The South West Football League is looming large and in charge of this year’s Landmark Country Football Championships after a win over Peel in today’s final game made them the only undefeated side through day one.
Kicking off their campaign with a win over Avon spurred the South West into form, and they kept it rolling when they overcame the reigning premiers to close the day.
Catch up on all the action from Fremantle Oval below.
Game one: Avon 7.6 (48) defeat Upper Great Southern 4.7 (31)
Avon’s campaign opened with a bang when they took down the Rams thanks in large to three goals from James Venturini.
They opened the game strongly and kept that pace going with James Turner putting in a strong display, while former Carlton player Josh Bootsma was Upper’s best.
Goals
Avon
J. Venturini 3, H. Sinclair , S. Doncon, A. Smith, M. Ruggiero
Upper Great Southern
J. Wintle 2, A. Waight, A. Oliver
Best
Avon
J. Turner, J. Venturini, A. Moreno , M. Gill
Upper Great Southern
J. Bootsma, J. Laurino, J. Scafidi, J. Wintle
Game two: Peel Cavaliers 9.1 (55) defeat Great Northern 5.10 (40)
Inaccuracy proved Great Northern’s undoing as Peel rallied behind four goals from Brad Holmes to seal the deal on their first game of the carnival.
The South Mandurah spearhead was fantastic up front for the Cavaliers, teaming with fellow Falcon Tom Wood as the duo led their side past a stiff challenge from Great Northern.
Tristan Simpson was among the best for the losing side.
Goals
Peel Cavaliers
B. Holmes 4, S. Puls 2, L. Dowling, L. Humphries, L. Jetta
Great Northern
J. Alone, A. Kyanga, S. Cox, W. Thorne, J. Ryder
Best
Peel Cavaliers
T. Wood, B. Holmes, B. Gillam, R. Mason
Great Northern
T. Simpson, A. Kyanga, C. Blayney, J. Koric, W. Thorne
Game three: South West 9.4 (58) defeat Avon 6.3 (39)
Avon fell victim to a rampant South West Football League in their second clash, as Leigh Kohlmann bagged five goals in a first-up win for the ladder leaders.
Former Fremantle Docker Jesse Crichton was best on ground for the South West, while Donnybrook’s Jace Cormack was emphatic in the win.
Alistair Smith put his best foot forward for Avon, but it wasn’t enough to deal with Kohlmann’s five.
Goals
South West
L. Kohlmann 5, J. Cormack 2, M. Andrews, S. Lynch
Avon
A. Moreno , G. Mclaughlin, J. Turner, J. Venturini, R. Forrest, M. Ruggiero
Best
South West
J. Crichton, J. Meadmore, J. Cormack, L. Kohlmann
Avon
A. Smith, H. Sinclair , J. Turner, M. Ruggiero
Game four: Upper Great Southern 11.3 (69) defeat Great Northern 4.4 (28)
Jacob Wintle booted three, Josh Bootsma booted three more and the Upper Great Southern had a field day to record their first win over Great Northern.
Both sides came into the game off losses but it was the southerners who came out on top, courtesy of a best afield performance from Matthew White.
The win sees UGS to a 1-1 record and keeps them in title contention.
Goals
Upper Great Southern
J. Wintle 3, J. Bootsma 3, N. Doncon 2, A. Waight, K. Shephard, N. Bravington
Great Northern
J. Simpson 2, S. Cox, J. Williams
Best
Upper Great Southern
M. White, S. Panizza, J. Bootsma, J. Laurino
Great Northern
T. Simpson, B. Saunders, J. Simpson, C. Blayney, D. Dalgetty
Game five: South West 5.9 (39) defeat Peel Cavaliers 3.3 (21)
Peel was no match for the South West in their grand final re-match, going down to the tune of three goals as Cormack, Kohlmann and Crichton led the way once again.
Peel went into the first break down 13 points and could do little to undo the damage, as the South West broke away to claim premiership favouritism.
Goals
South West
L. Mckenna 2, L. Kohlmann 2, B. Sanford
Peel Cavaliers
L. Humphries, E. Dann
Best
South West
J. Cormack, L. Kohlmann, M. Michael, J. Crichton
Peel Cavaliers
Not available
The wash-up
Peel looked ready to stamp themselves as the competition’s fancies with an early win over Great Northern, but they were unable to keep that crown when the South West knocked them off in game five.
The runners up of the past two seasons are now firmly in the driver’s seat, and appear set for a grand final berth unless a catastrophe should occur.
Meanwhile Peel, Upper Great Southern and Avon all sit shoulder to shoulder with one win.