Keifer Yu’s Milestone

The main reason why Keifer Yu’s sturdy body has been battered, bruised and broken has been his ferocious and fearless attack on the ball at all times.

He has never shirked a physical battle on the field, but he has paid the penalty for his inspirational courage by having suffered a series of injuries --- to his back, arms and legs. And these ailments have forced him to miss quite a few matches during his seven years at Claremont.

Never one to complain, the 24-year-old Yu has been rewarded for his perseverance and dedication by representing the club with distinction in every 20 league matches this year.

And he will celebrate his 50^th senior appearance for the Tigers when he takes the field at Leederville Oval against East Perth in the elimination final on Sunday afternoon.

A much-loved and well-respected player at Claremont, Yu is an unassuming character with a ready smile and in recent years he has developed into a mentor for the younger footballers at the club with his sage advice and wise counsel.

Originating from Broome and educated at Hale School, he arrived at the Claremont Football Club in 2009 and played in 17 matches with the colts side. Wearing the No. 20 jumper, he was a member of the Claremont side which won the colts premiership by beating Peel Thunder in a memorable encounter under lights at Subiaco Oval.

His teammates included current Tigers league players Ryan Neates, Aaron Holt, Matt Davies and Jordan McAllister, as well as Nat Fyfe, Gerrick Weedon and Travis Colyer.

Then, wearing the No. 55 jumper, he made his league debut in the round four match against Subiaco at Leederville Oval on April 11, 2010. He was a member of the league side in the following four rounds before returning to the reserves side. He was again a premiership player for the Tigers that year when the reserves side won the grand final.

Various injuries foiled his attempts to play league football in 2011. He lined up 12 times for the reserves that year and played a further 17 reserves matches and two with the league side, in 2012 when he took over the No. 2 jumper from retiring captain Clancy Rudeforth.  A highlight of that year was playing in the senior side which won the Foxtel Cup premiership by defeating Werribee in the grand final at Subiaco Oval.

In 2013 Yu made 14 league appearances and played for the reserves side six times. But a damaged back and a fractured wrist hindered his progress in 2014 when he managed only five league matches and 13 with the reserves.

Finally, last November Yu was injury-free and able to undergo a full-scale pre-season preparation for ty he first time in five years. He knuckled down and worked assiduously on his fitness and those who watched him play on a wing with dash, confidence and considerable panache in scratch matches were confident that 2015 was going to be Keifer’s year.

His stamina improved greatly and his capacity to run hard on a wing has proved a tremendous bonus for the Tigers this year. The former tough defender had made a full transformation to a quality midfielder, with his long, booming kicks frequently sending his side deep into attack, as well as scoring 14 goals. During this season he also has proved highly effective when used in a couple of defensive roles.

He deserves great credit for making light of niggling leg injuries this year and he, Neates, Ian Richardson and Tom Ledger are the only men to have played in all of the club’s 20 qualifying-round matches.

Off the field, he has served an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery and he is studying for a building diploma at TAFE. It has been a joy to watch Keifer Yu in his 114 matches for the Tigers (17 colts, 48 reserves, three Foxtel Cup and 46 WAFL league fixtures). May there be many more in the years to come.