Vale Keren Guard

By Ken Casellas

Small of stature, skilful, fast and tenacious, Keren Guard was an outstanding player for Claremont in his 111 league appearances between 1959 and 1967.

And now Claremont supporters and officials are mourning his death this week 60 years after he gave a superb performance and was one of Claremont’s best players in the memorable four-point premiership victory over East Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

Determination was one of the hallmarks of his career as an outstanding wingman for the Tigers.

He was a brilliant junior footballer who won the Sammy Clarke Medal as the fairest-and-best player in the Claremont district competition, and he was a member of the WA State schoolboys’ side which competed in the national carnival in Adelaide in 1953.

In 1957, Guard shone for the Claremont side in the inaugural season of the WAFL’s thirds competition, now known as the colts. The Tigers were beaten by Swan Districts by one point, 9.12 to 9.11 in the grand final, and Guard again played in the grand final of the thirds the following year when the side was beaten by Swans by 16 points.

Guard made his league debut as an 18-year-old in the match against South Fremantle at Claremont Oval on August 29, 1959, and hip and groin injuries led to his retirement at the end of the 1967 season.

Jeremy, one of Guard’s three sons, made 109 league appearances for the Tigers and was captain of the side which beat East Perth by two points in the 1996 WAFL grand final. Jeremy also played 68 matches for Fitzroy between 1992 and 1995.