Top Sporting Moments in 2017

We take a look back at our best moments involving sportspeople and teams in the Great Southern.

Australian Country Cricket Championships

Albany all-rounder Julian Crudeli was named in the Australian Country XII for the second time after a stellar 2017 championships for WA.

In 10 matches, both one-day and Twenty20 format, Crudeli finished with 305 runs at an average of 50.8 and took 16 wickets at an average of 19.1.

Toyota Country Cup

Albany Cricket Association won the Toyota Country Cup for the first time in 30 years after defeating Bunbury in the Twenty20 final at Breckler Park.

Led by man-of-the-match Jeremy Wood, who made 77 runs from 50 balls, Albany set their rivals an imposing 139 to win, which proved too much in the end.

Albany Sportsperson of the Year Awards

Cycling star Craig Wiggins won Albany’s highest individual sporting accolade, the overall 2016 Albany sportsperson of the year award to go with also being crowned the Junior sportsperson of the year after a dominant year at national level.

Equestrian competitor Sonja Johnson won the senior category and surf lifesaving star Rob Slattery won the veterans’ division.

Albany Cricket Association A-grade grand final

Railways became only the second team in ACA history to win four straight A-grade premierships after producing a clinical eight-wicket victory over North County.

Nathan Crudeli was named man-of-the-match after his haul of 4-17 helped bowl their rivals out for 79.

Albany Basketball Association A-grade grand finals

Tigers’ golden era continued, winning their fifth men’s A-grade premiership in eight years after downing Barking Owls by 12 points in overtime. In the women’s A-grade decider, Grammar Griffins won their first title with a four-point win over Magpies.

Centennial Stadium

Albany and Royals played the first official game of football at the new facility to start the Great Southern Football League season. The co-tenants headlined round 1 but the Lions proved too strong, winning by 115 points.

Wavefest

Denmark’s Emi Campbell won her sixth straight open women’s crown at the annual Wavefest surfing contest at Parry Beach, recovering from an early heat blemish to take a memorable win.

WA v Victoria State football game

Mt Barker’s Ben Saunders won the Simpson Medal as WA’s best player for his brilliant six-goal haul that helped his side secure a breakthrough victory in the State clash.

Saunders finished with 6.7 from 13 kicks as WA notched their first State game success over Victoria in Melbourne since 1904.

Great Southern Football League grand final

North Albany won a thrilling grand final by three points over Royals, snatching the lead inside the final three minutes on their way to a fourth straight premiership. Lions midfielder Tyron Smallwood was named the Alan Barnett medallist.