South West Football League returns to the top of WA country football and wins Country Football Championships

The South West Football League has again proved why it’s the premier competition in regional WA – easily accounting for Avon to claim division one of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships at the WACA Ground on Sunday. The country footy powerhouse led from the outset and was never seriously challenged on the way to a comfortable 17.13 (115) to 3.3 (21) win in the grand final. Coached by Chris Kinninmont, the SWFL finished the carnival undefeated — and saved their best performance for the decider. Keen to start strongly, Zac Trigwell put the red-hot favourites in front inside the opening minute. And aside from a brief period of resistance in the first term, Avon were unable to quell the SWFL’s crumbing forwards. Avon’s Tom Lee — who tied with SWFL forward Patrick Farrant for player of the carnival honours — was unable to find space all game, such was the tight marking from disciplined South West defender Zac Pethybridge. The only sour part of the awesome performance was a hamstring injury to SWFL big man Tyson Wood, who limped off with five minutes left in the game. Farrant was also unable to play in the grand final because of concussion protocols. Several players — including Sam Lewis, Trigwell, Farrant, Tyson Wood and Mitchell Tenardi — received All-Star status, while Braden Fimmano also had an excellent carnival. Kinninmont was naturally thrilled with the final outcome and believed every single player did what was asked of them. “We made some late changes from the original list that was selected,” he said. “However, the people who put their hands up to play wanted to be there for all of the right reasons. I believe this showed in the overall outcome — where we were able to blow away a pretty good side. “It is a credit to the players, coaches and volunteers, who should all be commended for what they did over the three days, due to the team effort which was put in.” There was also a small slice of fortune involved for the SWFL, who came within seconds of losing their opening round robin clash on Friday morning at Fremantle Oval. Trailing all game against Upper Great Southern, Trigwell was able to mark in the goal square with 20 seconds left in the contest, with his goal putting them five-points in front on the final siren. Meanwhile, Ongerup Football Association capped a perfect carnival by claiming a terrific 16-point grand final victory in division two. Up against Central Midlands Coastal Football League in the decider, Ongerup led at every change but had to withstand a mountain of pressure from their opponents in the last half to secure title glory. It was Ongerup’s first division two title since 2011 and capped an unbeaten championships after winning all four of their qualifying matches on Friday and Saturday. Two goals from spearhead Lewis Davis gave Ongerup a slender seven-point lead after Central Midlands Coastal kicked the first goal of the decider. The two sides traded goals in the second but two wonderful snaps from Arron Russell and a crumbing major from Nelson Kent pushed Ongerup’s advantage to 13 points. Ongerup booted the first three goas of the third and it appeared they were running away with the contest, as Russell took his tally to four and Davis added a third. When Russell snapped his fourth major the margin was 29 points but Central Midlands Coastal stormed back into the game as they willed the ball forward and kicked the next three goals. Cody Juhas capitalised on a defensive blunder, Lachie Glasfurd then found the big sticks and Bill Jones converted from close range to pull the deficit back to 10 points by three quarter time. Ongerup rose to the occasion in the final term however, Russell kicking a fifth when he was left all alone in the goal square to make the lead 15 points. Davis made it even harder when he jailed his fourth and despite a late major from Juhas it was Ongerup who prevailed 10.7 (67) to 7.9 (51). Star midfielder Fraser House was named best on ground in the grand final win, Russell was outstanding with five goals and Davis attracted plenty of attention but added four. Key defender Dean Rintoul was rock solid across the four quarters while Ethan Caldwell made plenty of intercepts in the back half. Veteran ball winner Luke Bairstow worked tirelessly while half forward Jack Carruthers was lively, setting up a number of goals before he was helped from the ground after a heavy hit.