Dy Dan Scamozzi

Claremont’s Reserves suffered their first loss of the season after Perth defeated the Tigers by 28 points in a feisty clash at Claremont Oval in round 16.

Despite trailing by 14 points at quarter-time after a reactive and error-riddled opening term, the Tigers worked their way back into the contest and led at the final change before the Demons kicked away in the final term to prevail 16.9 (105) to 12.5 (77).

In one of the feel-good stories of the season, midfielder Tom Curren (13 disposals), who suffered a neck fracture in pre-season training late last year, played his first game of the season and starred in the first half.

In further good news, big man Callum Jamieson (nine disposals, 13 hit-outs) made a promising debut which included a game-high six tackles and a goal in the final term, while Oliver Eastland (one goal) returned from a calf injury.

Hard-running wingman Ben ‘Rushy’ Rushforth responded to his League omission with a hardworking performance which included a team-high six marks and two goals and saw him win best player, while ruckman Jordon Reid (four inside 50s) continued his stellar form with his efforts in the ruck and at ground level.

Hardworking forward Isaac Barton (five tackles, five inside 50s, two goals) led the way with his work rate and repeat efforts and won the players’ player award, while wingman Callan England also responded to his League omission with a solid performance.

And midfielder Jacob Sideris (five tackles), who never shirks a contest or backs away from a challenge, shook off niggling attention from the Demons to record a game-high 30 disposals and kicked the opening goal of the game.

On a disappointing note for the Tigers, captain Jesse Laurie suffered an injury to his oblique muscle in the first half.

The Tigers kicked to the northern end of the ground in the opening term and got off to a perfect start when Sideris snapped truly inside 35 seconds after Reid won the opening centre clearance and drove the hosts forward.

However, the Demons dominated the next 25 minutes of play and kicked five unanswered goals as repeated turnovers and an inability from the Tigers to clear the ball from defence saw the visitors race to a 26-point lead.

Late goals to Jake Anderson and Cooper Nitschke trimmed the deficit to 14 points at the first change, with the Tigers trailing in tackles but winning clearances, as coach Brayden Duckworth urged the team to win territory.

A great piece of roving and kick inside 50m from Anderson allowed Tyron Smallwood to kick the first of his two goals and pull the Tigers to within nine points in the second term, before Barton converted after another inside 50 from Curren.

The Demons replied with their sixth goal before Rushforth made the most of a brilliant squaring pass from Jordan Law.

Michael Bennell then kicked the Demons’ seventh goal before Nitschke burst inside 50m and finished with aplomb to pull the Tigers to within three points at half-time.

The Tigers began the second half without Curren and Laurie, as an intercept mark from Rushforth on the wing and a well-weighted pass from Josh Bennett set up Eastland for the first goal of the half and saw the hosts reclaim the lead.

Perth’s Matt Thompson replied with his third goal before Rushforth kicked his second, before the Demons kicked their ninth major to edge in front.

Second goals to Smallwood and Barton gave the Tigers an 11-point lead before Perth’s Blake Johnson kicked his third to trim the lead to five points at the final change.

With the Tigers well ahead in clearances, Duckworth again emphasised the importance of winning territory, before the Demons kicked the opening goal of the final term to reclaim the lead.

Debutant Jamieson then kicked truly to reclaim it for the Tigers before the Demons replied with consecutive goals.

A brilliant chase, repeat efforts and a crunching tackle earned Barton a free kick during an inspirational passage of play, however, the Demons then kicked three more goals to record their sixth win of the season.

The Tigers face Peel Thunder at David Grays Arena in round 17.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their fourth consecutive win and rose to second position on the ladder after defeating a goalless Perth by 65 points in Albany, 10.9 (69) to 0.4 (4).

CLAREMONT 3.0 7.1 11.4 12.5 (77)

PERTH 5.2 7.4 10.5 16.9 (105)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 T. Smallwood, B. Rushforth, C. Nitschke, I. Barton, 1 C. Jamieson, O. Eastland, J. Sideris, J. Anderson.

PERTH: 3 B. Johnson, M. Thompson, 2 D. Baldwin-Wright, M. Bennell, D. Horan, 1 L. Marlin, M. Henderson, C. Martin, I. Buckley.

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. Rushforth, J. Reid, I. Barton, C. England, J. Sideris.

PERTH: L. Marlin, B. Piggott, B. Johnson, M. Thompson, Z. Casey.