Josh Barty went to Perth for a holiday and stayed for the footy.
“To keep up with some fitness, I had the opportunity to train with Claremont and they offered to keep me on,” the midfielder said.
Five months after playing in Pennant Hills’ premiership-winning under-18 side, he is on the brink of a WAFL debut for a club that has produced 64 AFL draft picks and won the flag in 2011 and 2012.
“Just the level and class of football is a lot more intense,” Barty said.
There are 48 players in each team so competition for game time is fierce. A training run with the senior side pushed Barty to the limit and convinced him to aim for at least a reservegrade match by the end of the season.
“They live and breathe it here,” he said. “At home it’s more casual but over here it’s training three times a week as a given.
“Everyone’s got to be in top shape. It’s just a massive culture difference.”
Barty made his first-grade debut for Pennant Hills at 16, running out against arch rivals North Shore in 2012.
Last Modified on 26/02/2014 17:18
