Brilliant midfielder Haiden Schloithe returns home to Katanning Wanderers for remainder of UGSFL season

Sandover medallist and five-time South Fremantle best and fairest winner Haiden Schloithe is back home in Katanning. Schloithe returned to his home club on Sunday, playing his first game for the Wanderers in more than a decade. The former WAFL star was playing with North Fremantle in the Perth Football League but has returned home to play with the Tigers for the rest of 2023 in the Upper Great Southern Football League — a big mid-season switch. “I really enjoyed my time at North Fremantle but I will be moving away from Perth, so this is the last chance I will get to play with my best mates and family back home in Katanning,” Schloithe said. The 30-year-old had an immediate impact for the Tigers, winning the first clearance of the game and kicking two first-quarter goals. He was among the Tigers’ best players as they easily beat premiership rivals Boddington by 50 points at Quartermaine Oval. Schloithe played between the forward line and the midfield and gathered plenty of the ball in his first game for Katanning in 13 years. “I absolutely loved being back out there playing with my mates and family, and I was actually a bit nervous,” he said. His last game for his home town was in 2010 before going on to play 200 games in a decorated career with South Fremantle, earning life membership while playing 200 league games and tasting premiership success in 2020. Schloithe tried to play for Wanderers in their 100th anniversary celebrations earlier this year but was not cleared. His return to the Tigers is a huge boost to their premiership bid and he lined up alongside Stewart brothers Kade and Tim at the weekend and said he was as hungry as ever for success. “The reason we play is to win premierships,” Schloithe said. “Hopefully we can finish top-two and celebrate a premiership at the end of the year.” Katanning sit in second place on the UGSFL ladder, four points adrift of Wickepin but with a game in hand.