Exciting Tiwi footballer Kim Kantilla has signed with West Australian Football League club Claremont for the 2024 season.
It will be the livewire forward's second stint at state league level after spending time with South Australian National Football League club South Adelaide during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Claremont Football Operations Manager Kepler Bradley said that he was "super excited" to have Kantilla on-board.
"We knew Kim had some experience with South Adelaide last year and all you have to do is look on YouTube to see how good he actually is," Bradley said.
"We made the connection with Kim while he was up there playing with Tiwi – I think it was around November – we got chatting and he was pretty keen to come down to Perth and play for Claremont."
Kantilla landed in Perth about a week ago, but is currently in the rehab group nursing a hamstring injury that he suffered in his last Northern Territory Football League game a month ago.
Bradley said Kantilla would be ready to play "in about a week or so".
The 25-year-old kicked 22 goals from 14 NTFL matches for the Tiwi Bombers this season, including a five-goal haul against Palmerston post-Christmas.
He also received the opportunity to play for Essendon's VFL team against the NTFL representative side in late January, a match in which he performed well.
Bradley said that his new recruit's strengths will suit Claremont's playing style.
"We like to we play with a bit of flair at Claremont, that fast tempo style of play and hard running," he said.
"Seeing what Kim can do in other competitions around Australia, we certainly think he can add to what we do here at Claremont.
"We love the fact that he is really fit and that his work rate is really high and we know that he can kick a footy very, very well.
"His speed is outstanding too and we're looking forward to getting the ball inside-50 and letting Kim create a bit of havoc down there."
Claremont finished the 2023 WAFL season in fifth position with a win loss record of 12-6.
The Tigers won their elimination final against East Perth but bowed out the following week after being defeated by Subiaco in the semi.
Bradley holds high ambitions for his team heading into the 2024 season.
"We'd like to be top-three, that will be our aim going into the season," he said.
"Obviously you need a bit of luck with injuries and that sort of things, but all things going well we'd like to be in there swinging at the pointy end of the season."
