South West Cat looking forward to Geelong’s clash against Sydney Swans in AFL Grand Final

Saturday’s AFL grand final between Geelong and Sydney will be a nailbiter for one of the South West’s biggest Cats fans.

Former Geelong and West Coast forward Derek Hall played 76 games between the two clubs during his career, and will be barracking for the Cats again as they tackle the Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 24.

“I would love to see them win,” he said, adding he would be paying close attention to midfielder Patrick Dangerfield and key forward Tom Hawkins.

“It would be great for them to add this to their career,” he said.

Derek’s son is rising star and Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault product Clay Hall, who was one of just eight WA footballers named in the selected to play in the 2022 NAB AFL Futures under-17s clash before the AFL grand final this Saturday.

The 17-year-old was selected alongside fellow Peel players Mitch Edwards and Ethan Logan to play in the curtain-raiser match made up of next year’s top draft prospects.

But the trio made the call to stick by their local club, giving up the chance to play in front of the country’s best AFL recruiters on Saturday to help Peel battle against Subiaco for the WAFL colts preliminary final on Sunday.

With Clay staying west-side this weekend, and having played 21 games at the MCG in his career, Derek said he is looking forward to watching his team from the comfort of his home in Harvey.

Derek said it was good to see his number 19 being worn by fellow West Perth alumni Quinton Narkle.

“It’s good to see it being worn by another West boy,” he said.

It is the first time in two years the grand final will be played at the MCG, last year’s blockbuster match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs played at Optus Stadium in Perth, the 2020 match between played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.