Tigers continue colts dominance coming from behind to beat RoyalsSunday, September 25, 2016 - 12:38 PM - by Chris Pike

EAST Perth made a stirring run into the RediMed Colts Grand Final and threw down the gauntlet to Claremont but the Tigers proved too strong with a run of seven consecutive goals either side of three quarter-time to win by 18 points.

The Royals had to beat East Fremantle in the final round just to qualify for the finals in the first place and they went on to beat East Fremantle, South Fremantle and Perth to make their way into the Grand Final.

But Claremont had beaten South Fremantle and Perth to make it to the Grand Final before a week off and then despite trailing by 18 points early in the quarter, the Tigers finished strongly with the next seven goals to end up beating the Royals 11.13 (79) to 9.7 (61).

Not only has Claremont now won back-to-back colts premiership and three in the last four years having taken part in four successive Grand Finals, but the Tigers have won a remarkable 15 colts premierships in the past 40 years.

Claremont had never made a Grand Final in the colts until 1976, but that started a run of four straight premierships, and since then the Tigers have now won 15 in total and only missed the finals on four occasions with four of those flags coming in the last eight years.

The Mel Whinnen Medal was won by West Coast's father-son prospect Jake Waterman who kicked four goals to go with 20 possessions and eight marks.

Claremont had a host of other star performers as well with none better than the hard-running Bailey Banfield finishing with 32 possessions and six tackles.

Jacob Sideris was also impressive for the Tigers ending up with 22 disposals, six marks and six tackles while Sam Petrevski-Seton had 21 touches and six tackles.

Jack Blaauw also compiled 18 disposals and Keanu Shandley 17 to go with two goals. Chris Oakley also booted two majors.

Sam Powell-Pepper was outstanding for East Perth kicking four goals to go with 22 possessions and seven bone-crunching tackles.

Ethan Christofis and Harley Stack also kicked two goals apiece for the Royals.

Mitch Dobson worked hard all game for the Royals ending up with 22 possessions and seven marks while Stan Wright compiled 18 disposals, Tarir Bayok 18 and Harry Blanch 17.

Jeremy Goddard was a dominant presence in the ruck for Claremont with 16 possessions, seven marks and 44 hit outs.

East Perth was coming off three impressive finals wins to make the Grand Final and the Royals continued that momentum early in the premiership decider.

The Royals kicked four goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 20 points at the first change. 

Claremont kicked the first couple of goals of the second quarter to close to within six points but East Perth responded and still managed to hold on to a 12-point advantage at half-time.

The Royals then started the second half in exciting fashion with Powell-Pepper kicking his third goal from the pocket. That saw East Perth lead again by 18 points but it would be the last goal for the Royals for well over a quarter.

James Egan got Claremont's roll going with a quick goal before Oakley kicked his second from a set shot. The Tigers hit the front for the first time Shandley kicked truly and they then led by eight points at quarter-time following a goal to Josh Bennett.

Three goals in the opening 10 minutes of the last quarter courtesy of two to Waterman and another to Shandley saw the Tigers lead by a match-winning 28 points. Stack and Powell-Pepper gave East Perth the last two goals of the Grand Final but that only cut the final margin to 18 points.

CLAREMONT            1.1    4.6    8.8    11.13    (79)
EAST PERTH            4.3    6.6    7.6    9.7    (61)

CLAREMONT Goals: Waterman 4; Shandley, Oakley 2; Patmore, Egan, Bennett.
Best: Waterman, Banfield, Goddard, Shandley, Sideris, Blaauw, Petrevski-Seton.
EAST PERTH Goals: Powell-Pepper 4; Stack, Christofis 2; Young.
Best: Powell-Pepper, Dobson, Bayok, Wright, Blanch, Ameduri.

MEL WHINNEN MEDAL: Jake Waterman (Claremont)