Our brightest stars: Claremont DistrictThursday, May 28, 2020 - 8:58 AM - by Lenny Fogliani

Western Australia has a proud history of developing elite football talent, with many of the game’s brightest stars beginning their careers at local junior football clubs right across the State.

In a series of articles highlighting the rich talent pool in WA over the years, Lenny Fogliani takes a closer look at the best current and former WAFL and AFL players to emerge from junior clubs in WA’s regions and districts.

This article focusses on junior clubs in Claremont Football Club's metropolitan district.

CLAREMONT DISTRICT

The Claremont District has proven to be an excellent football zone for aspiring junior footballers.

There are currently 12 junior Clubs – Claremont JFC, Cottesloe JFC, Dalkeith-Nedlands JFC, Marist JFC, Mosman Park JFC, North Beach JFC, Scarborough JFC, Subiaco JFC, Swanbourne JFC, Wembley JFC, Wembley Downs JFC, and West Coast JFC.

Photo: Ashley McIntosh

To find your nearest junior community club click here

A host of prominent WAFL and AFL footballers have come from the Claremont District. Below are some of the more notable players who have originated from this particular district.

GRAHAM MOSS – CLAREMONT JFC

One of WA’s greatest ever footballers, Graham Moss was a star for both Claremont and Essendon. In 13 seasons with Claremont, Moss played 254 games (3rd most by a Tiger), and kicked 271 goals (9th most by a Tiger). During this time, he was a premiership captain-coach (1981), and won four consecutive Best and Fairests (1977 - 1980). Despite only playing four seasons with the Bombers, Moss is regarded as one of the greatest players for Essendon, culminating in him being ranked seventeenth in the Champions of Essendon list in 2002. In his four seasons with the Bombers, Moss played 84 games, kicked 67 goals, won the 1976 Brownlow Medal and three consecutive Best and Fairests (1974 – 1976). Moss also represented Western Australia in State of Origin matches on 20 occasions. He was a member of the Sandgropers’ 1975 and 1979 National Football Carnival Championship-winning squads, and also won the 1977 Simpson Medal. He is a member of both the AFL Hall of Fame and the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.

STEPHEN MALAXOS – DALKEITH-NEDLANDS JFC

Affectionately known as “Stav,” Malaxos is one of the greats of West Australian Football, culminating in him earning a place in the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2005. He played a total of 289 WAFL games with Claremont (151) and East Fremantle (138), as well as 75 AFL games with Hawthorn (9) and West Coast (66). During his time with Claremont, he was a key member of the 1981 premiership over South Fremantle (17 possessions and 5 goals), won the 1984 Sandover Medal, two Best and Fairests (1983, 1984), and the 1984 West Australian Sports Star of the Year. For the Sharks, he was member of the 1992 and 1994 premiership teams, and won three Best and Fairests (1991, 1994, 1995). In four seasons with the Eagles, Malaxos won All-Australian selection (1988) and was the Eagles’ Captain in 1990.

ASHLEY McINTOSH – DALKEITH-NEDLANDS JFC

The son of former Claremont and St Kilda star John McIntosh, Ashley was a star for the West Coast Eagles during the 90s and the early 2000s. Across 13 seasons, McIntosh played 242 games (ninth most by an Eagle), and kicked 108 goals despite playing predominantly as a key defender. He was a key member in both of West Coast’s premiership triumphs of 1992 (14 possessions and 2 marks) and 1994 (helped restrict Gary Ablett Snr to 5 possessions and a goal). His best season came in 1998 when he won All-Australian selection (full-back), West Coast’s Best and Fairest, Life Membership of the Eagles and represented WA in the 1998 State of Origin match.

JESSE HOGAN – MARIST JFC

The son of former Subiaco player Tony Hogan, Jesse is considered to be one of the best key forwards in the AFL. In five seasons, Hogan has played 83 games, kicked 165 goals and has career averages of 15 possessions (6 contested) and 6 marks. His debut season of 2015 was memorable as he won the NAB Rising Star Award, the Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Melbourne’s Best First Year Player Award), Melbourne’s Leading Goalkicker Award with 44 goals from 20 games and placed fourth in the Best and Fairest. He also won Melbourne’s Leading Goalkicker Award in 2016 with 41 goals from 21 games and finished eighth in the Best and Fairest.

MARK BRAYSHAW – NORTH BEACH JFC

The father of current AFL players Angus (Melbourne), Andrew (Fremantle) and Hamish (West Coast), Mark Brayshaw was a strong contributor for both Claremont and North Melbourne. For the Tigers, Brayshaw played 110 games and booted 70 goals, while for North Melbourne he played 32 games. After his AFL-playing career, Brayshaw went into football administration. He worked in marketing roles for both Fremantle and Port Adelaide, and was the Chief Executive Officer of the Richmond Football Club between 2000 and 2004. He is currently the CEO of the AFL Coaches Association and a board member of the North Melbourne Football Club.

TOM BARRASS – SCARBOROUGH JFC

The Hale School student has quickly risen to becoming one of West Coast’s most important players since his AFL debut in 2015. In six seasons, he has played 66 games, and has career averages of 13 possessions (5 contested), 6 marks and 3 rebounding 50s. He won West Coast’s Rookie of the Year in 2016 when he averaged 12 possessions, and 5 marks across 10 games. He was also instrumental in West Coast’s Grand Final triumph in 2018, finishing with 17 possessions and 10 marks, while limiting Collingwood’s Mason Cox’s output.

MATTHEW DE BOER – SWANBOURNE JFC

Affectionately nicknamed “Dutchy,” De Boer has carved out an excellent football career since his debut in 2009. Between 2009 and 2016, De Boer played 138 games and kicked 48 goals for Fremantle. During this time period, he won two Best Clubman Awards (2010 and 2011). In 2016, he won Peel Thunder’s Best and Fairest Award, finished second in the Sandover Medal and was a key player in the Thunder’s Premiership triumph over Subiaco with 30 possessions and 14 tackles. Since 2017, he has played 50 games and kicked 26 goals for the GWS Giants. In 2019, he finished sixth in the Giants’ Best and Fairest and won the Coaches Award.

PAUL MEDHURST – WEMBLEY DOWNS JFC

Medhurst was a dynamic small forward who played 168 AFL games and kicked 274 goals with both Collingwood (69 games and 108 goals) and Fremantle (99 games and 166 goals). His 166 goals at Fremantle places him seventh in Fremantle’s all-time leading goalkickers. His best AFL season came in 2008 when he won All-Australian selection (forward pocket), Collingwood’s Leading Goalkicker Award, the ANZAC Day Medal and finished second in the Magpies’ Best and Fairest. After his AFL career, Medhurst returned to Claremont where he was instrumental in Claremont’s 2012 WAFL League premiership, winning the Simpson Medal after he finished with 13 possessions, 7 marks, 3 inside 50s and 6 goals.

List of notable WAFL/AFL footballers who have come from the Claremont district.