Tigers with strong Great Southern link

There will be a big Great Southern flavour at Claremont Football Club this season with more than 25 players from the region on the senior or colts list at the WAFL club.

Claremont, which has the Great Southern as one of their zoned recruiting areas, will kick off their 2019 WAFL campaign at home against East Fremantle on Saturday and at least four Great Southern products are expected to feature in the opening round.

North Albany’s Declan Mountford, who was delisted by North Melbourne at the end of last season, looms as a key part of Tigers midfield this season.

Railways’ Matt Palfrey also appears a lock for the round one team after enjoying one of his best pre-seasons at the club.

Tyron Smallwood, who was overlooked in last year’s national draft, has also been impressive in training and practice games and could feature on Saturday in the league side along with his brother and key defender Dylan Smallwood.

Jesse Laurie and Bailey Bennett are the other two Great Southern players in contention for a round one berth.

Claremont football operations manager Kepler Bradley said it was fantastic representation from the Great Southern once again.

“Declan has been outstanding since coming over from North Melbourne and is a welcome return to the side as a starting midfielder,” Bradley said.

“Tyron has been going really well and after being a bit flat initially as any young kid that missed out would, he’s playing good footy and has a real determination.

“Matt Palfrey appears set for a breakout year and Dylan Smallwood will more than likely play this week as well.”

A total of 14 Great Southern players are on the Tigers senior list while another 13 are part of the colts squad.

Anthony Davis, Tom Wolfe, Jye Clark, Jacob Blight, Heath Spinks and Tom Baldwin are in the mix to play colts in round one against the Sharks.

GREAT SOUTHERN CONTINGENT AT CLAREMONT

Seniors

Declan Mountford (North Albany)

Matt Palfrey (Railways)

Jesse Laurie (Denmark-Walpole)

Bailey Bennett (Railways)

Tyron Smallwood (Royals)

Lewis Davis (Borden)

Cam Quenby (Mt Barker)

Addison Dew (North Albany)

Dylan Smallwood (Albany)

Kenton Gibbs (Railways)

Corey Hitchcock (North Albany)

Jordan Reid (Mt Barker)

Hamish McMorran (Royals)

Connor Spinks (Jerramungup)

Colts

Anthony Davis (Borden)

Tom Wolfe (Railways)

Jye Clark (Railways)

Jacob Blight (Railways)

Heath Spinks (North Albany)

Tom Baldwin (Royals)

Aidin Williss (Mt Barker)

Zainel Bin Busu (Albany)

Nelson Kent (Railways)

Ted Batchelor (North Albany)