Claremont has suffered a heart-breaking three-point loss to East Fremantle after a nail-biting clash at ATOM Stadium.

Despite a much-improved performance by the Tigers, the Sharks ran out winners, 10.14 (74) to 10.11 (71) and condemned the blue and gold to a third-straight loss to begin the season.

With a howling breeze translating to questionable decision making and poor skill execution from both sides, goals were at a premium, yet the lead changed hands several times in what proved to be a see-sawing contest at Shark Park.

The Tigers welcomed Beau Maister back for his first game since the 2011 Grand Final, along with Anton Hamp, while Toby Plant made his debut for the club.

Captain Jake Murphy failed to take his place after rolling an ankle at training, while Haydn Busher and Jack Richardson were omissions from the side who lost to the Bulldogs in round three.

The Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term, as Hugo Breakey guarded Liam Anthony and Oliver Tate lined up on the hard-running Bradd Dalziell.

With both teams in desperate search of four points, the Tigers got off to a shaky start after Dalziell capitalised on a turnover in defence to give the Sharks a six-point lead in the opening minute.

When Kiefer Yu found Maister, the former West Coast Eagles and St Kilda player could only manage a behind, before Ryan Lester-Smith grabbed the Sharks’ second goal as the Tigers trailed by 11 points at the 11-minute mark.

It could’ve been worse for Claremont had Kepler Bradley not denied East Fremantle and Jayden Schofield a certain goal following a vital touch on the goal line, however, Brandon Ellis ensured the Sharks did kick their third goal, and gave the hosts an 18-point lead at the 21-minute mark.

A great smother by Hamp reminded the Sharks that the Tigers were still in the contest, however, a second goal to Dalziell in the shadows of quarter time saw the hosts take a 23-point lead into the first change, having taken advantage of the healthy breeze.

The Tigers had plenty of room for improvement, however, coach Michael Broadbridge implored his troops to stay positive, and use the breeze to their advantage in the second quarter.

A desperate tackle by Ian Richardson showed the Tigers’ intent early in the second term, as the Sharks failed to take their chances in front of goal.

After the hosts kicked three consecutive behinds, the Tigers made them pay when Jack Bradshaw kicked Claremont’s opening goal for the game at the eight-minute mark and reduced the Sharks’ lead to 20 points.

Two minutes later and the Tigers had their second major as Maister celebrated his return to League ranks after being found by Tate, and suddenly Claremont had a spring in their step.

Moments later, and the Tigers had their third goal in as many minutes after Yu goaled on the run following a handball by Ryan Neates after a centre-clearance by Bradley.

All of a sudden the Tigers trailed by just eight points, and that would then become two, after Bradshaw kicked his second goal after being found by Tom Ledger.

With the Tigers now owning the football and applying a stranglehold over the Sharks, an ankle injury to John Williams temporarily halted play as the utility was helped from the ground with the aid of trainers.

A third goal to Bradshaw saw the Tigers grab the lead for the first time at the 24-minute mark of the second term after the silky forward was found by Matt Davies, yet the goal was overshadowed by an incident behind the play.

Maister and Matthew Jupp appeared to be the players involved, with the Shark forced to leave the field under the assistance of the East Fremantle medical staff.

A second goal to Lester-Smith in the shadows of half time saw the Sharks regain the lead, as a behind to Hamp after the siren saw the Tigers trailing by two points at the long break.

Five goals to one for the quarter saw the Tigers well and truly back in the contest, after Bradshaw lit up the game with three second-quarter goals.

With barely a whisker separating the two sides, a searching run by Yu allowed Hamp to kick his first goal at the six-minute mark of the third term and hand the Tigers a one-point lead.

A goal to Mitchell Boyle saw the Sharks regain their slender advantage, before a fourth major to Bradshaw saw the Tigers take a three-point lead at the 16-minute mark.

A fine goal by Jamie McNamara saw the lead change hands once more, as the Sharks took a three-point lead into the final change.

With the Tigers requiring a big effort if they were to secure their first win for the season, Broadbridge encouraged his players to finish the game off as they kicked to the scoring end in the final term.

A second goal to Yu at the three-minute mark saw the Tigers regain the lead, however, Rob Young hit back for the Sharks following a 50m penalty.

A third goal to the hard-working Yu at the 16-minute mark saw the Tigers take a five-point lead, however, the Sharks hit back once again, this time through an inspirational goal from their captain Rory O’Brien.

A goal to Bradley saw the Tigers regain the lead once more, in what was becoming a remarkable game of end-to-end football, as both sides began to tire.

Despite the brave efforts of the Tiger players, the final few minutes were largely played in East Fremantle’s forward half, and when fourth-gamer Jake Schleicher kicked his first goal for the game, it proved to be the match winner.

Although the Tigers find themselves still searching for their first win of the season, they will take great heart and confidence from the improved showing, and hope to translate it into a win over Perth at the Show Grounds in round five.

Tate took home the players’ player award for his four-quarter effort, while Ledger and Yu won plenty of the football.

CLAREMONT 0.4 5.6 7.9 10.11 (71)

EAST FREMANTLE 4.3 5.8 7.12 10.14 (74)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 J. BRADSHAW 3 K. YU, 1 K. BRADLEY, A. HAMP, B. MAISTER

EAST FREMANTLE: 2 R. LESTER-SMITH, B. DALZIELL, 1 J. SCHLEICHER, J. MCNAMARA, R. O’BRIEN, M. BOYLE, R. YOUNG, B. ELLIS

BEST

CLAREMONT: K. YU, T. LEDGER, J. BRADSHAW, O. TATE, K. BRADLEY, M. ANDREWS

EAST FREMANTLE: R. O’BRIEN, J. SCHLEICHER, A. STEPHEN, S. HENSON