Country Championships: GSFL senior team stacked full of top talent in bid to win division three title

The Great Southern Football League is determined to make a strong impact in its return to the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships, chasing division three glory in Perth this week. A strong final team of 30 players has been named for the GSFL in its return to senior level of the annual championships. The GSFL has not competed at the championships for three years but comes in with plenty of enthusiasm, new jumpers and a fresh outlook. Former WAFL players Steven Edwards, Matt Orzel, Zach Jackson and Isaac Baum head up a star-studded GSFL squad that will be out to win division three under coach Glynn Verbruggen. Ex-St Kilda and Fremantle player Brett Peake is one glaring omission from the final team, with an ankle injury preventing him from attending the carnival. Suspension to Royals star Brayden Parker and late injuries to Jayson Ford and Nick Barrow have also forced their withdrawal from the team. Young trio Camball McMahon, Taj Williams and Toby Hall are the replacements for the late omissions. Verbruggen is delighted with how the final team has come together. “I’m really happy with the players that are available,” he said. “We’ve trained really strongly and everyone is ready to go. “No side is going up there with their best available talent but we have a really strong group that want to get up there and test themselves. “We are going to rock up and expect to play good footy ourselves … this group want to go away and win, that’s the aim and that’s what we are preparing to do.” The GSFL senior team made consecutive division three grand finals, losing to Eastern Districts in 2018 and then Regional Allstars in 2019. The entire championships were called off in 2020 because of COVID, in 2021 only the women and colts divisions were played, and in 2022 the GSFL did not send a team. However a strong investment from a group of senior players has renewed the spark for carnival football in the GSFL. “We have great leaders in Matt Orzel, Logan Stubber and Isaac Baum,” Verbruggen said. “We know guys like that have played at a high level for a long time and know what they will bring. “To have travelling players Zach Jackson, Daniel Patching and Brandon Ugle want to be a part of this is great and they’ll join the team in Perth.” The GSFL will face a tough first-up assignment against North Pilbara on Friday at Gil Fraser Reserve before a later clash with Onshore Cup. On Saturday at Lane Group Stadium the GSFL will tackle Esperance and then Hills in their bid to finish in the top two and reach Sunday’s grand final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. “Carnival footy is about a fast start and we’ve got a group that can win contested ball,” Verbruggen said. “We are going to need some guys to stand up in key positions but we will move it as fast as we can and contested ball is definitely our strength.” The GSFL captain will be decided on Thursday when the team gets together in Perth. GSFL squad 1. Camball McMahon (Mt Barker) 2. Daniel Patching (Mt Barker) 3. Leighton Smith (Railways) 4. Kane Shephard (Railways) 5. Corey Ward (Royals) 6. Matt Orzel (North Albany) 7. Joel Want (Railways) 8. Steven Edwards (Royals) 9. Isaac Baum (Albany) 10. Ryan Davies (Railways) 11. Jyrin Woods (North Albany) 12. Tait McLean (Albany) 13. Marlin Bennett (Albany) 14. Ryan Kinnear (Royals) 15. David Parker (Royals) 16. David Stone (Mt Barker) 17. Zach Jackson (Mt Barker) 18. Mitch Jackson (Mt Barker) 19. Logan Stubber (Railways) 20. Graham Ross (North Albany) 21. Beau Ewen (Railways) 22. Nathan Crudeli (North Albany) 23. Taj Williams (Albany) 24. Ryan Flick (Royals) 25. Jayden Scott (Railways) 26. Cameron Allison (Royals) 27. Brandon Ugle (Mt Barker) 30. Toby Hall (Railways) 31. Stephen Beal (Royals) 35. Robbie Lee (Albany) Division 3 fixtures Friday, July 7 at Gil Fraser Reserve, North Fremantle North Pilbara v North Midlands, 10am Hills v Esperance, 11am Gascoyne v Onshore Cup, noon North Pilbara v Great Southern, 1pm Hills v North Midlands, 2pm Gascoyne v Esperance, 3pm Onshore Cup v Great Southern, 4pm Saturday, July 8 at Lane Group Stadium, Mandurah Great Southern v Esperance, 10.30am Hills v Gascoyne, 11.30am North Midlands v Onshore Cup, 12.30pm North Pilbara v Gascoyne, 1.30pm Great Southern v Hills, 2.30pm North Midlands v Esperance, 3.30pm North Pilbara v Onshore Cup, 4.30pm Sunday, July 9 at Fremantle Community Bank Oval Division 3 grand final, 8.45am