Claremont Football Club put their paces at Normans Beach as part of three-day pre-season camp

A squad of more than 50 senior players from Claremont Football Club were put through their paces in a physically demanding three-day camp in the Great Southern at the weekend. The WAFL club travelled to the region on Friday afternoon and were based at Normans Beach, where they participated in a gruelling training session on Saturday. The playing group was placed in teams with varying ages and experience and each team had to organise their own eating utensils, sleeping arrangements and any other essentials for two nights. In warm conditions, players in their teams took part in a tough session on the beach and in the estuary on Saturday, which included a mud run, ocean wade relay, and sand-dune running. They then participated in a more relaxed fishing competition later that day. The squad travelled into Albany on Sunday morning to help run junior clinics. Tigers senior coach Ashley Prescott said it was fantastic to connect to their country region. “From my perspective it was about spending time together, sharing stories, training hard, having fun and create some memories together,” he said. “It’s not just about bringing new players together, this also extends to the coaching group and support staff, we have so many new people to club this year, and also ex-Claremont people who are re-engaging back after time away. “Seeing so many kids running around Centennial Park kicking a ball with big smiles is really ultimately what it’s all about. “It’s our responsibility to provide a pathway for boys and girls in the Great Southern region to fall in love with the game of Australian Rules football.” Former Tigers league player and Albany-raised Matt Orzel helped set up the camp and took part in the training session, while Prescott also thanked Darrell Panizza, Rogan Coffey and Scott Coghlan for their assistance with the camp. Part of the Great Southern contingent in the Claremont squad were Declan Mountford (North Albany), Bailey Bennett (Railways), Dylan Smallwood (Albany), Anthony Davis (Borden), Jacob Blight (Railways), Alex Pearce (North Albany), Tom Baldwin (Royals/Jerramungup), Kieran Gowdie (Albany), Brock Anning (Albany) and Tyron Smallwood (Royals/Albany), while Jack Beeck and Leith Fitzpatrick also have ties to Albany.