Tigers Bury Their Demons

Claremont (Reserves) has recorded consecutive wins after defeating Perth by two points in a pulsating clash at the Show Grounds.

In the Tigers’ first home game for 2015, the side survived a second-half fightback by the visitors to prevail 13.10. (88) to 13.8. (86).

As they did for the majority of 2014 in the Colts, Alex Manuel and Sam Bevan starred with four and three goals respectively, while Matthew Palfrey continually broke the lines with his run and carry setting up numerous forward entries for the Tigers.

Corey Yeo and Mark Seaby put their hands up for a League recall after successfully making their comebacks from injury, while Tom Swift also returned and will be better for the run.

Tom Willett, Jackson Starcevich and Jarrad Doney (debut) rounded out the inclusions for the Tigers, as Peadar Burke, Mark Mullally, Ben Higgs, Darcy Cameron (League), Ryan Lim (League) and Keegan Knott (League) made way from the team who defeated East Fremantle in round four.

With the Show Grounds bathed in sunshine on a perfect day for football, the Tigers kicked to the northern end in the opening term with the aid of a breeze.

A goal in the opening minute to the returning Swift resulted from a 50m penalty, as the Tigers got off to a flying start in front of their home faithful.

With Seaby, Haydn Busher and Swift all starting the match in the middle, the Tigers looked to gain an advantage in the centre, although a major to Blake Borrett in the third minute saw the Demons draw level at one goal apiece.

When Bevan capitalised on an errant handball to kick truly, the Tigers regained their six-point lead, before Steven Edwards sliced through the Demons’ defence like a knife through butter to extend the hosts’ lead to 12 points at the 12-minute mark.

A goal to Lennon Marlin on the run saw the Demons reduce the deficit to seven points at the 21-minute mark, however, the Tigers would have the final say of the opening term, as Manuel kicked his first major to give the hosts a 13-point lead at the first break.

A second goal to Manuel at the six-minute mark of the second term saw the Tigers out to a 19-point lead after the forward was found by Jack Beeck.

And when Lawrence Evans kicked truly just two minutes later after gathering the ball off the back of the pack, the Tigers were out to a 25-point lead as the hosts started to take control of the contest.

A goal to Kieran Hug at the 11-minute mark ensured Perth were still in the game as the visitors drew to within 18 points, before former Demon Busher baulked an opponent and kicked truly from 45m to give the Tigers some breathing space once again.

The Demons, however, would not go away without a fight, as goals to Scott Moore and Ashley Boyes saw the visitors trim the Tigers’ lead to 13 points at half-time following an end-to-end quarter of football.

When Brent Edmonds kicked truly at the second-minute mark of the third term, the Demons were suddenly trailing the Tigers by just seven points, with the hosts needing a response after some sloppy play either side of the main break.

A goal to Starcevich after some neat work by Palfrey saw the Tigers kick a steadying goal, before a second major to Borrett saw the Demons close to within seven points at the five-minute mark.

When Marlin kicked his second major for the game, the Demons found themselves in front for the first time, before a goal to the hard-working Palfrey from tight on the boundary line restored the Tigers’ lead at the 17-minute mark.

A massive leap by Evans lit up the contest for everyone at the ground, with the Tiger soaring high above the pack, however, the livewire couldn’t complete the attempted mark as Perth ran the ball down the other end and kicked a late goal through Boyes (second) to trim the Tigers’ lead to just one point at the last change.

Coach Brad Trpchev implored the Tigers to finish off the game strongly, and when Bevan kicked his second goal at the second-minute mark of the final term, the hosts were out to a seven-point lead.

This seemed to only sting the Demons back into action, as goals to Hug (second) and Borrett (third) saw the visitors take a five-point lead at the seven-minute mark, with the lead changing hands once again in what was fast becoming a thrilling contest.

A third goal to Bevan barely one minute later gave Claremont the lead once again, before Manuel kicked his third major to give the Tigers a seven-point buffer at the 16-minute mark following some neat work by Busher.

A third goal to Marlin ensured the Demons remained alive and reduced the Tigers’ lead to just two points at the 20-minute mark, before a fourth goal to Manuel saw the hosts respond once again and take an eight-point lead at the 23-minute mark of a cracking final term.

A goal to Rowan Garlett two minutes later set up a tense finish to the match as the Demons drew to within two points, however, the Tigers held on to record back-to-back wins and improve their record to 2-2 ahead of a trip to Bendigo Bank Stadium in round six to face Peel Thunder.

CLAREMONT 4.1 7.5 9.9 13.10 (88)

PERTH 2.0 5.4 9.8 13.8 (86)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 A. MANUEL, 3 S. BEVAN, 1 J. STARCEVICH, H. BUSHER, S. EDWARDS, T. SWIFT, M. PALFREY, L. EVANS,

PERTH: 3 B. BORRETT, L. MARLIN, 2 A. BOYES, K. HUG, 1 S. MOORE, B. EDMONDS, R. GARLETT

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. PALFREY, A. MANUEL, S. BEVAN, C. YEO, M. SEABY

PERTH: K. HUG, J. KALAJZIC, B. BORRETT, L. MARLIN, A. BOYES