Around the Leagues: A country championships to remember and young gun makes big trek to WAFLW grand final

The Advertiser brings you Around the Leagues, taking a look at football stories of players and personalities from the Great Southern, Ongerup and Upper Great Southern regions. Country championships one to remember It was brilliant to see the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships back to its full glory last week. The 58th edition of the historic carnival had record teams and it delivered in spades for those who went along to watch and especially those participating. The Great Southern Football League made a return to the senior division of the championships after a three-year hiatus while Esperance, Hills, Onshore Cup and North Pilbara were also back following lengthy absences. It was fitting that North Pilbara went on to win the division 3 title, taking part in the championships for the first time since 1990. While things didn’t go exactly to plan for the Great Southern senior side, the positives far outweighed the negatives. A far more professional campaign, the new uniforms looked terrific and overall they gained some respect back just showing up and playing in the carnival. Those involved deserve credit for making it happen after some trying times in recent years and the players themselves deserve some acknowledgment as well. It was arguably the best team the Great Southern has sent to the championships in the past five years and although they didn’t reach the division 3 grand final, it was a stepping stone to making this venture sustainable in the long-term. Former WAFL star Matt Orzel might have only been back playing for a few weeks prior to the championships but he was deservedly named captain of the Great Southern and led his side superbly. Ongerup had a tough initiation to the top division, finishing without a win, while Upper Great Southern lost their final qualifying game to miss out on a berth in the grand final. A young and inexperienced Great Southern Storm side were outmuscled in the colts competition, finishing sixth overall after one win from their four matches. After their demotion last year, Goldfields responded in the best possible fashion by winning a hotly contested division 2. The division 1 grand final was an absolute ripper and despite being low-scoring it had spectators on the edge of their seats. A breakthrough division 1 title for the hardworking Avon Football Association, who were flogged in the same game last year by rivals South West. Finally, the colts division wrapped up on Friday down in Pinjarra and the best team across the two days, South West claimed yet another title. They had to do it the hard way, outlasting a determined Great Northern outfit to win by one point. Some remarkable young talent on display in that colts competition, no doubt some future AFL players in the making. Dedication driving talented teen It is hard to question the commitment of Great Southern teenager Tiara Hodgson. The 16-year-old has had a big week, preparing to play for South Fremantle in the WAFLW Rogers Cup grand final on Saturday. Hodgon’s commitment to play in the Rogers Cup competition, however, is outstanding. Hailing from Gnowangerup, Hodgson now lives with her family in Albany and every week makes the 800km round trip to Perth to play with the Bulldogs. She has played 15 games so far this season and her side won through last week’s preliminary final against Claremont to book their place in the decider. Hodgson played for the club in the Rogers Cup in 2022, kicking 16 goals as a 15-year-old. This year the talented forward has nine majors, including one in their tense eight-point preliminary final triumph. Hodgson has been named at full-forward in the big game at Mineral Resources Park starting at 12.10pm. The Bulldogs have the tough task of upsetting the unbeaten West Perth in the grand final, the Falcons winning the recent second semifinal by 39 points which came after a perfect 14 victories in the regular season. Medal honour for returning Ram The prestigious Craig Doney Medal has had another star name added to its honour list. The medal, named after Kukerin-Dumbleyung great and State football Craig Doney, is awarded to the best-and-fairest player for Upper Great Southern Football League at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships. Four representatives vote on the medal and it was midfield gun Haiden Schloithe that took home the honour. Schloithe was dominant in his return to Rams colours, spending most of his time in the middle and also pushing forward to kick five goals. The former South Fremantle star has only been back in the Upper Great Southern a few weeks but finished ahead of fellow Katanning Wanderers teammates Kade Stewart and James Laurino in the voting. Both Schloithe and Laurino earned Allstars selection at the championships. Doney still has an active role with the Upper Great Southern representative outfit, being their team manager for the 2023 campaign in Perth. Jordan’s grand final glory Mt Barker-raised footballer Jordan Reid tasted grand final success at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships. Reid was playing for the Goldfields Football League, who went through the carnival undefeated and claimed the division 2 title on Sunday. Playing as a ruckman in the star-studded Goldfields outfit — the former Perth and Claremont tall was vital enjoyed a terrific championships. He was named in his side’s best players in three of the four qualifying games and produced a strong display in the decider as Goldfields prevailed by 15 points. The 24-year-old also spent a year playing for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and is now a dominant figure for his side Railways in the GFL. Umps make up an important team at the carnival Umpires play an important role in all football but there was again strong regional representation at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships. Upper Great Southern pair Travis Norton and Steve Irvine both received grand finals as field umpires at the championships. Norton officiated in the division 2 grand final and Irvine was part of the team that umpired the division 3 decider. Great Southern whistleblower Dean Bristow umpired during the carnival and veteran Herbie Hart waved the flags as well, continuing his long association with the country championships. South West’s Cameron Valenti received the JJ Lussick Award as the umpire of the championships and he was one of the three umpires in charge of the division 1 grand final. Got a footy story from our region to share? Email cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com