Claremont Champion Earns Legend Status at TigersThursday, April 18, 2024 - 1:56 PM

As a three-time premiership hero at Claremont Dale Kickett is one of the club’s favourite sons.
To honour his outstanding career and contribution to the Tigers, the 55-year-old has been named the Claremont Ball Legend for 2024.

“I am really honoured as I played footy at Claremont through a special era, and there were so many good players,” Kickett said.

Kickett enjoyed constant success at Claremont, winning a premiership in 1989,1991 and 1993 and for him it was a like a second home.

“From the first time I walked through the doors I felt welcomed, from our boot studder, trainers, scoreboard operators, players, and everyone else it takes to make a footy club work,” he said.

“It was a special time, and the club was always there for me to fall back on when my time in the AFL didn’t work for me.”

Kickett, who also claimed a Simpson Medal in 1991 and 1993, has great respect for former coach Gerard Neesham who led the Tigers to September success.

“Gerard helped me through some tough periods of my football career, but I would like to think that I have repaid his faith by playing some good football for the teams we were involved in.

An inaugural member of the Fremantle Dockers in 1995, Kickett played for five AFL clubs including Fitzroy, the Eagles, St Kilda, and Essendon before finishing at Fremantle where he played 135 out of 181 matches at the top level.

Kickett loves supporting the current side from the stands.

“When I go to games at REVO there is always someone there to have a beer with and chat with,” he said.

“I got to almost all games last year and I will try get to all of them this year, and if the team is not doing well, it’s always good to catch up and reminisce with old teammates.”

Claremont finds itself in unfamiliar territory without a win after three matches and sitting last on the WAFL ladder, but there were plenty of positives in the one-point defeat against South Fremantle last weekend, where they gave the Bulldogs a six-goal head start before kicking nine goals to four.

“Yes, there has been a few changes on field this season, and we have played three games with one blow out and it’s still early days, so hopefully they pick up the bit soon,” Kickett said.