Claremont (Reserves) has lost its third straight game after the Tigers were handed a 23-point defeat by first-placed South Fremantle at the Show Grounds.

Despite a spirited performance in which the hosts closed to within one point in the final term, the Bulldogs showed why they are the team to beat in 2015 as they responded and prevailed, 11.12 (78) to 8.7 (55).

The loss sees Claremont slip to seventh position with a 5-8 record, and in desperate need of a win to remain in finals contention.

Eddie Simpson was handed a debut after some impressive and consistent form in the Colts and responded in ominous fashion by kicking four goals and taking several contested marks, while Aden Wilkins and Matt Guelfi also played their first games.

Meanwhile, League captain Jake Murphy made his return from injury and lined up for his first game since round three, with the midfielder not only getting through unscathed, but also winning 27 disposals and taking seven marks.

Tom Swift, acting captain Ben Higgs and Harrison McCracken all won plenty of the football, while Darcy Cameron covered the ground in fine style and took eight marks to go with 39 hit outs.

Keegan Knott worked tirelessly both in the forward line and up the ground, with the forward kicking two goals and having a hand in several others.

The Bulldogs were best served by Shaun Bewick, Matthew Ah Siu, Anthony Collica and Tim Stewart, while Kaiden Matera kicked four goals and Callum Ah Chee impressed with two majors and showed glimpses of brilliance.

The visitors were first out of the blocks as John Sgherza made the Tigers pay for a turnover in defence, with the Bulldog giving his side an early six-point lead on a fine day for football.

Simpson then benefited from some fine work by Knott, as the big man won a free kick and registered his first goal in Reserves’ ranks, with the Tigers drawing level at the four-minute mark.

However, goals to Paul Mugambwa, Matera and Joshua Branchi handed the Bulldogs a 20-point lead at quarter-time.

Brad Trpchev implored the Tigers to move the ball quicker in to the forward line and “crack in” in midfield, and when Knott ran in to an open goal following some strong work by Simpson, the hosts trimmed the deficit to 14 points early in the second term.

With Cameron covering the ground and taking important marks, a second goal to Simpson after some great work by Knott saw the Tigers close to within six points, with the pair forging an important partnership in attack, however, a late goal to Matera (second) gave the Bulldogs a 14-point lead at the long break.

A goal to Ah Siu extended the visitors’ lead to 19 points early in the third term, before Knott kicked his second major after winning a free kick following some great second and third efforts at ground level as the Tigers closed to within 12 points.

Alex Manuel then added his name to the goal kickers list after some smart play by Lawrence Evans and a pass by Knott, before Simpson’s third major resulted from a strong mark and had the Tigers trailing by just one point at the 19-minute mark.

With Knott now involved in just about every attacking foray for the hosts, the Tigers had well and truly worked their way back in to the contest, however, goals to Ah Chee and Matera (third) saw the Bulldogs respond once again when challenged, and take a 13-point lead at the final change.

There was one moment that caught the eye of Tiger fans in the latter stages of the third term, with first-gamer Wilkins courageously running with the flight of the ball in defence to complete a terrific spoil and prevent the Bulldogs with a chance at goal, as the debutant displayed his hunger for the game and put his body on the line when the side needed it most.

A fierce attack on the ball by Chaz Flint at centre-half-back moments later further highlighted the Tigers’ intent and appetite for the contest, with the ladder leaders knowing they had a game on their hands and were going to be challenged right to the end by a hungry Tigers outfit.

A goal to the hard-working McCracken after a great pick up and finish on the run saw the Tigers trailing by just seven points two minutes in to the final term, before a fourth major to Simpson following a tremendous pass by Steven Edwards closed the gap to one point at the five-minute mark.

With the Tigers now full of run and transitioning the ball from defence to attack with great purpose and fluency, an upset looked well and truly on the cards.

However, as had been the case all game, the Bulldogs responded when challenged once more and took a seven-point lead on the back of a second goal to Ah Chee, with plenty of feeling now developing between the two teams and spot fires breaking out between players.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the hostility between the teams saw the visitors lift a gear and register further goals through Josh Pullman and Matera (fourth), as they claimed a hard-fought win and held off a brave challenge by the hosts.

The Tigers will look to return to the winners list when they host a struggling Peel Thunder in round 17.

CLAREMONT 1.1 3.3 6.6 8.7 (55)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 4.3 5.5 8.7 11.12 (78)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 4 E. SIMPSON, 2 K. KNOTT, 1 H. MCCRACKEN, A. MANUEL

SOUTH FREMANTLE: 4 K. MATERA, 2 C. AH CHEE, 1 P. MUGAMBWA, M. AH SIU, J. PULLMAN, J. SGHERZA, J. BRANCHI

BEST

CLAREMONT: B. HIGGS, E. SIMPSON, K. KNOTT, D. CAMERON, T. SWIFT, H. MCCRACKEN

SOUTH FREMANTLE: S. BEWICK, K. MATERA, M. AH SIU, T. STEWART, C. AH CHEE