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Yu’s 100 game milestone

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Jakeb WaddellBroome Advertiser
Keifer Yu is carried on his Claremont Tigers teammates' shoulders after playing in his 100th game.
Camera IconKeifer Yu is carried on his Claremont Tigers teammates' shoulders after playing in his 100th game. Credit: Michael O’Brien, Claremont Football Club

An esteemed Broome footballer went down in the history books recently, as he achieved the peak milestone of his rollercoaster career.

Keifer Yu played his 100th game for Claremont Tigers Football Club last week, becoming the first person from the Kimberley and only the second indigenous man to ever do so.

The 27-year-old was carried on his teammates’ shoulders and showered with Gatorade after his side’s eight-point victory on Saturday in what would be another highlight for Yu in his decade at the club, that will reach an end in coming weeks.

Yu plans to return to Broome to start a family with his partner at the end of the WAFL season, making the achievement all the more special.

The former Saints player and St Mary’s student said the milestone felt like an amazing feat.

“Ten years is a long time to play footy when you think about it but I have had a lot of support along the way,” he said.

“I have had those times when I have felt like I wanted to leave so I hope that sends a positive message to people about sticking it out to achieve something.

“It is a pretty great feeling to reach 100 games and now I will cross my fingers for the premiership this year.”

Yu is yet to play in a league premiership, but his time at Claremont has seen him rack up a number of colts and reserves flags, all while carving a reputation for himself as a tough and resilient competitor. But it was NAIDOC round that stands as a highlight for Yu, who was often the only indigenous man on the team, leading them on the field.

And despite a significant list of injuries and concussions, Yu will remember a racial controversy and its tumultuous fallout at the beginning of this year as his lowest moment.

Subiaco player Josh Deluca called the Broome man an “Asian c...” during an early game this year, but it was the poor handling by the WAFL that strained Yu, who was made to determine the outcome and penalty of the sledge.

Yu said he is looking forward to returning to his hometown, but was sad to be saying goodbye to the Tigers.

“I will definitely miss the footy club when I move back to Broome, as they have really been my family away from home,” he said. “Moving back has always been the plan, because my partner is from Broome also and I’ve already had a few footy teams up there contacting me to play for them in the West Kimberley Football League.”

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