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Round 19 – Claremont v East Perth Match ReportMonday, July 31, 2017 - 3:15 AM - by Chris Pike
PLENTY was on the line at Claremont Oval with Claremont hosting East Perth and it went right down to the wire with the Tigers storming home but the Royals just withstood the charge for the crucial four-point victory.
With the winner to move within a game of fifth position with West Perth losing to South Fremantle and the loser remaining two games behind with just four rounds of the season remaining, there was plenty at stake at Claremont Oval on Saturday.
The Royals started strongly with the help of the breeze in some wet conditions with the only three goals of the opening quarter. But the Tigers responded to lead by a point at half-time.
East Perth again pulled away with six goals to four in the third quarter and the Royals looked home midway through the last term. But the Tigers wouldn’t go away and kicked three of the game's last four goals.
However, that one in between from East Perth ruckman Scott Jones was enough to secure the 11.8 (74) to 10.10 (70) victory.
The win could be massive in the context of East Perth's season improving the Royals to a 7-9 record to be just a game behind the fifth placed West Perth with games against the Falcons, Swan Districts, Perth and Subiaco to go.
Claremont now has its work cut out two games back at 6-10 with games to finish against Perth, South Fremantle, Swan Districts and West Perth.
Chris Masten put his hand up for a West Coast recall playing a starring role in the midfield for East Perth with 38 possessions, five marks and four entries inside the forward 50.
Stan Wright worked hard also for 25 disposals, seven marks, five tackles and five inside-50 entries while Sharrod Wellingham had 22 touches and seven marks.
Co-captain Patrick McGinnity played well against his former team with 22 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal for East Perth while Jones finished with 17 disposals, 10 marks, 23 hit outs and the crucial goal.
Ben Miller and Shayne Hille kicked two goals apiece for the Royals with Nathan Blee also collecting 20 possessions, Julian Ameduri 19, Josh Hill 18 and Tom Cole 17.
Claremont had some strong ball winners through the middle led by youngster Bailey Banfield with 32 possessions, seven inside-50 entries, five tackles and four marks.
Ryan Lim also collected 27 possessions while laying six tackles as Tom Ledger gathered 27 disposals, Harrison McCracken 23, Jye Bolton 23, Nick Winmar 19 and Keifer Yu 19.
Beau Maister kicked two goals as Claremont's only multiple goal scorer while Haydn Busher was again strong down back with 19 possessions, 10 marks and he even got forward for a last quarter goal. So did Charlie Le Fanu to go with his 16 disposals and five marks.
It took a string of behinds from either side and almost 15 minutes to pass before the opening goal of the game that was kicked by four-game Royal Miller.
East Perth had the advantage of the first quarter breeze and finished the opening term with goals to Ameduri and Kyle Anderson to take a handy 20-point advantage by quarter-time.
Claremont gained the advantage of the breeze in the second quarter and while it took almost 12 minutes, the Tigers kicked the first goal of the term through Maister. 
Claremont then added goals to Winmar and Zac Langdon by half-time and by holding East Perth goalless led by a point at the long break.
The Tigers made a flying start to the second half with goals in the first five minutes to Ian Richardson and Aaron Holt. It was another Claremont product kicking another goal at the seven-minute, but McGinnity was in an East Perth jumper and he turned the tide back the Royals way.
East Perth went on to kick the five goals of the third quarter courtesy of Hille, Jonathan Giles, Fraser McInnes, Hille again and debutant Mitch Dobson and the Royals appeared cruising to the important win leading by 11 points at three quarter-time.
But Claremont regained the advantage of the breeze in the last term, however, that didn’t stop East Perth kicking the first goal through Miller to open a 15-point lead at the 13-minute mark.
Two quick goals from usual defenders Le Fanu and Busher brought Claremont right back into the game soon after with the margin just three points.
But East Perth responded through ruckman Jones who goaled at the 26-minute mark and even though Claremont kicked the last of the game through Maister with 28 minutes gone, the Royals held on for the perhaps season-defining four-point victory.
Claremont now must beat Perth on Saturday at Lathlain Park to keep its outside finals hopes alive while East Perth could be in fifth position by Saturday night if it beats West Perth at HBF Arena.
CLAREMONT 0.3 3.7 7.8 10.10 (70)
EAST PERTH 3.5 3.6 9.7 11.8 (74)
CLAREMONT – Goals: Maister 2; Oakley, Holt, Langdon, Guelfi, Winmar, Le Fanu, Busher, Richardson.
Best: Banfield, Lim, Busher, McCracken, Ledger, Winmar, Hamp.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Hille, Miller 2; McGinnity, Anderson, Ameduri, McInnes, Jones, Giles, Dobson.
Best: Masten, McGinnity, Jones, Wright, Hille, Ameduri, McInnes.
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