Pair ready for fresh crack at WAFL

Two exciting midfielders who dominated the West Kimberley Football League last year are giving State footy another crack.

Former Cable Beach stars Anthony Treacy and CJ Oakley will remain teammates this season but it will be the Claremont Tigers who reap the benefits of their sharp skills and lightning speed as they look to establish themselves in the WAFL.

It will be the second time the duo try their luck in State football after their previous stints were cut short.

An injured ACL in 2017 quashed Treacy’s interest in football after a few years at the Sydney Swans Academy and the young gun made the tough decision to move back home to Broome, while homesickness drew Oakley back to the Kimberley last year after two seasons with the Tigers.

But both are determined to make the most of their second chances.

Treacy, the reigning WKFL best and fairest, said he had been training hard to be ready for the first round this April.

“Ever since moving back to Broome last year I had State footy on my mind and it was always something I wanted to go back to,” he said. “I’ve stepped up my pre-season and it’s a lot tougher in the WAFL than it was playing for Cable Beach.

“There’s a lot more weights and running and physios and all that.

“I want to stay injury-free this year and play as many league games as I can. Obviously I’m aiming for the whole season.”

Treacy has locked down a groundsman job in Perth and said he had no worries adjusting to life in the city.

“I was in Sydney for eight years so I’m pretty chilled about not living in Broome,” he said.

“The only reason I moved back last time was because of my injury that made me lose interest in football and there was no point sitting around in Sydney if I couldn’t play footy.”

Having hurt his ankle in last year’s WKFL grand final loss, Oakley is taking pre-season a little lighter, but his focus remains the same as Treacy’s.

“It’s good to be back at Claremont and my goal now is to play in the league each week,” he said.

“I got real homesick last time I was playing here because I had some family stuff going on in Broome, but they welcomed me back here with open arms and I feel settled in this time. They said they needed a small floater with quick speed and that was me.”

Oakley plans on enrolling in TAFE and to begin an apprenticeship this year.