Yeo answers the call at Tigerland for new stars to emergeFriday, September 4, 2015 - 5:40 PM - by Chris Pike

WITH the majority of its back-to-back premiership team from only a few years ago having now moved on, Claremont has needed a new breed of Tigers to step up for them to return to the finals in 2015 and Corey Yeo has taken that on board to become an elite midfielder.

Yeo couldn’t find a regular position in the league side at East Fremantle with just five games in each of the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but he surfaced at Tigerland in 2014 and has never looked back.

The now 24-year-old began his time with Claremont under coach Michael Broadbridge early last season in run-with roles and did some good jobs, but it quickly became apparent that he was too good of a natural ball winner, and with ball in hand to not be more attacking.

While still capable of doing some run-with roles, Yeo has put together an outstanding season in 2015 and given he has averaged almost 27 possessions a game and put in some dominant performances, there's no reason a fairest and best award and Sandover Medal aren’t possibilities.

However, his focus is on Sunday's elimination final against East Perth at Medibank Stadium with the Tigers needing to keep winning to keep their season alive on return to the finals after missing out in 2014.

That was on the back of Claremont winning four straight minor premierships, playing in three grand finals and winning two premierships the previous four years, but every era has to end and it happens increasingly quickly in the modern WAFL.

Luke Blackwell, Kane Mitchell, David Crawford, Trinity Handley, Andrew Foster, Matt Orzel, Andrew Browne, Paul Medhurst, Chad Jones, Byron Schammer, James Thomson and Lewis Stevenson are just some of the players who have needed to be covered over the last two seasons, and they are big shoes to fill.

However, Claremont managed to narrowly miss playing finals last year after a slow start to the season and are now there in 2015 after also losing the first five games, and Yeo has been as big a part in that as anybody.

He can't wait to take part in his first final on Sunday against an experienced East Perth side who has made the past two grand finals.

"I'm really looking forward to it and it will be my first final, so it will be good to get out there and experience that for the first time. It's on Sunday so that should attract a bit more attention for the WAFL," Yeo said on 91.3 SportFM.

"East Perth has played the last two grand finals so they will be out with a point to prove, and we've really got nothing to lose now.

"Knowing that we beat them earlier in the year on our home deck pretty comfortably, and then the last time we played them we lost by 10 points and were a bit off that day, so if we bring our style of game which I believe suits finals we should be right in it, and serve it up to them.

"It would have been nice if the Eagles won and they put them in a similar situation to what Peel's going to be in, but you can't have it all your own way and we're looking forward to Sunday."

Yeo arrived at Claremont ahead of the 2014 WAFL season with a point to prove having not been given the chances he was after at East Fremantle, and he has shown what he's capable of as attacking and defensive midfielder with a big body to win the hard ball but who has a big tank to run all day.

He was happy with his strong form for much of the 2014 season and now he feels he has just carried that on in 2015, but is getting a bit more recognition from the outside for his consistently superb performances.

"Last year I thought I had a good season too but I was sort of doing a different role so I might not have been getting noticed like I am this year, but it's still similar sort of season in terms of how I think my performance is going," he said.

"Last year it was a bit more run-with roles and I did that earlier on this year too, but it's been a bit different since and I've had a bit more freedom. I do feel a bit more confident now, but I've never felt settled or a lock in the side so I suppose that's a good way to be and keeps you on your toes and to keep working hard, and to make sure your body's right."

It has been a fascinating last two weeks for Claremont leading into Sunday's elimination final with East Perth.

Two weeks ago, Claremont could have wrapped up fifth position by beating Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval and the Tigers held a 22-point advantage early in the third term, but then didn’t kick another goal for the game with Swans coming away victorious.

That meant Claremont had to hand West Perth its first loss at HBF Arena last Saturday, and that looked unlikely with the Falcons leading the Tigers by 25 points 10 minutes into the last term.

However, Claremont kicked the last four goals of the game to win and Yeo was delighted to be part of it, and feels the last two weeks will serve as ideal finals preparation.

"Obviously we had the chance the week before against Swan Districts to secure ourselves but it was important that we quickly moved on from that and focused on West Perth. They were both finals-type build ups which will probably hold us in good stead for this weekend," he said.

"We went into the game with a feeling that West Perth might have rested a few, but that didn’t seem to be the case and then they really brought it on game day and hadn't lost all year up there. It was a good tussle and a bit of a scrappy sort of game, and it was just good to come away with the win. The boys were relieved and then quickly focused on this week."

The biggest positive out of last Saturday's win for Claremont was captain Jake Murphy playing his best game of the season after an injury ravaged year. He ended up kicking the winning goal and Yeo has taken note of the nickname he has anointed upon himself.

"He's had a tough season but he's always working his arse off to try and get himself on the track, so you have to tip your hat off to him in that department," Yeo said.

"It's good to get him back at this time of year and he did have a big game on the weekend, which we're all happy for and it will be more beneficial for us with him in the side than out of it. Being our captain, he really lifted us over the line and kicked the winning goal so he started to call himself the 'Iceman'."