DEMONS MAKE TIGERS EARN VICTORY

Article By Mark Thornber

Photos By Gemma Boys

Round 23, Perth v Claremont (Prostate Cancer Awareness & Pyke Cup)

At Brownes Stadium, Saturday 24 August 2013

Perth                           3.4       4.5       8.7       12.9      81

Claremont                  1.4        6.9       10.12    14.12    96

Perth pushed reigning premiers Claremont until the very end as the Tigers prevailed by 15 points and ended any chance Perth had of finals action in 2013.

Perth started the match full of run and after an early Claremont goal made all the running. Small forward Joel Leeson converted truly and then Captain Paul Bevan did the same from 50 metres. Brett Hodge and Julian Jacobs were in and under in the centre square with the Demons playing an open forward line.

At quarter time Perth held a lead of 12 points after kicking 3 goals 4 to 1 goal 4. The second quarter saw the Tigers quality midfield led by Luke Blackwell and Jake Murphy making the most of Mark Seaby’s ruck work.

Both sides were playing a loose man in defence but it was the Tigers who were hitting their targets up forward with Chad Jone’s height proving difficult for an overworked Perth backline.

Perth could only manage one goal for the quarter through the pacy Reese Richardson as Claremont booted 5 goals to go into half time with a 16 point advantage.

The second half saw the visitors go out to a handy 4 goal lead with the lively Paul Medhurst proving difficult to contain. Just when Claremont looked like running away with the match though the Demons lifted with a sensational running goal to Simon Tunbridge and quick majors to Brennan Stack and Joel Houghton to put Perth in front.

A couple of crucial errors though late in the term saw Claremont capitalized and go into three quarter time with a 17 point lead. Again in the final quarter the Tigers opened up a 4 goal break as Blackwell in particular was roaming far and wide to pick up quality possessions.

At the half way mark of the term the home side fought back with another goal to Tunbridge and then a clever snap from Stack. The Demons were storming home but unfortunately ran out of time as the Tigers held on to win by 15 points in a hard fought contest.

Tunbridge probably played his best match for Perth and with McInnes also pulling down some big marks the Demons will be keen to search for a couple of tall forwards next season with both players set to be  allocated to East Perth. Hodge fought hard all day to rake up 22 touches and Stack returned to form with 4 goals up forward.

Next week Perth will be hoping to end the season with 10 wins from their 20 matches when they play an inform form South Fremantle side at home.

Goals: Stack 4, Bevan, Tunbridge, Leeson, Richardson, Houghton, Florio 1.

Best: Tunbridge, Hodge, Bevan, Jacobs, McInnes, Stack.