CLAREMONT prospects George Gale and Heath Mellody were among the latest draft hopefuls to make their senior state league debuts over the weekend. The pair joined fellow Under 18 All-Australian Benji van Rooyen in the Tigers’ side which went down to Subiaco in a thriller at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Gale, the son of 84-game former Docker and Saint Mark, is a 190cm wingman renowned for his footy smarts and running capacity. Meanwhile, Mellody is arguably Western Australia’s leading prospect having taken out the esteemed Larke Medal at this year’s Under 18 National Championships.

Their side may have been beaten by a single point after an unsuccessful attempt at victory after the final siren, but Gale and Mellody both showcased some of the traits which have them firmly planted in draft conversations. We put both of their performances under the Player Focus microscope.

>> Player Focus: Benji van Rooyen (Claremont)

Wing-Midfielder

George Gale

190cm

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06-09-2008

Midfielder-Defender

Heath Mellody

184cm

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27-07-2008

STRENGTHS

IMPROVEMENTS

PLAYER FOCUS

2026 WAFL League Round 19
Claremont 11.8 (74) def. by Subiaco 11.9 (75)

#30 George Gale (Claremont)

Gale was utilised on both sides of midfield, spending the large majority of his game out on the wing. He was briefly thrown into the centre ball-ups during term two, granted the opportunity to showcase his versatility as a dynamic runner at all of 190cm.

Lining up against 20-year-old pair Charlie Burke and Judd Kelman, Gale built into the game and had no trouble covering the ground. His best moment in term one came late in the piece, showing a glimpse of class and poise to wheel around and snap to the hot spot for a direct goal assist.

While his size is an advantage at junior level, Gale had to go to extra lengths to impose himself physically. It wasn’t for a want of trying, as he made some strong efforts at ground level and proved he could collect the ball cleanly below his knees.

Gale’s best contribution in a physical sense came in the dying moments of the first half, as he crashed a pack deep inside 50 which led directly to Callan England’s crumbing goal. It may not have registered a stat but was a crucial, albeit roundabout, score contribution.

Swinging back out to the wing after half time, Gale’s mettle was tested before his running power came to the fore in a strong finish. Not blessed with natural leg speed, he tended to be pressured into long kicks and struggled to be fully effective by foot out of the main break.

But once the game opened up and Claremont began to move the ball more fluently, Gale’s transition running shone. He timed his movements well between the arcs to get on the end of handball receives and surge the ball forward, operating as a key connector on the outside.

All up, it was a solid senior debut for Gale where he got to showcase his strong aerobic underpinnings. Best suited to the wing role, he looked most threatening in transition, but as he adjusts to the physical rigours of the level there is no reason why he can’t become an inside extractor.

Speed is the main question mark hovering over Gale. He covers ground well and gets to all the right spots, also using his footy IQ to make good decisions with ball in hand. That decision making is tested under pressure, which mounts with the elevated speed of each step-up in competition. He’ll accumulate, but will he continue to damage?

>> Preseason Q&A: George Gale (Claremont/WA)

#33 Heath Mellody (Claremont)

Mellody faced a baptism of fire on senior debut, starting in a Claremont backline which was jumped early on. He found himself in slightly unfamiliar territory deep inside defensive 50, made to guard opponents one-on-one with the ball coming in quickly. While competitive, he couldn’t do much to stem the scoring.

The talented teen began to build into his work after quarter time, displaying his crafty foot skills and running power. He was prepared to use his speed to apply pressure, but also showed great smarts to know when to peel off and get busy on the rebound.

Mellody was then thrown into the centre to start the second half and injected immediate energy. He was on his toes and hunted the ground ball, having an early win against the experienced Stefan Giro. His tenacity continued to shine with those repeat efforts.

The youngster’s attacking instincts were also outstanding. He consistently looked to put speed on the ball and drifted into the corridor to be a daring inboard option. Mellody was just as keen to allow others to run past on the overlap, facilitating free-flowing play.

In tighter confined, his quick feet and clean hands were clear to see. The prolific ball winner navigated traffic well and showed great poise under pressure, hardly wavering in his usually efficient ball use. He disposed by hand more often, but can do serious damage by foot.

Mellody’s credentials are already well documented as one of this year’s most decorated juniors. He certainly did his top-10 draft hopes no damage with his performance on Saturday and will likely be the first West Australian picked come November. Few others use the ball close to his level.

>> Preseason Q&A: Heath Mellody (Claremont/WA)