West Perth’s Stan “Popsy” Heal played in two League premiership sides in the one season(West Perth and Melbourne, 1941),and Perth’s Noel Wilson was part of two flags on the same day(Perth league and seconds, 1968).    Another player who represented two premiership teams in the same season was Claremont midfielder, Darren Klemm. The recruitment of Tigers and State player Darrell Panizza by South Australian cellar dwellers, Woodville, in 1987, turned into a double whammy for Claremont when he was joined by another of the club’s best players, Darren Klemm, a year later. The Woodpeckers had a healthy respect for West Australian footballers, with other imports over the years including Bob Beecroft(Swan Districts), Ray Boyanich and Laurie Richards(West Perth), Allen Jakovich(South Fremantle), Greg Brehaut(Perth), and Phil Smith, the former Geelong full forward who spent time at West Perth.  The amalgamation of Woodville and West Torrens  in 1991 resulted in the Eagles(as the new club was named) becoming a force in the competition, and they only had to wait for three seasons to hoist the premiership flag aloft at Woodville Oval. Playing his sixth season in the SANFL, Klemm had been a notable performer for the club, but shocked supporters and officials alike when he decided to return home a third of the way through the 1993 season.  “I felt the time was right,” Klemm said. “I needed some after-football security, and a career with the Fire Brigade was in the offing, so I decided to come back to WA.” It’s history that both Claremont and the Eagles won premierships in 1993.  Son of a country teacher, which meant an upbringing in several country schools, Darren Klemm played his early football in the Geraldton under age competition when attending boarding school. The family later moved to Sorrento, and Darren lined up with North Beach. Tied to East Fremantle because of his residence at Geraldton, Darren sought a clearance to Claremont, due to the distance and travel time to Fremantle. On a freezing night at Waverley, an eighteen year old Klemm played his first senior game with Claremont in an Escort Cup match against Collingwood. Later that year he made his WAFL debut, and seemed set for a long career at that level, but a dislocated elbow and torn ankle ligaments halted the youngsters’ progress. With the addition of playing coach Gerard Neesham in 1987, Klemm felt his place in the side was under threat, but despite further injury problems he held his spot, and was a winner on a wing against Subiaco’s Ian Dargie on grand final day, as Claremont swept to a one hundred and thirty one point victory over Subiaco. A tough, hard at it onballer with exquisite handball skills, Klemm was contacted by Woodville before the 1988 season. He decided to take up the challenge, and gave the struggling club good service, following up with consistent displays with the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.  Although Darren was a consistent, hard working performer for the Tigers, he felt that his best football was played in Adelaide, and was contacted by Geelong in 1992, but didn’t receive a draft nomination.  After his retirement from WAFL football in 1995, a year in which he captained the club, Klemm spent a year playing with Williams, where another premiership flag was won, but further injury woes resulted in the boots being consigned to the scrapheap. He had coaching stints at Goomalling and Toodyay.  Wife Lisa’s grandfather, Ken Ebbs, was a member of the all-conquering East Fremantle 1945 and 46 premiership combinations. Statistically, the record of East’s 1946 team may never be equalled, for it won the whole of its twenty one league matches. As the club had won the last ten games in the previous year and won four matches at the beginning of 1947, thirty five matches were won without a defeat. Ken’s brother, Allan, was also in both sides.  Norwood’s Gary McIntosh( “tough and rugged”) was Darren’s nomination as hardest opponent, while Michael Mitchell and Derek Kickett were great players he was fortunate enough to have played with. One of his memories of Mitchell was an occasion when the trainers were busy working on the star rover when the ball landed in his lap. A deft handball went straight to a teammate’s grasp, before Mitchell gave his attention once again to the trainer. Klemm recalled another match when seconds full forward Allen Rowe could have been forgiven for brandishing hopes of a league call-up following his thirteen majors. His counterpart in the league side, Warren Ralph, responded with fifteen in the league game, ensuring that Rowe, despite his goal haul, remained in the early game for the foreseeable future.  Still at the Fire and Emergency Service Authority, Klemm is now Assistant Chief Operations Officer – Professional Development. In his current role he is responsible for the training and development of staff and volunteers, including the management of the FESA Training Centre. Firey on the football arena, a firey off it, Darren Klemm controls the havoc nowadays rather than causing it. A tenacious and tough midfielder in the eighties and early to mid nineties he was also a two time Claremont premiership player who always gave of his best.