Local star and Declan Mountford receives late call-up for State debut against South Australia

Claremont star Declan Mountford will make his State debut after being called up to the WA team as they look to regain the Haydn Bunton Cup against South Australia on Saturday.

The Manypeaks-raised footballer was a late addition to the 30-man State squad announced last week before he was named in the final travelling team of 23 players yesterday.

Mountford is one of six Claremont players selected and was itching to pull on the famous yellow and black for the first time at senior level.

“It’s a great honour to represent my State so I’m very excited for the weekend,” he said.

“The main excitement for me will be pulling on a black and gold jersey and representing the State.

“It is a very young squad but filled with plenty of talent and speed and competitiveness so I think we will give it a red hot crack over there against an experienced South Australian side.

“I think the State committee identified they were a bit light-on in the small defender area so I think I was brought in to add some hardness in that particular area.”

The Claremont co-captain will be among a group of 18 players making their State debut in the 96th match between the two teams.

The clash will be played as the curtain-raiser to the AFL match between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.

Subiaco teammates Leigh Kitchin and Lachlan Delahunty along with dual State Simpson medallist Jye Bolton and main ruckman Corey Gault are the players remaining in the team that beat SA in Adelaide three years ago, while Bailey Rogers was part of the team that lost in 2019.

Former Carlton and Adelaide star Bryce Gibbs, and former AFL players Cam Sutcliffe and Luke Partington headline the team representing SA.

The fixture will take place at 2.05pm and will be will be live streamed on the WAFL Facebook page.