Tigers Make The Jump

Of nine West Australians to be selected in last week’s 2014 AFL National draft, two were from the Claremont Football Club. A further two players were selected in today’s AFL Rookie draft continuing Claremont’s unparalleled success in providing players to the nation’s elite football competition.

After winning the minor premiership the past four years and with two of those seasons sealed with premiership flags, 2014 was always going to bring fresh challenges to tigerland with a host of champions lost to retirement and travel before the season began.

Despite a tough start, Claremont was able to unearth yet another crop of developing stars with 13 fresh faces to don the gold sash for the first time over the course of the year. This injection of talented youngsters saw the tigers win eight of the last nine games of the season to only narrowly miss the finals, and become the only side in the competition to beat every other side over the course of the year in the process.

One player to benefit from the opportunities this season was Mitch McGovern, his meteoric rise capped with his selection by the Adelaide Crows at pick 43 in the AFL Draft. A supremely talented youngster, McGovern was cruelly struck down with successive injuries over the years which almost completely rule him out of 2013, and also threaten his 2014 season.

Despite a preseason of recovery and a late start to the season, a committed and disciplined approach saw him play 11 League games in 2014 with his vertical leap and high marking ability providing countless highlights along the way.

Mitch joins his brother Jeremy and his father Andrew as players to come through Tigerland on their way to the AFL where Mitch is sure to make his own name.

Another player following his father’s footsteps into the AFL at the National Draft was Alec Waterman. During two outstanding years of colts and state football Waterman received the Mel Whinnen award for best player in the 2013 colt’s premiership amongst many other plaudits and accolades along the way.

The West Coast Eagles scooped the ever professional Waterman at pick 76. Having previously committed to Alec on October 7 at the father-son nomination meeting, he has been training with the club since and has taken great strides in what is sure to prove the start of yet another promising career.

The AFL Rookie draft saw a further two tigers make it onto AFL lists with Jared Hardisty taken by Hawthorn at pick 18 and Brenden Abbott taken by Collingwood at pick 26.

A story of perseverance and dedication, the effervescent Hardisty has dominated colts’ football for the past two seasons and was one of WA’s best players over the state 18s carnival this season.

After an interrupted 2013, Brenden Abbott was able to make every post a winner this season putting in numerous eye catching displays across 15 league games as a power forward and becoming yet another player to blossom in the Claremont Development Program in 2014.

Current Director of Football and former club champion Darrell Panizza has overseen the clubs resurgence in 2014 and had this to say about the recent draft success.

‘’We always have a goal of getting two players drafted each year because we have faith in our system.”

“We have excelled in 2014 by getting four onto AFL lists and in doing that we’ve also shown the benefits of our continual focus on making our development programs as strong as possible.”

“We have shown that developing from within is not only beneficial to our senior side but also to the financial future of the football club.

“It’s a fantastic result because the blend between our metropolitan and country zones is equal, demonstrating the value and contribution these areas have for our club.”

“Special mention must go to our regional football program in the Great Southern region the ‘Great Southern Storm’ on having yet another two players promoted onto AFL lists.”

“We wish all four players selected all the very best and look forward to following their careers with great interest.”

With training back in full swing across all grades and more outstanding fresh talent itching to prove themselves, Claremont can count on more young tigers to put on a show at their temporary home in 2015.