Lee Returns To Tigerland

By Dan Scamozzi

After 17 games across four injury-interrupted seasons with St Kilda, Tom Lee has returned to Claremont and will add invaluable experience to the Tigers’ playing stocks in 2017.

Lee, 25, was delisted by the Saints despite some mixed signals from the AFL club about whether he had earned another contract, but has taken it in his stride and is ready to move on.

“It was confusing, but it’s just how the industry works,” Lee said.

“You just never know what’s going to happen, and (with) Nathan Brown getting traded into the club, it obviously hurt my position.

“Things happen in AFL teams that push other blokes out, so I was prepared for that, and, in the end it didn’t go my way but I’ll move on to the next step.”

That “next step” is lining up for the Tigers, something Lee didn’t need to think twice about once his second stint in the AFL came to an end.

“It was always going to be an easy decision,” Lee said.

“I’ve always wanted to, ever since I got drafted, come back here after the culture we had and the premierships back in 2011 and 2012.

“In the end, it was probably the easiest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

In a further boost, Lee is injury-free and raring to go.

“I’ll slowly get into pre-season and get the body moving a little bit, but for the time being, (it’s) the first time I haven’t had surgery for four years,” Lee said.

Despite being drafted by the Saints as a forward after kicking 60 goals in the 2012 WAFL season and a best-on-ground six-goal haul in the Foxtel Cup final, Lee has added another string to his bow after spending time in defence.

“At the time, I was in a bit of average form playing forward, and then when I got moved back it was just a good freshen up to get a perspective from the other end of the field,” Lee said.

“It ended up working out pretty well for me.

“I played some reasonably good footy, so a change is as good as a holiday and that’s what I needed.

“I enjoyed it at either end of the field.”

This versatility could see Lee playing at either end of the field in 2017.

“It could be both,” Lee said.

“That’s a chat I need to have with Harro (Darren Harris) and the coaching staff.”

With a number of promising youngsters coming through Claremont’s ranks, Lee will need to familiarise himself with some new faces.

“There’s not many blokes here from when I was (last) playing, that’s for sure,” Lee said.

“But I’ve kept track of it all the way through, and the kids who are coming through are very exciting and I’m pumped to get involved with them and build a bit of success over the next couple of years.”

Lee is also looking forward to playing at a redeveloped Claremont Oval.

“The redevelopment will be nice,” Lee said.

“It’s all very exciting.”