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Rossmoyne’s young sporting star Jack Cleaver hoping to put injuries behind him

Pia van StraalenCanning Gazette

ROSSMOYNE’S Jack Cleaver (12) has broken his collarbone three times in three years – his left, his right, and then his left again.

His mother, Rebecca said she hoped the pattern would not continue in 2016, as the high achieving sportsman prepares to represent WA in the State under-13’s AFL competition on the Sunshine Coast next month.

Broken bones are the collateral damage for Jack who plays a host of contact sports and thrives in the scrum.

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“I love to tackle,” he said.

Jack’s pending competition over east is the latest in sporting accomplishments for the Aquinas student who holds school records in shot put and triple jump.

His trophy cabinet includes medals from the Southern Districts Little Athletic Club for the 70-metre record and is the Willetton Basketball Association’s All-Star in his age group.

It doesn’t stop there – the juggernaut sportsman plays both rugby codes and has competed in state cross country.

Jack attributed his success to playing with a team.

“I think sport is fun because I get to play with my friends, I like playing with a team,” he said.

He said his sporting hero, Eagles player Matthew Priddis, was down to earth and that was the kind of sportsman he wanted to be.

“He’s humble, and that’s good… if I played AFL professionally I’d want to be an Eagle.”

Mrs Cleaver said his family was committed to making sport fun, and attributed her son’s success to the no-pressure environment the family built around sport.

“Jack rarely loses a game, but if he did it doesn’t matter… it’s about being in a team and he is a great athlete but he’s just a 12-year-old kid,” she said.

“Because there is no pressure in the family it helps him achieve.”

Jack heads to the Sunshine Coast on July 22.