Bradshaw notches his century

By Ken Casellas

Exciting, enterprising, exuberant, energetic and effervescent. That’s Jack Bradshaw, the epitome of an elusive forward with an X factor and capable of enlivening the Claremont attack with his excellent skills.

Not only does he excel with his clever ground play, but he also excites the fans with his high-marking ability. He is brilliant with his snap shots and also is a reliable goalkicker from a set shot.

The 26-year-old Bradshaw is on the comeback trail after a knee injury prevented him from playing for the Tigers in 2018 --- and he will achieve a memorable milestone at Claremont Oval on Saturday when he lines up for the round-one encounter with East Fremantle. He will become the 118^th player to notch 100 senior matches in Claremont’s 94-year history.

“For a while it didn’t look as though I’d make it,” he said. “It will be something to look back on with pride when my career comes to an end. A lot of great Claremont players have reached the hundred-game milestone and to be in the same echelon is an honour.”

Bradshaw started with the Tigers in the 2010 colts side and immediately attracted attention with his lively play in a team which included Anton Hamp, Tom Ledger, Jeremy McGovern, Angus Litherland, Tom Taylor and Ben Saunders.

He, Ledger, Litherland and Taylor were chosen in the WAFL colts Team of the Year and he made his league debut at 18 in the round 19 match against East Perth on July 30, 2011 at Claremont Oval. He took two marks, had ten kicks, made seven handpasses and finished with 3.1, with the Tigers winning by 66 points.

“I was fortunate to be involved in a winning culture from, the outset,” he said. “I hit the post with my first kick and then scored a goal with my second kick in wet and slippery conditions after receiving a handpass from Beau Maister.”

Bradshaw narrowly missed selection in Claremont’s league side for the 2011 and 2012 grand finals, with the Tigers winning the premiership both years. “But I was excited to play in Claremont’s reserves premiership sides in 2011 and 2012,” he said. “Those premierships are definitely my most enjoyable moments with the club.”

Bradshaw has worn the No. 7 jumper with distinction throughout his career and he will be the seventh to have his name etched on the No. 7 locker in the changerooms at Claremont Oval, the others being Ian Grieve, Peter Jago, John Dethridge, Kevin Mitchell, Paul Burton and Darren Kowal.

Grieve and Mitchell each played in three league premiership sides and Dethridge, Burton and Kowal were premiership players on one occasion.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it six No. 7 players to enjoy a premiership success,” Bradshaw said. “That’s one of the main reasons why I decided to play again this year. Premierships don’t grow on trees. A lot of hard work is required.”

Bradshaw certainly hopes that he will be able to celebrate his milestone this week by helping the Tigers to beat East Fremantle, a significant task when one considers that the side was beaten by three goals by Swan Districts in a scratch match at Claremont Oval last Saturday when the Tigers trailed, 0.3 to 8.2 at half-time and did not open their goalscoring until 7min. 19sec. into the third quarter when Ollie Eastland snapped truly.

“There’s obviously parts of our game, specifically involving the forward group, that we can work on,” Bradshaw said. “But we have the belief that we can put it all together over four quarters. The boys are looking forward and are excited to getting into action this week. What we need to do is to stick to our processes and keep our energy levels up.”

Bradshaw has happy memories of his marvellous effort against East Fremantle in a round-22 fixture at East Fremantle Oval on August 20, 2016 when he booted eight goals and the Tigers triumphed by 99 points. Earlier in that season he kicked eight goals in a reserves match against West Perth.

Bradshaw was Claremont’s leading goalkicker in 2014 and 2015 and he has scored a total of 185 goals in senior football for the club --- 175 in 93 WAFL league matches and ten in six Foxtel Cup contests. For good measure, he has also scored 57 goals in 26 reserves matches.

A strong tackler, apart from his goalkicking prowess, Bradshaw generally plays on a half-forward flank or in a pocket. But he has also been used successfully on a wing and as a midfielder.

His career highlight was his interstate debut in May 2017 when he scored three goals to help Western Australia to beat Victoria in Port Melbourne. Sadly, he tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was unable to play again that year. Early last year he played in two matches for the University amateurs before enjoying a three-month overseas holiday.