Round 3 Preview - Perth v ClaremontFriday, March 31, 2017 - 2:24 PM - by Chris Pike

PERTH plays its first game at the redeveloping Lathlain Park for 2017 hosting Claremont on Saturday with the Demons hunting their first win and the Tigers looking to continue their good start.

While the building around Lathlain Park will be continuing throughout 2017, the new surface is now all ready to go in time for the Demons to host the Tigers this Saturday afternoon.

It's a big game for Perth as well not only to make its first appearance on home turf for the year, but to try and get the first win on the board as well. 

Slipping to 0-3 after the opening three rounds would give the Demons a big task to be able remain in the finals hunt as 2017 continues.

Perth started the season on fire with an eight-goal first quarter against Swan Districts before losing by 12 points. The Demons were again competitive last Saturday against Subiaco but ended up losing by 23 points.

The task for Perth won't be easy, though, against a Claremont team who looked supremely impressive in its Round 1 win over East Fremantle prior to the bye last weekend.

Claremont made a slow start against East Fremantle in that Round 1 clash at East Fremantle Oval, but dominated thereafter. The Tigers ended up winning by a thumping 62 points to make the perfect start under new coach Darren Harris.

Perth does come into the game with good memories of last year against Claremont winning by four points at the Showground in Round 15 and by 17 in Round 3 at Lathlain Park.

As for Harris, the last time he suffered a loss to Perth as a WAFL coach was with West Perth back Round 9, 2004. He won the last four games in charge of the Falcons against the Demons before departing at the end of 2005.

Not helping Perth's causing is a horror injury list early on in the season with Brant Colledge joining that with a hamstring complaint. 

Other players currently sidelined include Jarrad Irons, Cody Leggett, Jared Bell, Lachlan Dennis, Matt Thompson and reigning fairest and best winner Michael Sinclair.

Former South Fremantle defender Brad McPhail will come in for the Demons to play his first game for the club after being recruited over summer. Taran Etto also has earned a call up for his first league appearance of 2017.

Blake Johnson joins Colledge out of the Perth line-up that lost to Subiaco last Saturday.

Claremont put in a tremendous performance for much of its opening Round 1 win over East Fremantle with Tom Lee kicking five goals while Ryan Lim, Ryan Neates, Jye Bolton and Tom Ledger all won plenty of the ball.

As a result and with the week to recover with the bye, there's little reason for changes at the Tigers.

Nobody is out of the team at this stage with Tom Shanahan, Jack Bradshaw and Bailey Rogers added to the squad.

With Perth looking to impress on home turf and Claremont out to maintain its Round 1 momentum, the Demons and Tigers should put on a good show at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

PERTH v CLAREMONT – LATHLAIN PARK, SATURDAY 1.40PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast: 7mate