Round 23 Preview Claremont vs. East Perth

Claremont enters its final-round clash against top-of-the-table East Perth at Medibank Stadium on the back of a five-game winning streak and determined to continue its strong finish to 2014.

In what’s been a season of two halves, the Tigers have won seven of their past eight games after winning just two games up until round nine.

In a sign of just how much Claremont has improved, the Royals remain the only team that the Tigers are yet to defeat this season.

East Perth ran out 80-point winners over Claremont back in round eight, however, a much better showing by the Tigers in round 13 saw them defeated by just 16 points.

The Tigers ran out six-point winners over West Perth in a scrappy round-22 encounter, while the Royals strolled to a 66-point win over Peel Thunder.

Since Claremont’s round-eight loss to the Royals, the Tigers are yet to concede 100 points, with team-defence a key part in the side’s return to form.

The ruck battle sees Claremont’s Mark Seaby and Mitch McGovern face East Perth’s Paul Johnson and Callum Sinclair, with all four players able to push forward and kick crucial goals for their respective teams.

The battle in midfield could be where the game is won and lost, with Jake Murphy, Luke Blackwell, Tom Ledger, Corey Yeo, Ryan Neates and Ben Daniher facing the likes of Brendan Lee, Steven Payne, Craig Wulff, Freddie Clutterbuck, Mitchell Howlett and Brant Colledge.

Claremont defender Brandon Franz will more than likely oppose East Perth full-forward Josh Smith, while the Royals will be eager to regain full-back Kyle Anderson who missed the win over Peel Thunder through injury.

The Claremont Football Club encourages all Tiger fans to attend the game, with the team looking to finish the season in style.

Bounce down is at 2.05pm.