By Dan Scamozzi

Another dominant performance saw Claremont continue their strong start to the season and record their third consecutive win, with the Tigers defeating East Perth by 40 points in fine conditions at Leederville Oval in round three.

The Tigers’ 11.9 (75) to 5.5 (35) win was orchestrated during a four-goals-to-one opening term and was built on the back of fierce pressure and ferocious tackling.

Overall, the Tigers laid 14 more tackles and recorded 18 more inside 50s and 10 more scoring shots as they recorded their fourth consecutive win against the Royals, who were bereft of skills and avenues to goal.

A big reason for the latter was Claremont’s miserly defence, which has conceded just 12 goals in its opening three games and was led by the reliable Bailey Rogers (28 disposals), who hauled in a game-high 10 marks in his 50^th game and was the Tigers’ best player.

Midfielder Declan Mountford recorded an equal game-high 30 disposals and won several clearances, and also provided support for fellow midfielder Jye Bolton (29 disposals) by blocking East Perth debutant Christian Ameduri, who was given the task of tagging Bolton but was eclipsed by the star Tiger.

Forwards Alec Waterman (eight marks) and Ian Richardson both kicked three goals, while Jeremy Goddard (25 hit-outs) continued his impressive form and the unflappable Anton Hamp marshalled Claremont’s defence and won the players’ player award.

Co-captain Kane Mitchell won the coin toss and elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, as Mountford gave the Tigers a blistering start by splitting the middle in the opening minute after a squaring pass from Tyron Smallwood, with Mitchell winning the opening centre clearance.

The Tigers quickly added their second when Jack Bradshaw converted a thumping pass from Waterman, with Mountford winning the centre clearance, before Waterman then finished with aplomb from a tight angle.

The result was an 18-point lead to the Tigers in the opening 10 minutes, with their strong marking and ferocious tackling already setting them apart from the Royals.

Bradshaw then added his second to extend the lead to 26, before Jordan Busher kicked the Royals’ first goal.

A great smother and fierce pressure from Ryan Lim epitomised the Tigers’ appetite for the contest as the visitors took a 22-point lead at quarter-time after a brilliant opening term which included 10 more tackles than the Royals.

Goddard denied the Royals on the last line of defence with a goal-saving touch early in the second term before a front-and-centre Richardson kicked the Tigers’ fifth major.

Goddard again denied the Royals by helping out in defence before Hamp brilliantly used his body to win a contest at full-back.

A high-flying mark from Rogers was next to come, as the Tigers extended their lead to 28 points at half-time after kicking the only goal of the term.

Waterman kicked his second early in the third term after the Royals gave away a 50m penalty for their continued harassment of Bolton, before Waterman soon added his third after another clearance from Mitchell.

Ameduri replied with the Royals’ second, before full-forward Tom Lee converted after hauling in his second strong mark within the space of a minute.

Richardson then kicked his second and the Tigers’ ninth major to give the team a 47-point lead at the final change, with the visitors +16 in tackles and contested disposals, as coach Darren Harris praised the team’s “winning of territory” and “good fight.”

East Perth’s Joel Houghton kicked the opening goal of the final term before Richardson dribbled through his third, before Angus Scott kicked the Royals’ fourth.

Hardworking forward Jordan Law then kicked the Tigers’ final goal before Shaquille McKenzie kicked the Royals’ fifth, on a day which belonged to the Tigers and was capped off by Rogers aptly leading the team from the ground.

The Tigers will aim to extend their winning run when they host West Coast at Claremont Oval in round four.

CLAREMONT 4.4 5.5 9.7 11.9 (75)

EAST PERTH 1.0 1.1 2.2 5.5 (35)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 I. Richardson, A. Waterman, 2 J. Bradshaw, 1 T. Lee, D. Mountford, J. Law.

EAST PERTH: 1 J. Houghton, A. Scott, S. McKenzie, C. Ameduri, J. Busher.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Rogers, D. Mountford, A. Waterman, J. Goddard, A. Hamp.

EAST PERTH: S. McKenzie, P. McGinnity, N. Blee, T. Olango, J. Cahill.