West Australian Football

The West Australian Amateur Football competition for season 2008 ended on the weekend for the 26 teams competing in their respective Grand Finals. The highs and lows only Grand Finals can bring were evident on the faces of players, coaches and fans who all braved the wild wintery conditions to represent their clubs on the biggest stage in amateur football.

The omens weren’t good for the Fremantle CBC senior side as their colts tackled Collegians in the West Coast Eagles Drew Banfield division. Collegians held CBC at bay all day despite continued effort from a gallant CBC, collecting their first Drew Banfield flag by 35 points and starting the day off in style.

The much anticipated B Grade Grand Final between Collegians and Fremantle CBC lived up to all its hype. With leads changing throughout in a tough encounter, it was the valiant Collegians side who stole the lead in the last 5 minutes to clinch a much deserved flag, topping off their stellar minor premiership-winning season.  Although upset, Fremantle CBC still had reason to celebrate as their reserves side defeated Hamersley Carine by 17 points, showing they have good depth as they aim to tackle the big guns of amateur football in the premier A Grade next season.

The story was different in the C grade Grand Final played at Claremont Oval. The undefeated favourites Swan View took on Kingsley in what was the upset of the day. Kingsley came out of the blocks fast in blustery conditions to go into the first break with a 5 goal margin, leading 6 goals 3 to only 1 goal 1. With a swirly breeze creating havoc for players from both sides, it was again Kingsley who were able to kick away further in the second quarter and effectively put the game beyond reach. Swan View tried to pull it back in the last quarter, but with Joel O’Halloran staring and a lead of 43 points, it was too little too late as Kingsley produced the upset of the season to take home their 5th W.A.A.F.L flag. Claremont Oval proved a happy hunting ground for Kingsley who managed to take home two flags for the day as the Kingsley Colts easy accounted for Ocean Ridge by 34 points in the West Coast Eagles Ian Dargie division.

The D grade ended in with a barnstorming last half by Kingsway to beat the minor premiers in definitive style. Down by 17 points at the major break, Kingsway came out firing putting on 4.1 to 1 goal 1 leaving both teams level pegging as they headed into what promised to be a thrilling last quarter. Fans were on the edge of their seats and both huddle’s full of voice as they came out to resume play, but it was Kingsway again firing all the shots as they stormed home with a 6 goal last quarter to take the flag by 32 points. The reserve’s was a different story with Dianella Morely having all the play but unable to capatalize on the scoreboard early on. Both teams kicked the same amount of goals, but the inaccurate Dianella Morely side eventually brought home the flag in a high pressure encounter, eventually prevailing by 7 points.

The E, F, and G grand finals provided no real surprises. In all of the grades the favourites, and highest placed finishers of the 2008 season took home the respective flags, except Fremantle CBC who had a surprise upset loss to University in the E Reserves division. Coolbellup, Trinity Aquinas and North Fremantle all took home a flag for the club rooms, the latter two hoping it’s only the first of many as they compete in the A Grade Grand finals this weekend.

The West Coast Eagles Laurie Keene Colts provided a preview for the A Grade grand final, pitting the two powerhouse teams of the competition against each other a week earlier than scheduled. It was North Beach vs North Fremantle at Forster Park to kick off the day for the E Grade, and it was North Fremantle drawing first blood as they took a 3 goal lead into quarter time with the help of a breeze. North Beach fought back in the second as North Fremantle failed to find any avenue to goal, adding only an extra 3 goals for the game and losing the flag by 28 points.

With the lower grade Grand Finals over we look to the upcoming matches this weekend. North Beach and North Fremantle clash again in a Grand Final, with North Fremantle hoping to change the colts result and take away North Beach’s stranglehold on A grade competition. Trinity and Scarborough are fighting for the reserves and colts flags respectively, but the story of the day is if North Fremantle can secure a flag in all three grades and make it 4 for the season.