Tigers get Hunter boost
West Coast Eagle premiership player Adam Hunter looks set to return to his junior club after South Bunbury lodged an application for the 33-year-old just before the clearance deadline on Tuesday.
Hunter began the season with Chapman Valley in the Great Northern Football League and has kicked 26 goals in nine games for the Royals.
Despite Hunter’s individual success, Chapman Valley is languishing at the bottom of the GNFL ladder, prompting the utility to seek a move back to his hometown and the Tigers who appear certain to play finals football this year.
South Bunbury coach Alan Crane said he had not spoken with Hunter personally but said he would be a “useful” inclusion.
“I’ll welcome anyone to our squad and we’ve had a couple of players out lately so he will add some depth, ” Crane said.
Hunter last appeared for South Bunbury in a losing grand final against Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault in 2010.
He played most of that season in the forward line but is also an experienced defender and could spend time at centre-half-back.
In other clearance news, key forward Jacob Ferrier returned to kick four goals for the Eaton Boomers against Collie at the weekend after an unhappy stint with Pinjarra in the Peel Football League.
Ferrier approached Eaton about a return to the Boomers and first-year coach Richard Barnard was more than happy to oblige.
“When a player of Jacob’s calibre knocks on the door and says I want back in, you definitely can’t say no, ” Barnard said.
“He has come back with a bit of a twist in that he is not playing for money, he just wanted to play with his mates and the guys he won a flag with last year.
“He gives us another option up forward alongside Leigh Kelly and Rohan Lily and having an extra tall gives us the flexibility to move guys forward and back as needed.”
Carey Park has also been busy, lodging clearances for WAFL players Jordan Aitken (Claremont) and Reese Richardson (Perth). Coach John Baggetta said both additions were made with an eye towards next year as the club continues to replenish its playing stocks.
“We’re looking at guys interested in playing for a few years down here and both Jordan and Reese have indicated they might be around for a while, ” he said.
“Jordan is a tall centre-half-forward or centre-half-back that played a game for us out in Brunswick and went pretty well and has decided to join us for the rest of the year.
“Reese is a midfielder and still contracted to Perth at this stage but we are hoping everything will fall into place soon.”
