WA State Country players Jeffery Smith (Railways Geraldton) and Troy Ditchburn (Kukerin-Dumbleyung), pictured left, were named in the All-Australian team at the completion of the Australian Country Football Championships in Wagga Wagga.
Ditchburn also won WA’s best and fairest Bud Byfield Medal and Teke Vernon (Collie) won the WAFL Past Players Rising Star Award.
WA finished sixth overall at the championships after being defeated by Queensland in the final game on Sunday, July 22.
After losing to Queensland by more than five goals in round-robin competition on the Friday, WA did well to be within four points of their opponents at half time of the 5th v 6th play-off.
Queensland had built a 15-point lead by quarter-time but the WA team fought back to bring the deficit to just four points at the main break. However, Queensland proved too strong in the second half, running out 9.10-64 to 7.8-50 winners.
It was an all-Victorian Grand Final for the overall Championship title, with Victoria 1 defending its title with a 68 point thrashing of Victoria 2.
NSW/ACT finished third, South Australia fourth, Queensland fifth and WA sixth.
WA RESULTS
Victoria 6.6 (42)
Western Australia 3.7 (25)
WA Goals: Mathew Martin, M. Thomas, Daniel Dalby. WA Best: Regan Duckworth, Troy Ditchburn, James Venturini, Kris Clarkson, Jeff Smith and Jesse Gribble.
South Australia 7.3 (45)
Western Australia 3.5 (23)
WA Goals: Jeff Smith (pictured), James Venturini, Ashley Wallam. WA Best: James Venturini, Kris Clarkson, Jayden Brooks, Regan Duckworth, Luke Bairstow and William Barnes.
VIC 2 6.9 (45)
Western Australiua 1.5 (11)
WA Goals: M. Martin. WA Best: T. Vernon, T Ditchburn, M. Martin, R. Duckworth, M. Thomas, J. Brooks.
Western Australia 4.6 (30)
NSW/ACT 4.0 (24)
WA Goals: L. Bairstow, J. Smith, M. Martin, D. Dalby. WA Best: T. Vernon, L. Bairstow, J. Smith, D. Dalby, C. Atthow, M. Giumelli
Queensland 9.5 (59)
Western Australia 4.3 (27)
WA Goals: J. Martin 2, S Delmenico, D Dalby. WA Best: J. Martin, M. Giumelli, J. Smith, C. Atthowe, T. Vernon, L. Bairstow
5th vs 6th Play-Off:
Queensland 9.10 (64)
Western Australia 7.8 (50)
WA Goals: J. Brooks 3, C. Atthowe, M. Martin, T. Skilton , A. Wallam. WA Best: J. Smith, T. Ditchburn, J. Brooks, T. Skilton, C. Atthowe, R. Duckworth
