Tigers Lock in Finals

Claremont have staged a remarkable last-quarter comeback to defeat West Perth by two points at HBF Arena and finish the home-and-away season in fifth position.

The 9.15 (69) to 10.7 (67) result means the Tigers replace Swan Districts in the top five and will now face East Perth at Medibank Stadium in an elimination final.

Despite trailing by 25 points in the final term, the last four goals of the game saw the Tigers claim the most unlikely victory after an error-riddled contest for the first three-and-a-half quarters.

Claremont are also the first team to defeat West Perth at HBF Arena this season.

Jake Murphy was outstanding for the Tigers and kicked the match-winning goal, while midfielders Corey Yeo, Tom Ledger, Ryan Lim and Tom Swift were all prominent.

Ian Richardson worked tirelessly in his 150^th match, while Mitch Andrews was outstanding yet again in the ruck and Kepler Bradley kicked two crucial last-quarter goals.

Aaron Black and Trent Manzone both won plenty of the football for the Falcons, while Nicholas Rodda was outstanding in defence and Aidan Lynch and Michael Lourey kicked two goals.

With Richardson leading the Tigers in his milestone match, the visitors kicked to the northern end in the opening term as Andrews opposed second-gamer Tim Sutherland in the ruck, while Lim lined up on Rohan Kerr at the first bounce and Beau Maister was minded by Marcus Adams.

A goal to Lynch in the second minute gave the Falcons a flying start and six-point lead, before Mark Seaby got back to deny the hosts a second major with a mark on the last line of defence.

Murphy then kicked truly from a free kick as the Tigers took a one-point lead, before a late goal to Manzone handed the Falcons a four-point lead at quarter-time on a fine afternoon for football.

With the Tigers wasteful in front of goal (1.6), an ability to convert chances was badly needed as the side looked to gain reward for its effort.

A clearance by Haydn Busher and handball from Lim allowed Yeo to kick truly and recapture the lead for Claremont eight minutes in to the second term, before Lourey registered his first goal after a turnover by Oliver Tate in midfield.

Despite his earlier mistake, the first-year Tiger made amends 11 minutes later after he was found by Maister and gave the visitors a one-point lead at half-time.

Despite perfect conditions, the game was hard to watch as numbers around the ball denied players space to operate in, while the amount of stoppages and throw-ins denied the contest of any fluency.

Second goals to Lourey and Lynch gave the Falcons a fast start to the second half and eight-point lead, before further majors to Ray Bartholomew and Matthew Johnson had the Tigers trailing by 20 points and in a spot of bother.

With the team needing a spark to keep its season alive, the returning Jack Bradshaw kicked truly after a kick to advantage by Ledger, however, Chris Keunen responded for the hosts and recaptured their 20-point buffer.

A late goal by Richardson ensured the Tigers remained in the hunt as the side headed in to the final change trailing by 13 points.

Goals to Matthew Fowler and Steven Potente had the Falcons leading by 24 points eight minutes in to the final term, with the Tigers now on the ropes and seemingly needing a miracle.

A quick goal to Ledger after he was found by Lim saw the Tigers claw to within 19 points, and when Bradley kicked two goals in as many minutes, all of a sudden the deficit was just six points as Claremont started to believe again and the Falcons realised their work was far from done.

With Swift lifting in midfield and driving the Tigers forward, a report on Matthew Davies for a tackle involving Johnson briefly halted Claremont’s momentum as the game lifted a notch and those supporting the visitors cheered passionately.

With the ball in the Tigers’ forward 50m after a tense and tough few minutes, up stepped Murphy to seize the situation and deliver the most important on-field moment of his tenure as captain.

After gathering the ball 45m out from goal under pressure and with little room to operate, the feisty on-baller turned on to his left side and slammed the ball on to his boot knowing where the goals were and watched it sail through the big sticks.

The result was a two-point lead to the Tigers and in the end, despite a nerve-wracking final few minutes, it would be enough to secure their 10^th win for the season and end the Falcons’ dominant home record.

CLAREMONT 1.6 3.7 5.11 9.15 (69)

WEST PERTH 2.4 3.6 8.6 10.7 (67)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 K. BRADLEY, J. MURPHY, 1 O. TATE, C. YEO, I. RICHARDSON, T. LEDGER, J. BRADSHAW

WEST PERTH: 2 M. LOUREY, A. LYNCH, 1 T. MANZONE, M. FOWLER, M. JOHSNON, R. BARTHOLOMEW, S. POTENTE, C. KEUNEN

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. MURPHY, I. RICHARDSON, C. YEO, T. SWIFT, T. LEDGER

WEST PERTH: A. BLACK, T. MANZONE, A. LYNCH, N. RODDA, S. BROWNE