Cleggett Latest Subiaco Player to Debut

For Subiaco’s newest league player, the journey to a first WAFL league game was a winding one from country towns in south west WA culminating on Saturday at East Fremantle Oval.

But for Collie boy Travis Cleggett the one constant that has remained no matter what level of football he was playing and where he was playing football, he just had fun doing it.

For the popular Cleggett, it is his personality and approach to the game that is infectious, he is someone who helps bring a team together and has fun doing it.

Out on the field for his debut match, Cleggett says it was former captain Kyal Horsley who had that same enjoyment of the game.

“It was great playing with all the midfielders who I had trained with over the past couple of years, but Horse’s approach to the game really stood out, he was really enjoying himself out there,” Cleggett said.

“He actually set me up for my first possession, giving a handball he probably shouldn’t have given, but he wanted to get me into the game which was a nice thing and it grew my confidence.”

It has been a big week for Cleggett who admitted he had not been expecting the league call-up initially when league coach Beau Wardman confirmed he would be debuting.

“I thought about the debut a bit last year and got close a couple of times but it didn’t quite happen,” Cleggett said.

“Given I’d missed a bit of pre-season wasn’t expecting it so early this year, but it was exciting when Beau gave me the news.”

A country guy through and through, the first phone call after getting the news was an easy one for Cleggett.

“The first person I called was Dad, he has had a big impact on my footy and gets up for as many games as he can,” Cleggett said.

“He was actually having a bad day when I told him, so it really turned his mood around and he was just so excited for me.”

After winning the Hayward Medal as the best player in the South West Football Legaue in 2016, Cleggett was approached to take the next step to WAFL football.

In a touch of irony for his debut match, Cleggett was left with a choice between Subiaco and East Fremantle with where to start his WAFL Senior footy career.

“Jarrad Schofield was a big reason in me coming to Subiaco and he had the biggest impact on joining the club,” Cleggett said.

“Being around Schoey and the Subiaco system and culture you quickly realise how professional you have to be in your approach and how important it is to prepare for each training session and game.”

Cleggett embraced the Subiaco culture and professionalism in his first year with the club, taking out the Blakemore Medal as the Fairest and Best for the Subiaco Reserves in 2018 on the back of a consistent all round season.

The hard working midfielder played in every game in 2018 for the Subiaco Reserves, including the Reserves Premiership win, a fitting end to a fine debut season.

Having had a taste of league football, Cleggett is keen to continue to grow and develop as a footballer as he helps to achieve that same level of success at league level.