Claremont’s rich history of producing elite junior talent continued on Tuesday evening as Claremont Colts player Jake Waterman was named as the WA State 18s Captain and Claremont 16s Development player Rylie Morgan was named as the WA State 16s Captain. Waterman and Morgan will captain their respective WA State sides in the 2016 16s and 18s National Championships as WA looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 campaign.

Jake is joined by Bailey Banfield, Matt Guelfi, Jeremy Goddard, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Jake Patmore as Claremont representatives in the 2016 WA State 18s Academy side while Jason Carter, Tyron Smallwood and Jordan Clark join Rylie as Claremont representatives selected in the 2016 WA State 16s Academy side.

Waterman, a Marist Junior Football Club product and son of former West Coast Eagles 2 x Premiership Player Chris, was humbled by the announcement and excited by the opportunity to lead the talent filled group. A very talented junior footballer, Jake represented the WA State 16s in 2014 and the WA State 18s in 2015 as a 17 year old in a season which also saw him claim a WAFL Colts Premiership Medal as Claremont Defeated Swan Districts in last season’s Grand Final.

Jake’s talent on the football field is undeniable and standing at 189cms, the mobile forward always commands the ball and presents a great challenge for opposition defenders with his marking ability and conversion in front of goal. A natural leader both on and off the field, Jake was a popular decision to skipper the WA State 18s side and has a very bright future ahead of him as he looks set to follow in the footsteps of older brother Alec, who also represented Claremont at Colts level and was drafted to the WCE as a father-son selection in 2014.

Morgan, a Wembley Junior Football Club and HALE School product, is coming of the back of an impressive WAFL 16s Carnival where his ability to win the contested ball and make great decisions made him an automatic selection in the WA State 16s side. The very talented cricketer has also displayed impressive form for the HALE first XVIII football side at PSA level during the 2016 season.

Rylie is a talented developing player who was a very popular choice to skipper the WA State 16s side by his peers and coaching staff who voted on the matter. He, much like Jake, was very excited by the opportunity and keen to make a positive influence on the team as they aim to be extremely competitive throughout the National Championships which will begin on Saturday 25th June as WA take on SA at AAMI Stadium.

The Claremont Football Club wishes the selected players all the best throughout the 2016 National Championships.