The Club Player Interviews CLAY MCLERNON
CLAY MCLERNON
Posted on 04/03/2011
Introducing Clay McLernon - Over the pre-season the tigers recruited ex-demon Clay McLernon to the club we catch up with him for a chat.
How have you found it so far at the club?
Yeah I’ve really enjoyed it so far. I am impressed with the intensity at training and everyone’s willingness to work hard and the feeling around the club if you do that you’ll reap the rewards down the track.
What was your role at Perth do you think it will be different to your role here?
I played mainly towards the end of last year as a type of shut down player either in defence or the midfield so hopefully this year I can be used like that again if required if not I’d like to play as a half back flanker or even pushing up to the wing.
How did the transfer to the tigers come about?
I felt my time was just about up at Perth I didn’t really feel the motivation to get back down there for pre-season training and felt like I needed a change. Dean Horsington gave me a call and told me they were thinking about getting me on board and asked if I was interested. I said I definitely was as I knew it would be a great opportunity to get involved with a successful side. I knew Andrew Ruck before I came so I was able to give him a call and asked him what it was like. He told me it was great and to get down here.
Have you noticed a feeling around the club of making up for last year’s grand final loss?
Yes for sure. The feeling I get is this is definitely the year to get the main goal achieved, to win the flag. It hasn’t been talked about a lot but there seems to be this burning desire amongst the group to get it done.
And how have you found Simon McPhee?
Yeah really enjoyed Simon he gets his point across really well. He gets along with the players really well but he also has the distance between himself and the players on a professional level.
And your own fitness how are you feeling at this time of the year?
Yeah the body’s feeling really good I haven’t had any injuries throughout the pre-season so that’s good. I am feeling fresh and looking forward to the start of the season.
Is the depth of talent here something you find makes you strive harder to get a spot in the league side?
Yes it really does, when you look at the reserves side winning the grand final last year you know they have a good side so if you do get the opportunity to play in the top side you have to make the most of it and that’s why I am working as hard as I can at training to get the most out of myself.
Do you have any aspirations to go the next level?
No I am quite happy playing at this level at the moment. The immediate aim is to win a flag, play for a few more years and reach 100 league games.
What do you do away from footy?
I’m a high school Phys Ed teacher and I co-ordinate the AFL program at Darling Range Sports College in Forrestfield. It’s a great job I’m really enjoying it and it suits me because it fits in with my training. I can do my weights in the gym there before school starts and it’s a really sports orientated environment and that’s what I’m all about.
When you played Claremont before who did you play on and who did you find a tough opponent?
I played on Luke Blackwell a few times and Beau Wilkes, both different players one’s small and one tall but both were very tough. They’re both very good players so I have a lot of respect for them and it’s great to see them down here as teammates and not opponents.
