Battle lines drawn for Proudlove tribute

North Albany captain Brent Welshman is expecting a fierce battle with Railways this Saturday when the traditional rivals meet in the second edition of the Warrick Proudlove Tribute Match at Tigerland.

Welshman believes his side are up to the task of challenging the Tigers which won the inaugural Warrick Proudlove Tribute Match by 36 points last year.

The Kangas are locked in a battle with the Tigers at the top of the Great Southern Football League ladder with three rounds remaining but the pair have Royals snapping at their heels in a race for the top two.

“Everybody wants top spot or top-two spot going into the finals,” he said. “We want to get some momentum and get on top of them heading into the finals.”

Tigers skipper Nic Cramer said his side had received a timely wake-up call last week against Mt Barker which snapped the defending premiers eight-game winning streak.

“Probably our last two games we have been off our game a little bit,” he said.

“We were lucky to win against Royals and probably had our worst game against Mt Barker, so it has been a timely wake-up call before the finals for us.”

Codie Thiele heads a list of likely inclusions for the Kangas this weekend, with youngsters Eric Hayward and Arana O’Byrne along with Luke Chambers all in line to return to the league side.

The Tigers are expected to welcome back Cameron Smith while sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Matt Van Schayk.

Welshman also highlighted the significance of the match for his club and the Proudlove family.

“We definitely want to show our continued support to Waz and his family,” he said. “We want the whole GSFL community and wider sporting community to get on board, not just the two clubs.”

Cramer said his club was fully supportive of the Proudies Foundation and the annual match.

“Railways is right behind supporting the whole foundation and what it stands for and giving support to Warrick and his family.”

The match pays tribute to Proudlove, a former Kangas and Claremont footballer who was involved in a horrific car accident on Albany Highway in July 2011.

Proudlove was the only person seriously injured after the car he was travelling in hit a horse then collided with a tree.