Tigers’ Season Comes to an End

Claremont have been eliminated from the finals after a 32-point defeat to East Perth at Medibank Stadium.

Despite the Tigers trailing by just four points at three-quarter time, the side were kept scoreless in the final term as the Royals kicked 4.3 to prevail 13.15 (93) to 9.7 (61).

The final term continued a concerning trend for the Tigers with the side being held goalless for the fifth time in 11 matches, while the team only won seven final quarters for the season.

The loss marks the end of a topsy-turvy season for Claremont, while East Perth advance to the Semi Finals and will now face Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Claremont’s Mark Seaby has confirmed his retirement following a tremendous career at both WAFL and AFL level, while Kiefer Yu lined up in his 50^th game.

Matt Davies and skipper Jake Murphy were both outstanding for the Tigers, while Tom Swift continued his fine run of form despite an injury-interrupted season.

Evergreen defender Brandon Franz had the better of his duel with East Perth’s Tom Lamb despite the Royal kicking two goals, while Mitch Andrews and Seaby had their work cut out against the strength and skill of Paul Johnson.

Beau Maister kicked three goals and led the Tigers’ forward line, while Oliver Tate kicked two.

However, the Tigers recorded just the 32 inside 50m entries compared to the Royals’ 57, and were unable to penetrate East Perth’s zone and ability to guard space, while the hosts’ run and spread were key factors in their win.

The Royals were best served by Steven Payne and Brendan Lee who combined for 70 disposals, while Kane Lucas, Scott Selwood and Johnson were key contributors to the win.

Former Tiger Rowen Powell took eight marks and was one of five multiple goal kickers for the Royals with three majors.

With Lachlan Davey replacing Bailey Rogers in the Tigers’ team who defeated West Perth eight days earlier, Murphy elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term after winning the coin toss.

Corey Yeo opposed Lee at the opening bounce, while Kepler Bradley was minded by Kyle Anderson and Maister found himself opposed by former Tiger Tom Barrass.

A desperate tackle by Tate on Gary Moss highlighted the Tigers’ intent on a glorious afternoon, before Powell kicked truly at the seven-minute mark to see the Royals strike first and take an early lead.

Andrews was the next Tiger to signal his appetite for the contest with a brilliant smother in defence, and when Maister kicked his and Claremont’s first major, the visitors found themselves trailing by just one point.

However, goals to Lucas, an unmarked Lee and Murray Newman saw the Royals take a 19-point lead on the back of a disappointing 10 minutes of play by the Tigers.

A second major to Maister following some brilliant efforts and a pinpoint pass by Yu gave the Tigers a badly needed goal late in the term as the side found themselves trailing by 12 points at the first change.

Despite East Perth recording two more scoring shots, Claremont were left to rue some missed chances by Yu and Ryan Neates who both hit the post from set shots directly in front of goal.

Tigers’ coach Michael Broadbridge implored his team to remain composed in the back half, and sent Ryan Lim to the dangerous Lee who had already tallied 10 disposals.

A second goal to Powell gave the Royals a fast start to the second term and saw the hosts extend their lead to 20 points, before Maister registered his second major following a neat pass by Tate in a fast break of play which was started by Davey at centre-half-back.

Bradley then added his name to the goal kicking list and gave the Tigers consecutive majors for the first time, before Ian Richardson earned Claremont a 50m penalty after being dumped by Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls behind the play.

A goal to Tate moments later following a kick forward by Davies gave the Tigers three in a row and trimmed the deficit to just four points, however, late majors to Selwood and Powell (third) saw the Royals respond and take a 15-point lead at half-time.

When Lamb kicked truly at the four-minute mark of the third term it gave East Perth the opening goal for the third quarter in a row and saw their lead out to 22 points, before Swift replied for the Tigers after some repeat efforts by Neates.

A second goal to Tate following some more fine work by the hard-running Neates cut the margin to just 10 points, before Jack Bradshaw made it just four with his first major after a spearing pass by Lim.

Three goals in five minutes had the momentum with the Tigers, however, Mitchell Howlett kicked truly to see the Royals respond and increase their lead to 10 points, before some fine work in the ruck and a great snap from Andrews saw Claremont reply and trail by just five points at the final change after a four-goal-to-two term.

Despite an inspirational address from Broadbridge at three-quarter time, it would be all East Perth from here on in, as second goals to Lucas, Selwood, Lamb and Howlett saw the Royals run all over a gallant but out-of-steam Claremont.

CLAREMONT 2.4 5.6 9.7 9.7 (61)

EAST PERTH 4.4 7.9 9.12 13.15 (93)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 B. MAISTER, 2 O. TATE, 1 M. ANDREWS, J. BRADSHAW, T. SWIFT, K. BRADLEY

EAST PERTH: 3 R. POWELL, 2 M. HOWLETT, S. SELWOOD, K. LUCAS, T. LAMB, 1 B. LEE, M. NEWMAN

BEST

CLAREMONT: M. DAVIES, B. MAISTER, J. MURPHY, B. FRANZ, O. TATE

EAST PERTH: B. LEE, S. PAYNE, K. LUCAS, P. JOHNSON, R. POWELL