will also review and address how the slingshot Demons kicked too many goals with easy overlap in transition, while decision-making and execution also need to be improved.

However, all is not lost, and the 4-2 Tigers will embrace the challenge and confront it head-on.

The hardworking Cal England (24 disposals, five tackles) won best player as he combined stints between the midfield and forward line with aplomb and continued his brilliant season, while reliable defender Dec Hardisty, who rarely loses a contest and is a model of consistency, continued his own brilliant form and repelled the Demons on several occasions.

Bailey Rogers (25 disposals) also continued his strong form, while the unflappable and consistent Ryan Nyhuis (players’ player award) won his duel with Perth forward Logan McDonald.

Powerful midfielder Dec Mountford laid seven tackles and was another strong performer, while powerful forward Alec Waterman kicked a game-high four goals, taking his season tally to 13.

Small forward Isaac Barton replaced defender Anthony Davis in the only change to the team that defeated East Perth in round five, as the Tigers kicked to the Claremont end of the ground in the opening term.

A smother from Hardisty denied Perth forward Fraser McInnes and was a sign of things to come from the brilliant defender, before Waterman won a free kick at full-forward and kicked the opening goal of the game.

Repeat efforts from midfielder Jye Bolton (25 disposals), who was heavily tagged by the Demons, in midfield served as inspiration for the Tigers, before Perth’s Lennon Marlin levelled the scores.

Hardisty then laid a great tackle at half-back before forward Harry McCracken did likewise inside 50 and kicked truly, before a brilliant spoil from tenacious defender Jack Lewsey and a tackle from Ben Edwards on the wing further emphasised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest.

The team-lifting deeds saw the Tigers take a nine-point lead at quarter-time, with the hosts well ahead in contested disposals, clearances and inside 50s, as coach Darren Harris praised the team’s ball movement, forward pressure and hunt.

Perth’s Chris Masten trimmed Claremont’s lead to four points at the seven-minute mark of the second term before Tigers forward Anton Hamp out-marked several opponents and kicked truly to re-establish the nine-point buffer.

Marlin then kicked his second goal for the Demons before former Tiger Jack Richardson kicked truly to give Perth a three-point lead at half-time.

Edwards crumbed and snapped truly to edge the Tigers back in front in the seventh minute of the second half, before three consecutive goals gave the Demons a 13-point lead.

A clearance and kick inside 50 from England allowed Waterman to kick his second goal and pulled the Tigers to within six points at the final change.

A passionate Harris urged the Tigers to “stay the course”, however, a second goal to McDonald gave the Demons a 12-point lead in the early stages of the final term.

Enter Waterman.

Two thumping finishes from 50m in little over a minute saw the Tigers draw level and regain the ascendancy, however, the Demons replied with three consecutive goals to prevail and take home the Pyke Cup.

The Tigers face East Fremantle at New Choice Homes Park in round seven.

CLAREMONT 2.3 3.6 5.10 7.11 (53)

PERTH 1.0 4.3 7.4 11.4 (70)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 A. Waterman, 1 A. Hamp, B. Edwards, H. McCracken.

PERTH: 2 L. Marlin, L. McDonald, 1 C. Masten, J. Richardson, D. Baldwin-Wright, S. Stubbs, M. Jones, F. McInnes, N. O’Driscoll.

BEST

CLAREMONT: C. England, D. Hardisty, B. Rogers, R. Nyhuis, D. Mountford.

PERTH: B. Grey, J. Coniglio, F. McInnes, M. Taylor, A. Fisher.