Round 3 – Perth v Claremont Match ReportSunday, April 2, 2017 - 7:33 PM - by Chris Pike

CLAREMONT continued its impressive start to the 2017 WAFL season under new coach Darren Harris beating Perth by 59 points at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

It was a big day for Perth playing its first home game at Lathlain Park for 2017 and on the new playing surface with the on-going redevelopment taking place at the venue.

There was plenty of excitement surrounding their first appearance at home but Claremont was out to spoil that party and did so in emphatic fashion running out 22.15 (147) to 13.10 (88) winners.

Claremont was coming off an opening round win over East Fremantle to the tune of 62 points before the bye last week. 

The Tigers then came out on a mission against the Demons and handed them a third straight losses after starting 2017 with defeats to Swan Districts and Subiaco.

Claremont made a flying start with six goals to two in the first quarter to lead by 25 points by quarter-time.

The Tigers added another five goals to four in the second term but Perth was fighting hard trailing by just 34 points at the main break.

Claremont put its foot down in the second half, though, with six goals to two in the third quarter before it was five apiece in the last with the Tigers running out 59-point winners.

There were plenty of standout performers for Claremont and especially in attack they had plenty of options adding to their potency.

Tom Lee was the star in Round 1 and he still played his role on Saturday kicking two goals but there were plenty of others standing up to combine for the 22 goals.

Alexander Manuel played the best game of his league career with five goals from 27 possessions and seven marks. Jack Bradshaw also kicked five goals from his seven kicks.

Beau Maister could have kicked a big bag but ended up kicking 4.6 from his 16 disposals and eight marks.

Ryan Lim continued his emergence as an elite midfielder in the WAFL finishing the afternoon with 26 possessions, six marks and two goals as well.

Bailey Banfield racked up 27 disposals for Claremont, Jake Murphy 25, Matthew Davies 25, Tom Ledger 25, Haydn Busher 25, Jye Bolton 23, Zac Langdon 22, Ryan Murphy 22 and Ian Richardson 20.

Mitch Andrews had 47 hit outs in the ruck in a good battle against Perth's Christian Eyres who had 10 touches and 30 hit outs.

Brennan Stack took the most of his opportunities up forward for Perth kicking five goals from six kicks with Spencer White booting four majors from seven kicks and three marks.

Captain Clint Jones was playing his 300th senior game between the WAFL, AFL and VFL, and worked tirelessly for the Demons to end up with 29 possessions, five marks and five tackles.

Liam McKenna also amassed 29 disposals while Aidan Tropiano had 22 touches and Laine Wilkins 17 to go with a goal.

Claremont remains on the road this Friday night to take on the winless East Perth at Leederville Oval

Perth remains at Lathlain Park to take on East Fremantle on Saturday in a battle between two teams yet to win in 2017.

CLAREMONT        6.4    11.9    17.12    22.15    (147)
PERTH            2.3    6.5    8.9    13.10    (88)

CLAREMONT – Goals: Manuel, J Richardson 5; Maister 4; Lim, Lee 2; I Richardson, Bolton, Guelfi, Langdon.
Best: Manuel, Lim, Banfield, Busher, Maister, Ledger, Davies.
PERTH – Goals: Stack 5; White 4; Tropiano, Wilkins, Chester, Garstone.
Best: McKenna, Jones, Stack, White, Wilkins, Tropiano.