DARREN MONCRIEFF
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
THE timeless, ancient land that is the Kimberley in north-west WA is a far cry from the glamour n' sin strip that is the Gold Coast, but that is where three emerging footballers could find themselves on Saturday.
Gerrick Weedon, Lewis Broome and Alroy Gilligan are line for selection for Claremont when the Tigers and VFL club, Northern Bullants, clash in the Foxtel Cup's third qualifying final at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
That game, which starts at 4pm (local time) will be a curtain-raiser to the AFL home side Suns' clash with North Melbourne (7.30pm). It will be televised live across the country on pay-TV provider, and primary sponsor, Foxtel, and regional affiliate, Austar.
The Foxtel Cup pits the top State league clubs (from the previous season) from the WAFL, SANFL, VFL, QAFL, AFL Canberra, Sydney AFL, Tasmania, plus AFL club-to-be GWS Giants, in a 'knockout' style competition.
Win their qualifying final, and the Claremont trio will be in line to play either Port Adelaide or North Adelaide in the July 16 semi-final for a place in the grand final (August 6).
Weedon (pictured) and Broome, from remote Looma, and Gilligan, from Fitzroy Crossing, in the Kimberley, have been in top form for the Tigers, most recently in their demolition of Subiaco on Monday.
Weedon and Broome, who were selected by West Coast in the past two national and rookie drafts, learnt their footy with Looma Eagles, which used to play in the Central Kimberley Football Association before a restructure saw the Eagles join the revamped West Kimberley Football League.
Gilligan, a one-time Richmond AFL rookie, plied his trade with Yiyili in the (renamed) CKFL.
Weedon drew praise after starring for Claremont in recent weeks, notably in the Tigers' come-from-behind 24-point win over South Fremantle the round before last, where he laid several game-changing tackles, booted two goals and set up others.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 24/06/2011 12:43