Jordan Clark, whose journey has taken him from junior footy at Railways to the Fremantle Dockers’ midfield, was named Wellington and Reeves Albany sportsperson of the year at the annual awards night on Thursday.

As well as announcing the 2025 winner of the top gong, the event, hosted at Retravision Stadium, recognised the city’s junior, senior and masters sportspeople who had enjoyed stellar campaigns last year.

Clark took the main award after earning his first All-Australian selection in the backline after a career-best 2025.

He is enjoying a purple patch this season too, having won the Glendenning-Allan Medal as best-on-ground in the Western Derby earlier this month.

The brilliant AFL defender whose career started in cricket, where he represented Australia at under-age level, said he was shocked to win in his home city.

“I was probably more of a cricketer when I was in Albany, but it is great to be recognised by the town that played a part in my sporting journey,” he said.

“Albany is where I found footy, playing with my brothers and being coached by my dad.

“I do ask myself if I feel like I shouldn’t really have this – do I deserve this?

“All my goals are team oriented; I just want team success.

“Individual accolades are almost embarrassing but it’s a great thing to be recognised.

“I’ve seen the other side of sport – being written off, playing crap – so I’m staying grounded and building my life around honesty and effort.”

A new father to be, Clark said he was not going to “put on a show”.

“Being a sportsperson will take up a small part of my life,” he said.

“It has been quite a couple of weeks but I’m not getting caught up in it all.”

As Clark was preparing for the Dockers’ weekend fixture, the award was accepted by his parents Russell and Natalie.

The 25-year-old was chosen ahead of four other finalists in the major award, fellow AFL player Darcy Cameron, State cricketer Bryce Jackson, national basketballer Billy McRae and Australian-level motorsport driver Ruairidh Avern.

Guest of honour was Australian 800m record holder Peter Bol, a three-time Olympian with a miraculous story of his own.

Born in Sudan, his family escaped civil war and came to Australia by way of Egypt.

“Noone runs in Sudan for fun,” Bol told the audience before detailing how sport had given him unprecedented opportunities including being able to travel for free.

His belief that being a happy athlete is key to high performance was echoed by the winners of each category.

Keely Berry, who was honoured with the Retravision junior sportsperson of the year award, had a brilliant 2025 in both basketball and netball.

Last year she was part of the under-18 team which won the 2025 Basketball WA country championships and was named the player of the grand final.

Now concentrating on netball, she earned selection to the 2025 national under-17 squad as well as the State under-17 team, where she was again named most valuable player.

Mountain bikers took the other two categories, with Jess Waldron winning the Castlehow senior sportsperson’s award and Tanya Bailey the Sound Life masters’ title.

Waldron won all five races in the amateur women’s field at the Cannonball Mountain Bike Festival in Thredbo and was second in the E-Enduro downhill racing national championships.

Internationally, she won the E-Enduro downhill racing Oceania Championships.

Bailey, an Australian Olympian in BMX, won the 2025 masters’ mountain bikes World Championship in Cairns, in May.

She also claimed gold at the AusCycling Gravity Enduro Championships.