Young Great Southern trio shine at national champs

Great Southern footballer Tyron Smallwood is hoping his side can carry their good form following last Friday’s win over Vic Country into their final match of the national under-18 championships tomorrow against the Allies.

Smallwood returned to the WA State 18s side after recovering from a broken jaw, kicking a goal in his first game of the championships as WA proved too strong for Vic Country to win by 32 points at GMHBA Stadium.

Fellow Claremont product Jordan Clark, who played colts for Railways while living in Albany, was superb in the victory with a dominant display across half-back.

Clark finished with 23 disposals to be among WA’s best, which included a damaging first term where he collected nine touches.

Smallwood played one colts game for Claremont before running out for WA and was immediately in the thick of the action, with a strong tackle and free kick allowing him to set up his side’s first goal of the game.

Clark then took an intercept mark and delivered inside 50 to Smallwood, who won a free kick and snapped truly.

Tom Baldwin, who hails from Jerramungup, also played for WA and was tasked with trying to negate Vic Country star Sam Walsh.

He gathered possessions up in the midfield and laid plenty of tackles in a solid display.

WA face Allies in their final fixture tomorrow at Etihad Stadium starting at 12.10pm, with the game broadcast on Fox Footy, and Smallwood is confident his side can produce another strong performance.

“We’ve been working hard and killing it on the track and it was all going to come together at some stage,” Smallwood said.

“Hopefully, we can perform the same. It would be ideal (to finish with a win).

We are coming off a five-day break but have done all the recovery to get us ready.

It was good all three of us could contribute in some way.

“Clarky is in exceptional form at the moment and Tommy had a role he played for the team.”

Smallwood said his jaw felt good after plenty of contact and was hoping to spend time in the midfield tomorrow.

“After the first contest, I got a bit of confidence and getting a knock to the jaw tested it out.

“I played as a high half-forward on Friday and hopefully I’ll play more midfield time now I’ve got a bit of confidence up.”