CLAREMONT returned to the winners’ list, after conquering West Perth by 12 points at Revo Fitness Stadium in Round 8 of the West Australian Football League (WAFL) competition.

It was Leith Fitzpatrick who scored the opening goal of the game, when he ran onto a loose ball inside 50 and was able to soccer it through for a goal in the third minute. Soon after, Zac Mainwaring soccered through a goal. Moments later, Fitzpatrick kicked his second goal of the quarter, after he was awarded a 50-metre penalty and converted his set shot. Before the quarter-time siren, Lachlan Rewell nailed West Perth’s first goal of the game, after he marked a chaos ball inside attacking 50.

In the second quarter, Matao Owen, Jacob Van Rooyen and Kieran Gowdie all kicked goals for Claremont, and the Tigers went into the main break with a 33-point lead.

After the main break, Dylan Mulligan slotted through his first goal after he was awarded a free kick for being taken too high. Kallum Erikson roved a pack expertly before snapping through a goal for West Perth. Darcy Dixon took a strong mark inside 50, and then kicked a goal for the Falcons. Moments later, Dixon took a great diving mark inside attacking 50. He went back and nailed his second goal. Gowdie kicked a long-range goal from 65 metres out. After the three-quarter time siren, Kalin Lane scored a goal that pushed Claremont’s lead out to 31 points.

Dixon got the Falcons off to a good start in the final quarter, when he booted his third goal of the match. Mulligan soccered through the instant reply for the Tigers. After winning a free kick for being pushed in the back, Lochlan Paton went back and kicked a goal for West Perth. Brock Lewis banged through a goal from 40 metres out. Tommy Taylor-Shreeve kicked another goal for the Falcons that brought the final margin back to just 12 points.

Jacob Blight (26 possessions, three marks) and Jack Avery (24 possessions, five marks, three tackles) were outstanding in defence for the Tigers. Joel Western (21 possessions, four marks, four inside 50s, three tackles), Alex Pearce (21 possessions, four tackles), Samuel Alvarez (20 possessions, five inside 50s) and Jake Willson (18 possessions, five marks) were prolific for Claremont.

For West Perth, Michael Mallard continued his excellent season with 14 possessions, 31 hit-outs, and four marks. Rohan Scurria (22 possessions, six marks), Brady Alvaro (15 possessions, seven marks), Cooper Blackburn (15 possessions, six inside 50s), Jack DeMarte (15 possessions, five inside 50s) and Kellen Johnson (14 possessions, five marks, four tackles) also competed strongly for the Falcons.

Next week, West Perth hosts the rampaging Subiaco at Provident Financial Oval, while Claremont has the bye before it embarks on another finals campaign.