Country Championships: Two impressive victories has Great Southern in box seat to reach division three decider

The Great Southern Football League have made a terrific return to the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships, scoring a perfect two wins on the opening day. Division three of the championships was contested at Gil Fraser Reserve in North Fremantle on Friday and it was a determined and focused Great Southern outfit that emerged unbeaten, to put themselves in the box seat to reach Sunday’s grand final. In a strong first-up display against North Pilbara, Great Southern emerged 22-point winners before thumping Onshore Cup by 83 points later in the day. Great Southern sit on top of the division three standings after the first day of the senior championships, with eight points and a whopping percentage of 625. Esperance are the only other unbeaten team and face the Great Southern in the opening game on Saturday morning. Hills, North Pilbara and Gascoyne are the only other teams that could realistically challenge for a grand final berth, having all scored one with each on Friday. After a three-year hiatus from the championships, Great Southern appointed Matt Orzel their captain and Logan Stubber his deputy and it was Orzel who kicked their first goal of the 2023 campaign. Two majors to Jyrin Woods helped Great Southern to a slender eight-point lead over North Pilbara at half-time after Ethan Stirrat and Guy Langdon kicked goals at the other end. Great Southern kicked the first three goals of the second half, however, to put the game to bed. A 50m penalty handing Orzel his second before half-forward Joel Want slotted one on the run and then Woods took the advantage from a free kick to boot his third. Despite a late goal from Nathan Bravington, Great Southern prevailed 6.6 (42) to 3.2 (20). Orzel (two goals) Stubber and Isaac Baum were outstanding while Woods kicked three goals and Tait McLean, Ryan Flick and Ryan Davies also played key roles in the win. Great Southern then made light work of Onshore Cup in their second match, holding them scoreless across the two 20-minute halves. Baum, Woods and Taj Williams gave Great Southern a fast start and, after being held to one behind in the opener, spearhead Zach Jackson then came to life. Zach Jackson had three goals by half-time and finish with six as Great Southern romped to a big win, 13.5 (83) to nil. Brandon Ugle also hit the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes as Great Southern took a 45-point lead into the break. Ruckman Stephen Beal was brilliant in the middle and Robbie Lee had the ball on the string and Great Southern carried that form into the last period as Zach Jackson booted three more, Williams and Ugle added their seconds while veteran Graham Ross also found the big sticks. Beal and Lee set up the big win, Stubber and Woods were again in the thick of the action while Ugle and Zach Jackson formed a strong combination up front. Division three action moves to Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah on Saturday where it’s likely Great Southern will need only one win to secure a berth in the decider. Great Southern face fellow undefeated side Esperance at 10.30am before their final qualifying match against Hills at 2.30pm. Esperance won a three-point thriller over Hills to start their carnival and then outlasted Gascoyne by 27 points.