Anthony Davis caps stellar year with third-place finish in Claremont’s league best-and-fairest count

Borden product Anthony Davis has been rewarded for a stellar individual season, finishing third in Claremont’s league best-and-fairest count. The E.B Cook Awards night was held on Friday, October 6 with the club’s league and reserves players recognised for their efforts in 2023. Davis enjoyed a career-best season in the Tigers league side and received the Sir Charles Court Trophy. The 22-year-old defender was superb throughout his 20 games for the Tigers, averaging 17.9 disposals a game along with 6.25 marks a game and 2.25 tackles a game. Davis finished third in the E.B Cook Medal voting with 118 votes, behind winner Oliver Eastland (223 votes) and runner-up Jye Bolton (190). A slight change in his role and an earlier preseason campaign were key parts to Davis’ improved output this year. “It was definitely my best WAFL year,” Davis said. “The coaches gave me a bit more of a license and let me play a bit higher and not so much as a key (defender) like previous years. “They encouraged me to impact other contests and let me do my thing which certainly helped. “I felt that helped me be ready to go from round one, I wasn’t catching up or trying to find form early on.” The Tigers started the season in red-hot form but were knocked out of the premiership race by Subiaco in the first semifinal. Davis said that finals exit still hurt and was already driving the senior squad to come back better in 2024. “The start of the year was better than the end,” he said. “Winning and playing the way I want to makes life pretty fun. “As a team in the first 10 weeks we were nearly unstoppable but we got a reality check towards the end of the year. “The boys are already locking in running sessions and the hunger is there. “I spoke about it a bit on the (awards) night but we’ve been up the top for a while now so it’s time to win one. “I’m really hungry to keep playing as a WAFL player and trying to win flags for as long as I can.” North Albany junior Declan Mountford finished fourth with 117 votes in the fairest and best count. The Tigers skipper received the league player’s player award. Ex-North Albany player Talon Delacey was a joint winner of the league leading goal kicker award with Zac Mainwaring after booting 30 goals in 17 games during the season. “Declan is massive for us,” Davis said. “The way he goes about it, the intent when he plays and the guy we lean on in big moments to win the ball or get clearances. “To get injured before the season ended actually hurt us a fair bit but it’s a big effort to be fourth off 12 games.” In the Tigers reserves best-and-fairest count, ex-Royals and Albany midfielder Morgan Davies finished inside the top 10. Davies polled 98 votes to sit fourth on the Denis Marshall Trophy leaderboard — the award won by Menno Inverarity on 145. The premiership winning Tigers colts side held their awards on Friday, October 13. Talented midfielder Ryley Valli, who played for Royals and Railways as a teenager, finished third in the best-and-fairest voting while Mt Barker’s Seb Ballard was eighth. The Great Southern pair tasted premiership success with the club last month, beating Perth in the WAFL decider to cap outstanding seasons. Valli collected 109 votes to win the Hugh Buxton Memorial Trophy, his season only bettered by winner Riley Disisto (127) and runner-up Cody Angove (111). Ballard was super consistent in defence and finished with 58 votes.