WA Football

TWO dedicated servants to country football will be honoured with WA Country Football League Life Memberships after decades of involvement with grassroots football in Western Australia.

Ben Ralph and Jim Hull were both unanimously endorsed by League delegates at the Annual General Meeting on 16 February 2013 to receive WACFL Life Memberships.

WACFL President Terry House said that both men were highly deserving of the honour for their outstanding commitment to country football over many years.

“This honour will recognise their wonderful contribution to our great game in Western Australia,” Mr House said.

WA State Country players Jeffery Smith (Railways Geraldton) and Troy Ditchburn (Kukerin-Dumbleyung), pictured left, were named in the All-Australian team at the completion of the Australian Country Football Championships in Wagga Wagga.

Ditchburn also won WA’s best and fairest Bud Byfield Medal and Teke Vernon (Collie) won the WAFL Past Players Rising Star Award. 

WA finished sixth overall at the championships after being defeated by Queensland in the final game on Sunday, July 22.

After losing to Queensland by more than five goals in round-robin competition on the Friday, WA did well to be within four points of their opponents at half time of the 5th v 6th play-off.

WA's State Country Team finished sixth overall at the Australian Country Football Championships in Wagga Wagga after being defeated by Queensland in the final game on Sunday, July 22.

After losing to Queensland by more than five goals in round-robin competition on Friday, WA did well to be within four points of their opponents at half time of the 5th v 6th play-off.

Queensland had built a 15-point lead by quarter-time but the WA team fought back to bring the deficit to just four points at the main break. However, Queensland proved too strong in the second half, running out 9.10-64 to 7.8-50 winners.

It was an all-Victorian Grand Final for the overall Championship title, with Victoria 1 defending its title with a 68 point thrashing of Victoria 2.

DAY 1 scores for the WA State Country Team from the Australian Country Football Championships in Wagga Wagga.

Game 1:

Victoria                           6.6 (42)

Western Australia            3.7 (25)

WA Goal Kickers: Mathew Martin, M. Thomas,  Daniel Dalby
WA Best Players: Regan Duckworth, Troy Ditchburn, James Venturini, Kris Clarkson, Jeff Smith and Jesse Gribble.

Game 2:

South Australia                 7.3 (45)

Western Australia            3.5 (23)

WA Goal Kickers: Jeff Smith (pictured), James Venturini, Ashley Wallam

WA Best Players: James Venturini, Kris Clarkson, Jayden Brooks, Regan Duckworth, Luke Bairstow and William Barnes.

Friday’s Fixtures (WST)

9.45 am                WA v VIC2

12.15 pm              WA v NSW/ACT

1.30 pm                WA v QLD

The South West Football League defended its Division 1 title and also won the Colts grand final to conclude the 2012 Landmark Country Football Championships on the weekend.

The SWFL was too strong for Upper Great Southern in the Division 1 final and defeated Kimberley Spirit in the Colts final.

The Division 2 title was taken out by Mortlock over Avon, while Division 3 saw the Central Wheatbelt claim a convincing win over Central Midlands Coastal.

Senior and Colts All-Star teams were named at the conclusion of the carnival and the WA State Country team is now preparing to depart for the Australian Country Football Championships in Wagga Wagga this week.