Tigers Overrun by Demons

Claremont faces a week of soul searching as it tries to turn its season around following a nine-point loss to Perth at the Show Grounds.

Despite holding a 16-point lead at half-time in what was reliable defender Brandon Franz’s 100^th game, the Tigers were outplayed and outrun by the Demons in the second half as they slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, 10.6 (66) to 11.9 (75).

Jack Bradshaw continued his fine form with a bag of four goals for the second week running, however, a lack of ball winners and determination saw the hosts come up short against a more desperate outfit in the Demons.

With the ground bathed in sunshine, the fine weather did little to eradicate the poor decision making and skill execution on display from two teams who were yet to register a win this season.

With captain Jake Murphy missing a second match due to an ankle injury, Ryan Neates skippered the side as the Tigers welcomed Darcy Cameron, Keegan Knott and Ryan Lim into the team who lost to East Fremantle in round four.

Beau Maister (suspended), John Williams (ankle) and Hugo Breakey (foot) were unable to take their places as the Tigers ran out for their first home game in 2015.

With the hosts kicking to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, Cameron and Kepler Bradley (50^th game) lined up in the forward line, as Mitch Andrews was given the task of providing first use of the football to Claremont’s midfield.

The opening minutes of the game provided little joy for either set of fans as the teams cancelled each other out in perfect, yet warm conditions.

A goal to Ben Power at the eight-minute mark saw the Demons take a seven-point lead, before the Tigers added minor scores through Knott and Ian Richardson.

A goal to Shane McAdam at the 18-minute mark resulting from a free kick had the home fans in fine voice, as the hosts took a two-point lead in what was a scrappy start to the game.

Chris Billings found himself in the umpire’s book two minutes later after the Demon was reported for a high bump on Claremont’s Toby Plant.

A goal to Cameron at the 22-minute mark resulted from a long kick forward by Tom Ledger, as the Tigers took an eight-point lead in a low-scoring contest.

The Demons, however, hit back through a major to Kane Ransted, before Bradshaw kicked his first goal after another long kick forward by Ledger to give the Tigers an eight-point lead at quarter-time.

After a slow start to the first term, the Tigers made their move early in the second term, as goals to McAdam (second) and Bradshaw (second) gave the hosts a 20-point lead.

A goal to Matthew Welburn at the 13-minute mark got the Demons back to within 14 points following a chain of errors by the hosts, before Bradshaw kicked his third goal three minutes later after being found by Knott to hand the Tigers some breathing space once again.

When Richardson kicked truly at the 25-minute mark, the Tigers threatened to run away with the contest, however, late goals to Brett Wolfenden and Brennan Stack saw the Demons reduce the hosts’ lead to 16 points at the long break.

That lead was extended to 22 points early in the third term after Knott kicked his first goal of the game following some fine crumbing off the pack, before a second goal to Stack saw the Demons respond at the 10-minute mark.

When Michael Florio kicked truly at the 16-minute mark, the Demons trailed by just nine points as the visitors worked their way back into the contest, before a fourth goal to the ever-dangerous Bradshaw saw the Tigers take a 14-point lead.

A pair of late goals to Wolfenden (three) saw the Demons draw level with the Tigers at three-quarter time, as the hosts switched off in a similar fashion prior to half-time.

With the game on the line and everything to play for in the final term, coach Michael Broadbridge delivered a passionate address to the Tigers and instructed his troops to run the game out and never give up.

With an error-riddled 10 minutes engulfing the start to the final quarter due to tiring players and perceived pressure, neither team was able to take advantage of general play.

A goal to Toby Gianatti resulted from a 50m penalty at the 11-minute mark to give the Demons an eight-point lead, before Knott missed a golden chance to hit back for the Tigers just two minutes later.

When Demon Liam McKenna was pinned for holding the ball as the result of a great tackle by Cameron, the Tigers’ big man kicked truly to trim Perth’s lead to just one point at the 15-minute mark.

With heavy legs, fatigue and more skill errors marring the next six minutes of play, a second goal to Florio at the 22-minute mark proved to be the match winner for Perth, as the Demons  snapped an 18-game losing streak, and condemned the Tigers to their worst start to a season since 2009.

Despite dominating the hit outs through Cameron and Andrews, the Tigers were unable to win the clearances and cover the ground with any purpose on a disappointing afternoon for the blue and gold.

In what was perhaps the most positive news for the day, ruckman Mark Seaby, Corey Yeo and Tom Swift all made their returns through the Reserves, as they look to add some badly-needed experience and class into the side in the coming weeks.

The Tigers will look to kick-start their season in round six when the team travel to Bendigo Bank Stadium to face the in-form Peel Thunder.

CLAREMONT 3.3 7.5 9.5 10.6 (66)

PERTH 2.1 5.1 9.5 11.9 (75)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. BRADSHAW, 2 D. CAMERON, S. MCADAM, 1 I. RICHARDSON, K. KNOTT

PERTH: 3 B. WOLFENDEN, 2 B. STACK, M. FLORIO, 1 K. RANSTED, T. GIANATTI, B. POWER, M. WELBURN

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. BRADSHAW, O. TATE, K. BRADLEY, M. ANDREWS, D. CAMERON, T. LEDGER

PERTH: A. TROPIANO, B. WOLFENDEN, L. MCKENNA, D. WHITE