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Homegrown Tigers shine

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Claremont's Tom Baldwin looks to dish off a handball in the WAFL colts game against Perth.
Camera IconClaremont's Tom Baldwin looks to dish off a handball in the WAFL colts game against Perth. Credit: Richard Poulish

A Great Southern-led Claremont colts team made it a successful homecoming as they easily accounted for Perth in a successful regional WAFL fixture at Centennial Stadium on Saturday night.

The Tigers ran out in the persistent rain with a record 12 Great Southern-linked players in their team and the hometown experience paid dividends as several local products shone in the 65-point win.

Jerramungup-raised Tom Baldwin, who played for Royals before heading to the city, was given captaincy duties for the Tigers on the night and he was superb, producing a best-afield display.

Baldwin was not the only Great Southern to star in familiar territory with Railways junior Tom Wolfe also named in his side’s best players while Jye Clark, younger brother of now Geelong rising star Jordan Clark, was also influential in the midfield and with two goals.

Nelson Kent also booted two goals in his second game of colts while other Great Southern players to get on the goal-kicking list were Hayden Parker and Kalin Lane.

Lane was one of four debutants in Tigers colours, all of whom came from the Great Southern. The Tigers used the match as an opportunity to blood Lane, Alex Pearce and Kieran Gowdie with that trio still playing locally in the Great Southern Football League while Rivah Bocian made his first appearance for the season.

The successful Claremont colts team.
Camera IconThe successful Claremont colts team.

Baldwin, who was in the State 18s program last year, said he was really pleased with the efforts of his entire team.

“We had a good first half and got on top of them,” he said. “We played some good contested footy, defended well and hit them on the scoreboard. Having Lane, Gowdie and Pearce come in was fantastic and all the Great Southern boys stepped up at home.”

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