- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Claremont<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Subiaco<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nCLAREMONT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#5 <\/strong>Joseph Hopkyns<\/a>
Key Defender | 194cm | 12\/09\/2006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>17 disposals, 7 marks<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hopkyns seemed to build as the game wore on, helping build a brick wall across Claremont\u2019s backline with his intercept abilities. He was rock-solid in marking contests, often winning them cleanly before carrying momentum into the counterattack. Hopkyns\u2019 long left-foot kicking helped his side clear out of tight spots, and he used the ball calmly during slow kick-mark play. While reliable deep in defence, he looked most impactful when operating across a high-pressing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#6 <\/strong>Charlie Banfield<\/a>
Midfielder | 191cm | 18\/07\/2007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>20 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Coast F\/S<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having mostly cut his teeth as a wingman and forward in state colours, Banfield was unleashed into Claremont\u2019s midfield. His size and clean hands were factors in the on-ball battle, as the West Coast father-son hopeful looked to bustle his way out of congestion. He absorbed plenty of pressure and sometimes that hurt his ball use, but Banfield\u2019s ability to hit the scoreboard ensure he could impact the match. He wasn\u2019t afraid to get stuck into the opposition either, showing a competitive streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#7 <\/strong>Cody Curtin<\/a>
Key Forward | 200cm | 18\/05\/2007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>16 disposals, 8 marks, 6 goals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s little wonder why AFL recruiters are so keen to see how Curtin fares at senior level given his dominance in the Colts. Another imperious performance saw him bag six goals from nine scoring shots, playing with plenty of presence and getting his tail up so much as to show the opposition the ball when running into goal. Curtin otherwise converted reliably over the mark and was simply too big and strong aerially. He monstered his opponents one-on-one and read the ball well, while also presenting hard up the ground when possible. Arguably his best goal of the day saw him meet the loose ball at speed, fend off an opponent, and snap the ball home in the opening quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#20 <\/strong>Benji van Rooyen<\/a>
Ruck | 202cm | 17\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>10 disposals, 5 tackles, 22 hitouts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reprising the primary ruck duties for Claremont, van Rooyen benefitted from a 10-15cm height advantage to win his share of hitouts. On top of giving the Tigers\u2019 midfielders first use, the bottom-ager stayed engaged at the contest after his initial efforts to follow up at ground level and distribute the ball a second time. He was quite clean by hand and even dished out a long Polly Farmer-like handball in term two, showing good mechanics for a tall to feed his teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#24 <\/strong>George Gale<\/a>
Defender | 187cm | 06\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>25 disposals, 6 marks, 4 inside 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gale led all comers with 25 disposals, proving productive across Claremont’s defensive half. He also pushed high up the ground, helping lock the ball in and launching into attack with four forward 50 entries. The bottom-ager looked poised in possession, using his smooth movement to buy time on the ball and identify a target by foot. Gale also proved his intercepting ability to cut off several Subiaco attacks before making good decisions on the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Tigers fielded three more members of Western Australia’s Under 18 training squad, two being bottom-agers in small forward Robert Farmer<\/strong> (10 disposals, one goal) and ruck-forward Charlie Watson<\/a>. Wingman Oscar Willis<\/a> was also amongst the action with 18 touches. Another Banfield coming through the ranks, Harper was terrific in midfield with 23 disposals, six tackles and eight inside 50s. He produced plenty of forward momentum alongside the likes of Joshua Grahame <\/strong>(19 disposals, nine tackles, eight inside 50s) and Max Hansen-Knarhoi<\/strong> (15 disposals, two goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SUBIACO:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#6 <\/strong>Hudson Walker<\/a>
Midfielder | 179cm | 06\/09\/2007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>23 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was no surprise to see Walker finish atop Subiaco’s disposal tally, with the energetic midfielder making his presence felt. He copped hits and dished them out, often swooping on the loose balls at stoppage and looking to break away from congestion. While he sometimes struggled to find the balance between trying too much and dumping the ball out, Walker offered an intensity few others could match. He maintained his pressure and physicality throughout the day, competing in all phases of play to be Subiaco’s main man at the source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n