South West Football League young guns Cooper Clarke-Dehring and Connor Carbone sign with South Fremantle

A pair of the South West Football League’s brightest young stars will make the step up to the WAFL next season. South Fremantle announced on Friday afternoon Cooper Clarke-Dehring and Connor Carbone, who had previously spent time in Peel Thunder’s development programs, had joined the club. Key forward Clarke-Dehring had a breakout season at SWFL level this year, finishing third on the competition’s goal-kicking charts with 59 majors in 19 games for Donnybrook. The 19-year-old also shone on the representative stage, being selected for the WA Country side after his stand-out performances for the South West at the Country Championships saw him earn the carnival’s rising star award. Carbone, who represented WA at the under-18 national championships while also winning a colts premiership with the Thunder in 2022, has spent the last two years playing with Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault. The hard-running midfielder made a blistering start to the SWFL season, leading the race for the league player of the season award for much of the year, and also represented the South West at the Country Championships. South Fremantle head of football Charlie Burke said he expected the pair to have a big impact at the club. “We are delighted to get the signatures of two of the South West’s young talent and looking forward to assisting them grow on and off the field,” he said. “I have watched both closely over the last couple of seasons and believe they will become very good league footballers, provided they put the work in.” Isiah Winder (Eaton) and Tom Bell (Bunbury) are among the other South West products currently at the Bulldogs, but the pair are drawing interest from AFL sides ahead of the draft later this month. The Bulldogs’ league side finished sixth on the WAFL ladder last season and will be looking to end a two-year finals absence in 2025.