A Claremont champion bid farewell to the Tiger Army at Claremont Oval on Saturday afternoon as a trio of new Tigers helped the team record a stirring 20-point win against Swan Districts.

Beau Maister, a life member, premiership player, Simpson medallist and State representative, who also played for West Coast and St Kilda, played the 154^th and final game of his stellar career and provided the highlight of the contest when he kicked truly in the final term of the 13.12 (90) to 10.10 (70) triumph.

He was then chaired from the ground by captain Ian Richardson and Haydn Busher, and met by wife Bec and daughter Rylee.

After helping the Tigers belt out the team song, Maister spoke brilliantly in the post-match presentations, recalling his move from Albany to Perth at the age of 17 and emphasising the importance of mateship and team success.

Another Tiger also spoke, and that was debutant Dylan Smallwood, who won the players’ player award for his sensational debut, which included 23 disposals and 11 marks.

Smallwood showed his composure and superb ability to read the play, thwarting several attacks from Swans.

Shaquille Morton and Kaiden Gilbert also played their first games, highlighting what a bright future there is at Tigerland - something Maister is looking forward to watching.

Then there was Richardson, who set his great mate Maister up with a typically brilliant pass and turned the game for the Tigers in the final term with his attack on the ball and second goal.

There were also brilliant performances from midfielder Jye Bolton, who recorded 37 disposals and a game-high six inside 50s, and robust defender Bailey Rogers (24 disposals, six marks).

Despite trailing by seven points at the final change and being one player down after Lachlan Martinis suffered a broken nose and concussion in the third term, the Tigers kicked four goals to none in the final term to record their third win of the season and close to within one win of fifth-placed East Perth.

Alex Manuel returned from a knee injury and was one of five Tigers to kick two goals, along with Keifer Yu, Richardson, Tom Curren (28 disposals) and Jared Hardisty.

Defender Tony Notte (seven marks) starred for Swans with his marking and spoiling, while Jesse Turner and William Reidy kicked two goals apiece.

However, the visitors were unable to stop the rampaging Tigers from running all over them.

Swans elected to kick to the northern end of the ground in the opening term, against the breeze, and Manuel made the visitors pay when he snapped truly to give the Tigers a fast start.

Curren then did likewise, before Warrick Wilson hit back for Swans.

With Smallwood already impressing, goals from Busher and Yu gave the Tigers a 20-point lead and continued the great start, before Taryce Stewart grabbed a late major for Swans.

The result was a 14-point lead to the Tigers at quarter-time, with Bolton (13 disposals) and Nick Winmar (nine disposals, four marks) leading the way and coach Darren Harris imploring the team to stay the course.

Swans’ Todd Banfield made the Tigers pay for a poor kick in defence early in the second term, before Jack Beeck hit back courtesy of a 50m penalty.

Reidy and Turner then kicked truly either side of a major from Hardisty to cut the Tigers’ lead to seven points at half-time.

17 seconds was all it took for Yu to kick his second and give the Tigers a lightning start to the second half, before three goals in six minutes saw Swans take a six-point lead.

Hardisty and Richardson then set sail from distance to reclaim the lead for the Tigers, before two late goals gave Swans a seven-point lead at the final change.

Harris paid tribute to the defenders but implored the team to spread hard, as second goals to Manuel and Richardson gave the Tigers a six-point lead in the final term.

Repeat efforts from Jordan Law and a spearing pass from Richardson then saw Maister send the Tiger Army into a frenzy, before a second goal to Curren capped off a memorable victory.

The Tigers will aim for consecutive wins when they host West Perth at the same venue in round 11.

CLAREMONT 4.4 6.7 9.8 13.12 (90)

SWAN DISTRICTS 2.2 5.6 10.9 10.10 (70)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 2 K. Yu, I. Richardson, T. Curren, J. Hardisty, A. Manuel, 1 J. Beeck, H. Busher, B. Maister.

SWAN DISTRICTS: 2 J. Turner, W. Reidy, 1 T. Banfield, T. Watson, T. Stewart, B. Noble, M. Riggio, W. Wilson.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Bolton, D. Smallwood, B. Rogers, J. Beeck, J. Hardisty.

SWAN DISTRICTS: T. Notte, M. Riggio, J. Turner, M. Rogers.

By Dan Scamozzi.

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