Tigers Win Battle of “Pyke Cup”

Claremont have defeated Perth by 44 points at Lathlain Park to make it five consecutive wins and claim the “Pyke Cup” in honour of Frank and Don Pyke.

A scintillating nine-goal-to-three third term paved the way for the Tigers following an even first half, and sees the navy and gold sitting in fifth position following the 20.8 (128) to 13.6 (84) win.

Claremont’s full-time score was its highest since round 10, 2013, and also the first time the team has kicked 20 goals in a match under coach Michael Broadbridge, while its third term (9.1) was the biggest score the side has kicked in a quarter this season.

A return to basics and hard work have seen the Tigers move from ninth to fifth position during their five-match winning run, with the side winning almost every key statistic against a Perth team who have notched just one win in their last 25 games.

With a host of Claremont players catching the eye and playing pivotal roles in the big win, Corey Yeo, Haydn Busher, Tom Ledger, Ryan Neates and Kiefer Yu led the on-ball brigade, while Mark Seaby put in a vintage performance and was ably assisted by Darcy Cameron in the ruck.

Shane McAdam continues to light up the WAFL in his debut season and kicked five goals to go alongside eight inspiring tackles, while Beau Maister (100^th game) and Jack Bradshaw each kicked three goals.

The Tigers’ defence was once again led by the immovable Brandon Franz and Francis Watson with the pair combining for 15 marks, while Jack Beeck took home the players’ player award following his repeat efforts and willingness to put his body on the line in just his sixth game.

Oliver Tate made a telling return from injury as he provided composure and drive from the half-back line along with Matt Davies and Anton Hamp, with the North-Ballarat recruit replacing the injured Aaron Holt from the team who thumped Peel Thunder in round 10.

The Demons were well served by Aidan Tropiano, captain Dene White, Mitchell Morton, Liam McKenna and Jacob Payne, while Jarryd Morton provided a constant headache for the Tigers’ defence and kicked seven goals.

With acting captain Maister winning the toss and electing to kick to the southern end of the ground in his milestone match, the Tigers sent Yeo to Perth ball-magnet Tropiano on a fine afternoon for football.

The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start after Kepler Bradley kicked truly in the opening minute following a clearance by Ryan Lim and pass by Ian Richardson as the Tigers took an early six-point lead.

Goals to M. Morton and Payne had the Demons on the board in the next seven minutes as the hosts took a six-point lead of their own following some neat transition on the wide expanses, before Bradshaw grabbed the Tigers’ second major after winning a free kick.

Although Busher and Lim were providing the Tigers with drive and run through the middle, a goal to J. Morton saw the Demons hit the lead again, before Yeo kicked truly following a short pass by Ledger as the Tigers took a one-point lead in a bright start to the match.

A goal to Richardson followed a pinpoint pass by Tate and gave the Tigers a nine-point lead at the first change, with the visitors showing no signs of lethargy off the back of a bye in round 11.

A second goal to J. Morton saw the Demons reduce the Tigers’ lead early in the second term, however, Franz was beginning to impose himself on the contest through an ability to read the play and intercept mark.

When Bradley kicked his second major at the 12-minute mark the Tigers took an 11-point lead, with Seaby’s contested marking around the ground a sight to behold.

A goal to Brett Wolfenden pulled the Demons close once more, before a high challenge by J. Morton on Beeck resulted in a Claremont free kick and 50m penalty.

Cameron then won a free kick and kicked truly two minutes later to give the Tigers a 10-point lead, before a great chase and tackle by Matt Goyder highlighted the visitors’ appetite for the contest.

When McAdam kicked truly after gathering the crumbs at the base of the pack, the Tigers were out to a 16-point lead, before a late goal to J. Morton (third) saw Perth trail Claremont by 10 points at half-time.

Watson’s intercept marking and rebound from defence was proving a highlight for the Tigers in a pulsating game which was well and truly up for grabs.

An inspiring chase and tackle by Yu resulted in the Tiger winning a free kick in the early stages of the third term, before M. Morton kicked his second major to pull the Demons within four points.

The next few moments would belong to the mercurial McAdam.

A high snap towards goal by Bradshaw saw the silky forward lose his footing while scrambling back, however, as if posing an uncanny knack to be one step ahead of his opponents at most times, the ball landed in the arms of the Tiger while he was lying down in the goal square.

The resulting goal restored the Tigers’ 10-point lead and confirmed to all what a prodigious talent the Halls-Creek product is.

A third goal quickly followed for McAdam after a pinpoint pass by Richardson, before Maister added two goals in a minute to give the Tigers a 28-point lead and complete momentum.

Lim then kicked his first major following a handball by Goyder and a crunching tackle by McAdam moments earlier, before Yu kicked truly after a dashing run, clearance and handball by Neates.

With the Tigers out to a 40-point lead and the Demons in danger of self-imploding, Cody Leggett provided some respite after kicking truly, however, what followed would’ve left Earl Spalding and the Demons’ coaching staff shaking their heads in disbelief.

A fourth goal to McAdam resulted from another fantastic tackle and restored the Tigers’ 40-point buffer, before a pair of goals to Bradshaw (third) eventuated from two free kicks behind the play and one 50m penalty without the football even returning to the centre.

The Demons’ moments of complete madness and ill-discipline saw the Tigers out to a whopping 52-point lead, before White provided a late steadier and saw the hosts turn for home trailing by 46 points.

With the Tigers in complete control, Broadbridge implored his troops to finish the game off while maintaining and aggressive but disciplined approach, and this was exemplified when McAdam committed another tremendous chase and tackle to earn a free kick.

A second goal to Yu quickly followed after the hard-working midfielder kicked truly on the run following a one-two with Tate, before three consecutive goals to J. Morton (six) saw the Tigers’ lead trimmed to 34 points at the 10-minute mark of the final term.

With the Tigers needing to regain their focus and work-rate, McAdam kicked his fifth major following a neat transition from defence, before a intercept mark and pinpoint pass by the evergreen Seaby allowed Goyder to kick truly and give the Tigers a 46-point lead once again.

A seventh goal to J. Morton saw the Demons close to within 40 points once more, before a great tackle allowed Maister to kick his third major and saw the Tigers complete a thoroughly deserved victory.

Claremont will now turn their attention to round 13 (Men’s Health Round) and a home clash with top-of-the-table Subiaco at the Showgrounds.

CLAREMONT 4.3 7.6 16.7 20.8 (128)

PERTH 3.0 6.2 9.3 13.6 (84)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 5 S. MCADAM 3 J. BRADSHAW, B. MAISTER, 2 K. YU, K. BRADLEY, 1 I. RICHARDSON, M. GOYDER, C. YEO, D. CAMERON, R. LIM

PERTH: 7 J. MORTON, 2 M. MORTON, 1 J. PAYNE, C. LEGGETT, D. WHITE, B. WOLFENDEN

BEST

CLAREMONT: S. MCADAM, M. SEABY, F. WATSON, B. FRANZ, H. BUSHER, C. YEO, T. LEDGER, J. BEECK

PERTH: J. MORTON, D. WHITE, A. TROPIANO, M. MORTON