Arrivals, returnees have Tigers ready to prowlThursday, March 19, 2015 - 10:55 AM - by Chris Pike

CLAREMONT roared home late in the 2014 WAFL season to only narrow miss playing finals football which led into the retirement of a host of stars, but the Tigers have welcome some premiership stars back, signed other key players and are looking to fire in 2015.

It was a rollercoaster 2014 season for Claremont in Michael Broadbridge's first season as coach with the Tigers starting slowly losing six of their first eight matches by an average of 11 goals to appear more of a contender for the wooden spoon than a finals position.

However, things began to turn around with a terrific WA Day win over eventual premiers Subiaco and despite tight losses to West Perth and East Perth after that, the Tigers were building something.

They went on to win eight of their last nine matches, and their last six, to finish the season in stunning form but their slow start meant they still fell a game and percentage short of knocking either East Fremantle or Swan Districts out of the finals.

And on top of that, Luke Blackwell, Trinity Handley, Andrew Foster and Matt Orzel retired following the final round win over East Perth, and since Tom Taylor, Ben Daniher, Sam Fong, Brenden Abbott and Mitch McGovern have also departed Claremont.

However, the list of arrivals with the Tigers is strong with premiership stars Beau Maister, Tom Swift, Ian Richardson and Alroy Gilligan all returning after layoffs of at least a season for a variety of reasons whether it be the AFL, to study or to travel.

Then there is the signing of former AFL big man and WAFL premiership player Kepler Bradley along with versatile Perth key position player Haydn Busher, former WA SBL basketball and participant in The Recruit television show Reece Maxwell, Oliver Tate and Toby Plant.

Bradley was the last piece to fall into place for the Tigers in 2015 with the former veteran of 117 AFL games with Essendon and Fremantle joining Claremont after being appointed player development manager.

On top of his AFL experience, Bradley is a 2003 premiership player with West Perth and now will be looking make his mark with the Tigers, and with his ability to play as a key defender, forward and ruckman he provides the team with great flexibility.

Bradley joins fellow West Perth premiership player Mark Seaby in the big men stocks and along with Darcy Cameron, Mitch Andrews, Maister, Busher, Jackson Starcevich, Brandon Franz and Anton Hamp, leaving the Tigers with plenty of options heading into 2015.

Maister starred in the 2011 premiership with Claremont winning the Simpson Medal in the grand final for his five-goal effort and that saw him earn a second chance in the AFL with St Kilda.

Capable of playing forward or back, Maister added 21 more AFL games with the Saints to the 23 he played with West Coast, but his return to Claremont hasn’t gone too smoothly.

He was struck down over the pre-season with a golden staph infection but he is on the road to recovery now.

"It was pretty intense. I was in hospital for about 10 days and then bedridden for another four weeks on an anti-biotic pump. It can be quite fatal as I've found out so I'm lucky to get out of it fairly unscathed," Maister told claremontfc.com.au.

"I've never really had 10 out of 10 pain throughout my career, but just before I went to emergency on a Sunday morning at 3am, that's the first time I've had 10 out of 10 pain. But for now I'm just happy to be walking around and if I can get back to playing football this year it'd be great.

"The group is young and there is an element of frustration because I missed that time on the track to get to know the guys like I'd like to, but that will come in due course. Hopefully we have a good nucleus in the team to get some finals time this year."

Busher is another new arrival to Claremont with the former Perth key position player on board to provide further depth for the Tigers.

The 23-year-old played 39 games with the Demons in between battling injuries, but when fit he proved himself a more than capable goalkicking option in attack, strong defender or pinch-hitting ruckman.

With good hands, mobility and an accurate, long kick he is a terrific addition for the Tigers and is liking life at his new club so far.

"It's been really good. Most clubs are pretty similar and all of the boys here are really good, and although it's hard to put a finger on it, it's not like a tangible difference, but I think Claremont has a winning culture and I'm looking forward to being a part of it," Busher told claremontfc.com.au.

"I'm pretty open to playing anywhere and to anything. I've played half of my league career as a defender and half as a forward. I've been training with the forwards but I guess there's always that flexibility and Broady knows that it's there if he needs. It's good to mix it up."

Richardson had a simply remarkable first six years of his WAFL career with Claremont playing 130 games, kicking 310 goals, playing in six straight State matches, winning a Simpson Medal, club fairest and best award and then playing a key role in the 2011 and 2012 premierships.

The hard-leading forward then took a year off to travel in 2014, but the 27-year-old is back and raring to go for 2015.

"It's a very different feel. There's a lot of younger blokes and a lot of new faces, but I always wanted to return and I did miss the place while I was away so it's great to be back," Richardson told claremontfc.com.au.

"I'm definitely not the fittest I've ever been and I've got a bit of work to do to catch up, but my skills are looking pretty good and the boys are looking really fit so it will be a big season ahead.

"Obviously four senior players retired last year so a lot of the boys need to step up in their absence but there's about 20 games extra experience from last year. Hopefully we can build on that step up this season.

"I'm one of only two players who have played more than 100 games so I have to be a leader. I need to use my experience in playing finals football to help the boys who are coming up through the ranks and make them better players."

Swift originally retired from the AFL with West Perth to focus on his studies, but he flirted with a return for Claremont by playing in the Foxtel Cup in 2013 and now after a full year away, the dual premiership on-baller is back for 2015.

"It's pretty exciting and I've enjoyed every minute of being back down there at the club so far. I've had a bit of a hunger to come back and to be honest, I've missed it the whole time," Swift told claremontfc.com.au.

"The guys have been training the house down. Coming back and seeing what kind of condition everyone, from the youngest bloke to the oldest bloke, is in is pretty impressive and everyone's pushed themselves to new limits.

"From a fitness perspective personally, mostly where that's come from is surf lifesaving. I've been down at North Cott Surf Lifesaving Club where I've been pretty active and I'm probably fitter than I've ever been."