DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
SPECTATORS at Claremont Oval were treated to two wonderful sights on Sunday: a parade of past Aboriginal champions, and a humdinger of a football game.
The WAFL round 15 clash, which saw hosts Claremont and South Fremantle battle for premiership points in the fifth Jimmy Melbourne Cup match, saw the lead change 15 times (six in the last quarter) and locked up three times, before coming to an unforgettable conclusion before a captive crowd.
The occasion also marked the reunion of the 1981 WAFL Grand Final combatants.
And like the grand final 30 years ago, in which several legendary Aboriginal footballers held centre stage, the Tigers prevailed on Sunday, this time by three points, 15.12 (102) to 15.9 (99).
It was the first time Claremont hosted the annual Jimmy Melbourne Cup match, the showpiece of the WAFL's NAIDOC Week which honours the man believed to be the first Indigenous footballer at senior level in Australia.
Gerrick Weedon assumed the Claremont captain's role at the toss and while the coin didn't land his way this time, the Kimberley youngster racked up 21 quality disposals in another mature display for the winning team.
Earlier, the growing crowd welcomed past warriors Brad and Cliff Collard (South Fremantle), Irwin and Chris Lewis, Michael Mitchell and Dale Kickett (Claremont), in a celebration of Aboriginal football, and members of the 1981 Claremont-South Fremantle grand final sides.
That game, which ended the Bulldogs' run at the top in the WAFL while beginning Claremont's time in the sun, featured a stunning collection of Aboriginal talent in Stephen Michael, Maurice Rioli, Basil Campbell, Benny Vigona (South Fremantle), Jim and Phil Krakouer and Brett Farmer (Claremont).
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 06/07/2011 01:28