West Australian Football

THE West Australian Football Commission has signed a new three-year deal with Burley as the officially endorsed supplier of footballs to all WA competitions.

The partnership will see Burley footballs used for the first time across all competitions including the West Australian Football League, WA Country Football League, WA Amateur Football League, WA Women’s Football League, AFL Masters WA, all junior competitions and by WAFC District Development staff.

WEST Australian Football Commission Director of Pathways and Competitions Grant Dorrington has been honoured with a Medal (OAM) Of The Order Of Australia for his services to football and road safety in WA.

Mr Dorrington received his OAM In The General Division 179 for service to the community through contributions to road safety, and to the management and development of the Australian Football League in Western Australia.

He has been a WAFC Director since 1989, overseeing the West Australian Football League and game development of which the league is part.

ONE of West Perth Football Club's favourite sons was laid to rest last week at the age of 97.

Jack ‘Spike’ Pola was honoured as a Cardies great last Monday, his coffin draped in two of his old playing jumpers, with the club song sounding as he was farewelled at Karrakatta Cemetery.

The mood was light as guests heard how his birth name – Giovanni Stefano – was changed by Deed Poll to Jack after his mum became concerned he may be ridiculed at a state schoolboys football carnival in 1928.

But West Perth’s oldest life member only ever answered to Spike, which came about through a mate called Ike.

“Someone saw them walking together one day and said ‘hey look it’s Spike and Ike’,” Son-in-law David Pearce said.

WA's most talented Indigenous football players will be selected for the State U15 Indigenous Squad when the Nicky Winmar Football Carnival is held at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Mandurah.

The Nicky Winmar Carnival will be played on Saturday 18 February, from 3pm to 8pm, between teams based on WAFL metro and regional zones.

The event is targeting disengaged Indigenous youth with the aim of getting them back into the football system at club level and in development squads.

The carnival will also provide the opportunity to unveil exciting new talent and select players to compete in the national KickStart National Championships on the Gold Coast in April.

EAST Fremantle Football Club President, John McManus, has resigned from the Board of the East Fremantle Football Club to pursue a commercial opportunity in Karratha.

John has been President of the Club since 2008 and has been instrumental in the increased competitiveness of the Club through this period, which included a return to finals action in 2010 for the first time since 2002.

John has expressed his disappointment at not being able to continue in the role but has confidence in his succession and the position of his beloved Club on his departure.