Sandover Medal 2024: Callan England opens up on losing love for game at West Coast to becoming Claremont star

Callan England’s path to becoming etched in WA football folklore as a Sandover medallist wasn’t the one he planned out for himself. But the Claremont star has no regrets about the journey. England became the 14th Sandover winner from the Tigers after polling 19 votes in Monday night’s count, sharing the award with Swan Districts star Nik Rokahr. It marked a significant turnaround from just five years ago, when England conceded he was disillusioned with the game after his dream of playing AFL footy was dashed. England was drafted as a teenage rookie by the Eagles in 2017 but was discarded after only one season on the list, spending the entire year in and out of the league side at then-alignment club East Perth. Returning to Claremont, England told the club he preferred to play in the reserves despite his talent, which once had him touted as the next Andrew Gaff. “In my year at West Coast I just lost my passion for the game. Training starts to become a chore, I didn’t love it and then you don’t play your best footy,” England told The West Australian. “Coming back to Claremont, it probably took a year and a bit to find that love of the game again. I spent some time in the reserves, the coach was wanting to play me league, but I just wanted to play in the reserves, find my love of the game again, find my confidence again. “It did take a bit of a toll on myself and really believing whether I’m still an elite football. It shaped who I am today, and I wouldn’t change it.” Once England returned to the league side regularly in 2020, his talent came to the fore. A junior athletics star, England’s pace and skill had him utilised on a wing and as a half-forward for the majority of the next four seasons. It was a move into the midfield this year where his football went to another level. England averaged a career-high 26 disposals as well as five clearances, five score involvements and five tackles to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the WAFL. “It’s been something I’ve been working towards ever since I came back to Claremont,” England said. “I spent a bit of time on the wing and at half-forward, but I always wanted to get back to where I think I can play my best footy which is an inside midfielder. That’s where I think I can impact the game the most. “To be able to do it with Jye (Bolton) and Bailey (Rogers) who are absolute superstars of the competition and combine that with Easty (Oliver Eastland) who is the best ruck in the competition – I have to thank them a lot for my development as a player and as a person as well.” England is still in disbelief that he will be one of three Sandover medallists in the Tigers locker room next season alongside dual winner Bolton (2016 and 2018) and Rogers (2021). “I have to thank (coach) Ash Prescott who has been absolutely super for me in particular this year,” England said. “He’s really backed me in to play that midfield role and that’s paid dividends. “I’ve spoken about Jye, Bailey and Easty and just the footy club in general. I spoke up on stage about how good a club it is. I think I called it the greatest place on earth which I think it is.” Still reeling from their heartbreaking one-point semifinal loss to Peel Thunder at the weekend, England said his next goal in the games is to bring a flag back to Claremont for the first time since 2012. “It’s why we play, and we’ve been so close but so far,” England said. “Everyone at the club is dedicated to winning a flag and for me I want to win multiple premierships, I don’t want it just to be one I want it to be two or three. “I think we’ve got the club, the personnel, the coaches and the environment to do that.”