ROUND 1 PREVIEW: CLAREMONT V SUBIACO

A fierce contest is set to unfold when the mighty Claremont Tigers face traditional rivals Subiaco at Leederville Oval in the opening round of the 2020 Optus WAFL Premiership Season on Saturday afternoon.

The unprecedented season will consist of nine home-and-away rounds, with each team to play each other once and have a bye (Claremont has its bye in round nine), and a three-week finals series.

The season will also feature shorter quarters and a top-four finals format.

Claremont champion Kane Mitchell will lead the Tigers in 2020, with Dec Mountford and Anton Hamp appointed vice-captains.

Ryan Lim, who will play his 100^th game against the Lions, and Haydn Busher round out the five-man leadership group.

Darren Harris enters his fourth season as senior coach, while Ryan McKenzie has taken the reigns from Simon Nimmo (work commitments) and will coach the Reserves.

Matt Angus, who has held several coaching roles with the club, will coach the Colts.

In a blow for the Tigers, Jack Beeck (knee) and Lachie Martinis (broken leg) will both be sidelined for the season, while Lewis Daisley will miss several weeks with an elbow injury.

Star midfielder Jye Bolton (foot) and experienced recruit Ryan Nyhuis (ankle) will need to prove their fitness in order to face the Lions, after sustaining injuries in Claremont’s pre-season games against West Perth and East Fremantle respectively.

The Tigers have added exciting duo Ed McGinty and Matthew Spoors to their forward stocks, while a number of Colts and Reserves players will also push for senior selection.

The Claremont Football Club encourages members and fans to attend the game and cheer on the mighty Tigers.

Entry is FREE for kids under 16.

WHERE AND WHEN:

Leederville Oval, Saturday, July 18.

League: 2.30pm.

Reserves: 12.00pm.

Colts: 9.30am.

WAFLW: Subiaco v Claremont, 5.15pm.

RADIO:

Tune in to SportFM (91.3) from 2.00pm for LIVE coverage.