East Perth kept its slim finals hopes alive with a thrilling four-point win over Claremont on Saturday.

The 11.3 (74) to 10.10 (70) victory over the Tigers got the Royals within one game of bitter rivals and next week’s opponent, West Perth, who foiled an opportunity to shore up their spot in the top five following a big loss to South Fremantle.

The visitors got off to a fast start and booted three unanswered goals in the first quarter, but Claremont repaid the favour in the second term to secure a one-point lead at half-time.

The game appeared to be slipping from East Perth’s grasp when Claremont’s Ian Richardson and Aaron Holt booted back-to-back goals within six minutes of the resumption of play, but Royals co-captain Patrick McGinnity stemmed the bleeding with a long bomb from 50m.

Shayne Hille pegged back another goal in the 15^th minute before tall Eagles Jonathan Giles and Fraser McInnes got in on the act.

Giles nailed a 45m set shot on an acute angle after receiving a holding free kick and McInnes clunked a strong contested mark before piercing his drop punt from 25m through the big sticks.

Hille and league debutant Mitchell Dobson extended the Royals’ lead to 17 points with two more goals, but the Tigers pegged six points back just before the siren to trail by just 11 points leading into the final quarter.

Ben Miller gave East Perth some breathing room with the first goal of the fourth term, but the Tigers fired back with two goals in the 17^th and 21^st minutes to reduce the margin to four points.

Just when the home crowd thought their team might pinch a win from the jaws of defeat, Royals ruckman Scott Jones clunked a big pack mark in the goal square and got East Perth home with a straight shot from point-blank range.

Senior players Sharrod Wellingham (25 disposals) and Chris Masten (40 possessions) wielded plenty of influence through the guts and played a big part in picking the Royals off the canvas following Claremont’s five-goal run midway through the contest.

Defenders Tom Cole (19 disposals, 14 pressure acts), Francis Watson (15 disposals, three tackles) and Tom Gorter (10 disposals, seven spoils) held their own at the back of the field, while big man McInnes - who collected 10 contested possessions and clunked seven marks - was a presence up forward.

Josh Hill (20 disposals, five marks, four tackles) was a thorn in Claremont’s side all day, as was Jordan Snadden, who gathered 11 disposals and laid six tackles while playing a run-with role on several Tigers midfielders.

Tom Lamb amassed 16 disposals and four tackles on the wing, while Giles effected 39 hit outs in addition to booting his important third-quarter goal.