By Daniel Scamozzi

An inspired performance from dashing defender Jake Stergiou helped Claremont’s Reserves overcome a slow start and record a 22-point win against Perth in glorious conditions at Lathlain Park.

Despite trailing by 21 points at quarter-time, the Tigers kicked 12 of the last 16 goals to prevail 13.5 (83) to 8.13 (61) in the first of their two pre-season matches.

A spearing pass that led to big man Eddie Simpson kicking the first of his two goals, an inspirational chase and tackle that prevented the Demons from having a shot at goal and resulted in a free kick, and a courageous spoil in defence were three hallmarks of Stergiou’s performance that saw him awarded Claremont’s best player.

Simpson’s strong marking, two goals, and efforts in the ruck was instrumental, while Hamish McMorran provided excellent support and was praised for his performance by new coach Brayden Duckworth.

Defender Lewis Daisley was another strong performer and repelled several attacks from the Demons, and was ably assisted by Jack Monaghan, who won the players’ player award.

Exciting and energetic forward Lachlan Southern kicked a game-high three goals and provided a constant headache for the Demons with his work rate and smart positioning, while fellow forwards Corey Mitchell, Cooper Nitschke and Lewis Offenburg each kicked two goals.

In further positive news for the Tigers, senior players Ryan Lim and Jack Beeck both played a portion of the game as they work their way back to full fitness.

Marshall Jones and Jack Steel each kicked two goals for the Demons.

The Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term, however, two early goals saw the Demons take a 13-point lead.

A strong tackle from Offenburg won the Tiger a free kick and led to Nitschke kicking the team’s first goal after he strongly marked a kick to the hot spot from Ben Clohessy, before the Demons replied with the next two majors to take a 21-point lead at quarter-time.

With the Tigers needing to eradicate turnovers and increase their lateral ball movement and execution, Duckworth implored the team to “switch on”, and the message paid dividends as Southern kicked the first of his three goals early in the second term after an end-to-end transition of play.

Mitchell then made the Demons pay for a turnover in midfield with his first major, before the hosts steadied with their fifth goal.

A dashing run from Mitchell then allowed Offenburg to kick his first major, before Stergiou’s brilliance lit up the contest.

A spearing pass to Simpson was quickly followed by a desperate chase and tackle from the tenacious Tiger, before Mitchell’s second goal capped off a dominant term from the visitors and gave them a two-point lead at half-time.

The Tigers began the second half with the electric Chris (CJ) Oakley injected into the action, as Nitschke split the middle from the forward pocket to give the team four consecutive goals.

The Demons soon replied with their sixth goal, before a scintillating burst of speed from Oakley in midfield left the Demons bamboozled and resulted in Offenburg kicking his second major after some front-and-centre crumbing.

A courageous spoil from Stergiou reaffirmed the Tiger’s appetite for the contest, before a pair of goals to Southern, either side of a major to Oakley, saw the Tigers extend their lead to 26 points at the last change.

Duckworth lauded the team’s “exciting” play while also emphasising the importance of winning territory, before the Demons kicked the opening goal of the final term.

Midfielder Jake Anderson then brilliantly gathered the ball and finished with aplomb from 45m to restore the Tigers’ 26-point lead, before Simpson marked strongly at full-forward and kicked his second major.

The Tigers host Swan Districts at Claremont Oval on Saturday in their final pre-season game.

In the earlier games, Claremont’s Colts and Futures teams both recorded wins against Perth.

CLAREMONT 1.0 6.2 11.5 13.5 (83)

PERTH 4.3 5.6 6.9 8.13 (61)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 L. Southern, 2 E. Simpson, C. Mitchell, C. Nitschke, L. Offenburg, 1 C. Oakley, J. Anderson.

PERTH: 2 M. Jones, J. Steel, 1 K. Cary, A. Scotney, D. Horan, C. Penny.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Stergiou, E. Simpson, H. McMorran, L. Daisley.