The Albany Advertiser’s Year in Review: We take a look back at the top Great Southern moments that made 2024

The Albany Advertiser looks back on the biggest Great Southern sporting stories of the year. From a State cricket debut, to national champions and an Olympic debut, these are the moments that made 2024.

Albany and Districts the kings of country cricket

After falling short of Boan Cup glory in 2023, Albany and Districts Cricket Association returned to the top of country cricket after a gripping country week A-section title triumph in January. The Whalers won the most epic of finals, holding out Eastern Goldfields in a seven-run thriller at College Park. English all-rounder Joe Stanley was the star for the Whalers, making 82 runs before snaring 5-79.

Plenty of Joy! Lincoln wins Tuck Waldron Medal

Albany and Districts star Lincoln Joy had an immense impact for WA at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in January. Joy made his debut for the Country XI team but produced an outstanding tour in Newcastle to be crowned the Tuck Waldron medallist at WA’s best player. The all-rounder showed his versatility after scoring 192 runs at an average of 24 and claiming eight wickets at 10.63 across the nine games.

The Bryce is right as Jackson debuts for WA

Albany-raised paceman Bryce Jackson’s dream of playing for WA was realised after making his long-awaited debut in February. Jackson who battled injuries as a youngster on his way to a WACA contract, played his first game for the State in the Marsh Cup against Tasmania. The Collingwood Park product finished with three wickets in the match, helping WA reach the final as a result. In September, Jackson claimed the best one-day bowling figures for WA after snaring 6-31.

Cameron rises to the top, crowned Albany’s best sportsperson

AFL premiership player Darcy Cameron was the toast of his hometown after claiming the major honour at the reinvigorated Albany Sportsperson of the Yeara wards in February. Albany’s sporting elite were celebrated at the relaunched awards, which were recognised for the first time since 2018. More than 100 leading athletes, coaches and figureheads of Albany gathered at Retravision Stadium as their achievements from 2023 were detailed. Collingwood ruck Cameron claimed the inaugural Wellington and Reeves Albany Sportsperson of the Year title after playing in the Magpies’ 2023 premiership team.

First running of Albany’s rich slot race a RAM success

Gemma’s Son handed new trainer Embroja-Lee Altieri a moment she will never forget and the RAM Racing Syndicate more slot race success after an upset win in the inaugural Bluff Knoll in Albany in February. Running in the slot for the RAM Racing Syndicate, Gemma’s Son sprinted home powerfully in the straight to skip clear of $2.30 favourite Oscar’s Fortune. The result gave Altieri a fairytale start to her career, her first win coming in the lucrative first edition of the $357,060 Wellington & Reeves Bluff Knoll (1099m).

Royal elation as Lions claim A-grade cricket flag

Royals celebrated their second premiership in four years after a gruelling day of momentum swings and tense moments, as they defeated their arch rivals and grand final opponents of the last four seasons, Mt Barker, in March. Having been Mt Barker’s bridesmaid for the past two Albany and Districts Cricket Association seasons after their breakthrough 2020-21 triumph, the Lions evened the ledger at two apiece with a spectacular four-wicket victory.

Fairytale finish as Magpies swoop in overtime

Denmark completed a fairytale first season in the Albany Basketball Association women’s A-grade competition, claiming grand final glory with a thrilling overtime win against title fancies the Barking Owls in March. After being locked at 28 points apiece the two were forced to go one more five-minute period, but Denmark remained cool and composed in a frenetic overtime to take a stunning 39-37 grand final victory.

Bulls charge to maiden GSFLW premiership

A maiden Great Southern Football League Women’s premiership for the revitalised Mt Barker marked a fairytale club transformation and a true celebration for the town, according to coach Sheridan Kowald. Entering 2024 with only three victories since their inception in 2020, the Bulls stormed to grand final glory on their home deck of Sounness Park, lifting the cup with a thrilling 1.4 (10) to 0.5 (5) triumph.

Nipper of the Year win for Albany

Albany Surf Life Saving Club’s Mahayla Smithers was crowned 2024 Nipper of the Year at Surf Life Saving WA’s annual Nipper and Youth awards in Perth in May. The pennant is awarded to the most outstanding nipper club achiever (under-10 to 13) as nominated by their parent club to recognise their achievements and growth in surf lifesaving skills, including beach safety awareness, lifesaving sport skills and sun safety.

Blight’s persistence rewarded in mid-season draft

Albany-raised footballer Jacob Blight’s AFL dream became a reality after hearing his name read out by Richmond in the mid-season draft with the No.2 pick in June catapulting him “into a whole new world”. Hailing from Railways in the Great Southern Football League, the 22-year-old returns to the familiar yellow and black guernsey of his boyhood club, but instead for the men at Punt Road. He went on to make his AFL debut against Carlton in July.

Country star Mitchell bowls them over again

An elated Matt Mitchell netted his third male country bowler of the year title in May. Mitchell was awarded the Vice Patron’s Medal at the Bowls WA awards night after achieving consistently high results in the 2022-23 campaign, including the Bowls WA Men’s Country Week Championship singles title. He also finished runner-up in the State Fours competition and made the quarterfinals of the country week pairs tournament with fellow Albany bowler Jon Sharpe.

Country championship glory for GSFL

From not having a team in 2022 to premiers in 2024, a staunch Great Southern Football League secured the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships division three title with a grinding victory over their southern rivals Esperance in July. Having qualified for the decider after an undefeated round robin where they conceded just three goals in four games, Great Southern flexed their muscles again in a low-scoring, stoppage heavy encounter to emerge 27-point victors.

Penny’s Olympic dream finally realised

Tambellup-raised hockey star Penny Squibb’s long-awaited Olympic dream was finally realised after being part of the Hockeyroos squad for the Olympic Games in Paris that started in July. Squibb made an impressive Olympic debut, having waited nearly eight years for her moment on the world’s biggest stage. However the Hockeyroos fell short of a medal, bundled out in the quarterfinals by China.

Outstanding Tiger honours cap stellar year

Polished Railways midfielder Ryley Valli was honoured to join the club’s long list of H.B. Kleemann Medal winners after becoming the eighth Tiger to be named the Great Southern Football League fairest and best player in the past decade. His sensational season was further recognised by being named the Albany Advertiser footballer of the year and the coaches’ player of the year in his first season back in the GSFL since returning from a stint at Claremont.

Hungry Sharks claim back-to-back premierships

A year on from a historic maiden Great Southern Football League premiership, Albany made it back-to-back flags at Retravision Stadium in September. Despite an almighty challenge from their spirited arch rivals Royals in the third quarter, the Sharks’ brigade of star-studded talent — who spent every week at the top of the ladder — stood up when it mattered most, securing a 10.14 (74) to 8.5(53) flag win.

Albany’s pair of tennis aces

Young Albany tennis sensations Tea Zizek and Denby Sharpe helped WA clinch a silver medal at School Sport Australia’s Bruce Cup in Darwin in August. The pair, who play out of Albany’s OnCourt Tennis program, played key roles in the week-long tournament, winning most of their games to help WA climb on to the podium.

Perfect day in the Park for Spencer

Spencer Park completed the perfect day, winning both the A-grade premierships to cap a stellar 2024 Lower Great Southern Hockey Association season in September. Park women’s A-grade side claimed its first title since 2018 after a comprehensive 3-0 win, ending North Albany’s golden run of grand final victories in the process. A clutch last-quarter field goal secured a premiership hat-trick for Spencer Park as their dominance of the men’s A-grade competition continued.

All love for Gov after All-Australian and Eagles club champion nods

West Coast Eagles great and Albany-raised defender Jeremy McGovern has added one of the final accolades to his incredible career, claiming his first John Worsfold Medal as the club champion in September. McGovern, who earned an incredible fifth All-Australian blazer earlier this season, finished on 184 votes to edge out two-time winner Elliot Yeo by seven votes.

Perth Glory put on a show in Albany pre-season game

Perth Glory ended their preseason regional trip on a high courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Newcastle Jets after a physical and fiery match in front of a huge crowd in Albany in October. The intensity of the two A-League clubs’ second and final friendly match rivalled the vigour and passion of a regular season fixture as both sides grappled with the troubling blustery conditions.

Isi stands tall on national waves to claim Aussie title

Denmark surf star Isi Campbell added more silverware to her already glistening cabinet after winning the open women’s national stand-up paddleboard title in Victoria in October. The young surfer, who has already represented Australia and surfed in some of the world’s most renowned locations, dominated at the 2024 Australian SUP Titles.

Denmark brothers king of the hill at nationals

Denmark brothers Jake and Jy Drummond were the toast of the town after being crowned national champions at the 2024 Auscycling MTB Enduro National and Oceania Championship in Collie in October. Jake, 16, won the under-17 men’s category, while Jy, 14, who won the State championship earlier in the year, clinched the men’s under-15 title.