Decorated defender reaches 200

Highly decorated defender Graham Ross will chalk up his 200th game for North Albany this Saturday.

Ross is one of the most successful players in Great Southern Football League history, having won eight league premierships with the Kangas and the 2009 Kleemann Medal as the fairest and best player in the competition.

The resolute centre-half-back made his 150th league appearance for the red-and-whites in 2016 and has since added three more league flags to his list of accolades.

A winner of three Kangas fairest and best awards, Ross was club captain for three years and also a captain and long-time GSFL representative at the Landmark Country Football Championships.

Kangas coach Craig Dew said Ross deserved every plaudit that came his way and the 33-year-old was still one of the best defenders in the game.

“It’s a pretty amazing stat, eight league premierships,” Dew said.

“He is clearly still in the best handful of defenders in the league, has such good timing when the ball is in the air, and that’s been testament to his longevity.

“We’ve had guys go on to bigger things but modern day, in terms of what they’ve achieved for our club, him and Brett Hall are head and shoulders above the rest.

“He is a great leader and has been a constant at Landmark for years.”

The Kangas will travel to Sounness Park on Saturday for their round nine clash with Mt Barker and the match will have a milestone flavour to it.

Hardworking Bulls midfielder Luke Hammond will play his 150th game for the club in the same fixture.

Hammond has been a regular part of the Bulls’ senior side for the past decade and was part of their losing grand final side in 2016.

The Kangas will be boosted by the return of Jake Becroft for the rest of the season.

Becroft has spent time on Perth’s list in the WAFL and is playing for Canning Tigers after overcoming a serious knee injury.

The lively goal kicker is expected to play against the Bulls.

Railways have also done some recruiting ahead of Sunday’s June 30 clearance deadline, with former WAFL reserves player Trent Bradshaw transferring to Tigerland.

Bradshaw, who last spent time with Subiaco, played four seasons with East Perth, where he made 35 reserves and 19 colts appearances.