Great Southern young star ready to soak up WAFL grand final experience in bid to win colts flag with Claremont

Great Southern rising star Ryley Valli says it will be an incredible feeling if he can cap his first season at WAFL level with a colts premiership medallion. Valli is one of four Great Southern players that have been full-time members of Claremont’s colts squad in 2023. The Tigers will face off with close rivals Perth on Sunday at Optus Stadium in the colts grand final, after winning directly through to the decider with a 30-point second semifinal win over the Demons on September 10. The Demons, who finished the regular season on top of the ladder, bounced back with a preliminary final victory over East Fremantle and now a flag showdown with the talented Tigers side awaits. Valli began preseason with the WAFL club in January, moving up from Albany to further his football career, and said it would be a special moment running out on to Optus Stadium on such a big occasion. “It’s pretty cool to be playing in a grand final at Optus, it’s been a long year with a lot of hard work,” Valli said. “(Winning) would mean a lot and something I’d never forget especially playing at Optus as well. “I definitely think this is the hardest I’ve had to work for an opportunity, I’ve been up here since January working towards this so it will be a good feeling if we can get over the line.” A young starter in the Great Southern Football League, Valli started out at Royals before making the switch to Railways and winning a league premiership before his move to Claremont. The 19-year-old is averaging 17 disposals per game and has kicked seven goals in 16 matches this season. He had 14 touches, nine marks and one goal to play a key role in the semifinal triumph. “I’m feeling good at the moment and just taking it like another week of preparation,” he said. “But I’m sure when it gets to Sunday, I’ll definitely feel some sort of nerves. “The last couple of weeks I’ve moved on to the wing so that will be my role come Sunday. “Hopefully I can provide a lot of run and try to hit the scoreboard. “Perth’s ball movement and spread are keys, we know that when they get on a roll they are a hard side to stop. “So we will need to make sure we are switched on with our transition and manning up.” The Tigers’ last colts premiership came in 2019 while the Demons are out to end a long drought, having not tasted colts success since 1999. Mt Barker defender Seb Ballard was part of the Tigers’ winning second semifinal team and has played 13 games this season. The 18-year-old is expected to be the second Great Southern player selected in the Tigers’ grand final side. Royals forward Ryan Lazar has played 11 games this year but was omitted after his nine disposals and one goal in their qualifying final win over the Sharks on September 3, while Railways’ Mohit Jaggi has made only one colts appearance in 2023. The colts grand final will start at 12.10pm on Sunday and will be broadcast live on Channel 7.