Proud Tiger Blackwell hopes Claremont is on right trackSunday, June 1, 2014 - 6:47 PM - by Chris Pike

LUKE Blackwell has grown used to performing in a strong side at Claremont over the past four years and while that hasn’t been the case so far in 2014, he hopes the Tigers are on the right track to start getting competitive again.

Claremont has been the dominant WAFL team of the past four years and in that period Blackwell has been a key component of the Tigers' success and become perhaps the most decorated player in the competition in the process.

Having started his career with Swan Districts and then spending four years at Carlton for 23 AFL matches, Blackwell returned to the WAFL and joined Claremont in 2009.

Over the past five years, he has now played for WA four times including winning a State game Simpson Medal, won a Sandover Medal, played in two premiership including one as captain, and won three fairest and best awards at Claremont along the way.

And Claremont has won the last four WAFL minor premierships with two flags and another grand final appearance to show for that as well as a Foxtel Cup premiership so the Tigers have dominated the competition between 2010-2013.

However, a host of key departures coming into 2014 has made new coach Michael Broadbridge's job a difficult one so far with the result being two wins over West Perth and Peel, but heavy losses to East Fremantle, East Perth, Perth, South Fremantle and Subiaco, and then a defeat in a more competitive showing against Swan Districts prior to the State game last week.

Blackwell represented the WAFL for the fourth time last week in Sydney against the NEAFL and despite copping a cork just above his knee, he was one of WA's best with 31 possessions and six clearances.

He has overcome that knock and will be right to play this Monday on WA Day as Claremont hosts Subiaco at the Showgrounds, and he hopes things at the Tigers are starting to improve now this year.

"I copped a bit of a corky in the game and I had a bit of swelling, and a bit of a sore knee there for a while but I've been icing it, and I've gone for a run and everything has pulled up fine. I'm looking forward to Monday," Blackwell said.

"It's always tough when you are losing and as senior players we need to stand up and make sure we put our best foot forward to make sure the boys are coming along with us. It is always tough, but we are working hard and I think we will be all right in the second half of the year."

Blackwell is fully aware that the job on Monday is a big one for Claremont up against a Subiaco who beat the Tigers by 80 points earlier this year at East Fremantle Oval, and who currently sits in second position on the ladder.

"We have a younger group and are still developing in certain areas, and we probably have had a tough start to the season which shows where we are really at, but we have a lot of home games in the second half of the year and the boys are really starting to get Broady's message," he said.

"Hopefully we are starting to turn the tide. Subi are going really well. We really need to come out strong and start well, and give it a red hot crack."

As for the State game win last week, Blackwell enjoyed the experience again to pull on the Black Swans jumper and to play well personally in a team that won by 85 points.

"It was a good win and it's always good to be part of the State side. I think we represented the State and the WAFL pretty well, and came out with a good win," he said.

"It was a really nice surface to play on and a nice ground, but there wasn’t that many people because it's so far out of Sydney. I still think we made the most of playing on a nice ground in Sydney though. We were happy to play anywhere to be honest.

"Once the nerves settled and we took our chances after missing three or four easy shots in the first 15 minutes, we really settled and got into our groove. We played good footy and our skill level picked up, and we started hitting the scoreboard which was good."

While Blackwell has followed in the footsteps of his famous father Wayne at both Claremont and Carlton, his brother Dean is only now starting to take his football seriously.

The 24-year-old has now played eight reserves matches this season with Claremont and Luke would dearly love to play together with him before too long.

"It's great having Deano down there. He is really coming along. He has been playing amateur footy the last four or five years and playing well, but footy probably wasn’t a priority in his life," Blackwell said.

"He is maturing a bit now and footy has stepped up in his life, and he is developing as a player. It's great having him at the club and it's great to see him every couple of days, and hopefully he can crack into the league team in the next few weeks."