Bulldogs to wear special jumpers for NAIDOC Round

SOUTH Fremantle has a rich Indigenous history as the Bulldogs prepare to play Claremont in the annual NAIDOC Round clash this Saturday and they will wear an extra special jumper for the occasion.

South Fremantle and Claremont have met now in the annual NAIDOC Round clashes since 2007 and that tradition continues this Saturday as two of the clubs with the strongest Indigenous history in Australia lock horns at Claremont Oval.

The Bulldogs on Saturday will wear a new jumper design for the occasion created by South Fremantle product Jermaine Miller-Lewis.

South Fremantle's heritage of Indigenous players includes the club having named its own Indigenous Team of the Century in 2009, having four Bulldogs players named in the AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century and had around 100 players of Aboriginal backgrounds representing the club.

South Fremantle and Claremont have set the standard in the WAFL with NAIDOC celebrations largely because of the Indigenous players historically who have come through their ranks, including Stephen Michael, Wally, Phil and Peter Matera, Jeff Farmer, Maurice Rioli, Nicky Winmar (South Fremantle), and Jim and Phil Krakouer, Irwin Lewis and son Chris (Claremont).

The Bulldogs and Tigers have now met in NAIDOC Week clashes each year since beginning the concept in 2007.

Claremont won that first clash at Fremantle Oval but South Fremantle was represented by Keith Pickett, Keren Ugle, Tommy Corbett-Wynne and Peter Narkle.

The Tigers again won by 10 points in 2008 again at Fremantle Oval with Ugle and Shane Tipuamantamerri playing for the Bulldogs before South Fremantle thumped Claremont at the port in 2009 by 78 points.

Ugle, Jeff Farmer and Toby McGrath played that day for South Fremantle with Jayden Woods lining up for Claremont.

Claremont got back to the winner's list in 2010 winning by 27 points with McGrath representing South Fremantle and Jarrod Ninyette lining up for the Tigers.

It was played at Claremont Oval in 2011 with the Tigers winning a thriller by three points with Alroy Gilligan and Gerrick Weedon playing for Claremont, and Woods and McGrath for South Fremantle.

Claremont also won by 55 points in 2012 at Claremont Oval with Weeden playing for the Tigers and Woods and Jordan Wilson-King for the Bulldogs.

It was another thrilling contest at Fremantle Oval in 2013 with Claremont beating South Fremantle 13.16 (94) to 14.6 (90). Nick Winmar had 15 possessions for the Tigers while Tim Kelly impressed for South Fremantle with 18 disposals and a goal with Kaiden Matera and Jacob Martinez also playing.

The 2014 edition of the annual contest took place at the Claremont Showground with the Tigers winning by 22 points on a day where Toby Bairstow played his 100th game for the Bulldogs but injuries to the likes of Ryan Cook, Adam Guglielmana and Ashton Hams proved costly.

Martinez was one of the best players on the ground for South Fremantle with 23 possessions, 10 marks and seven inside-50 entries.

In 2015 at the Claremont Showground, it was Claremont who held off a fast-finishing South Fremantle to win 9.10 (64) to 8.12 (60).

Francis Watson played for Claremont and finished with 15 possessions and five tackles while Tim Kelly, Jacob Martinez, Marlion Pickett and Traye Bennell were all out there for South Fremantle.