Country Catch Up: Former Cat adds star power to Country Champs, premiership Tiger lands in AlbanyThursday, July 10, 2025 - 2:16 PM - by Jordan McArdle

We take a look at what's happening around WA's country football scene in our weekly column.

Menegola’s Country Champs shock

There’s plenty of star power in this week’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships across the Perth and Peel regions.

A host of ex-AFL and WAFL players headline the 59th edition of the carnival, which has three senior and two colts divisions played across four days.

Former Geelong midfielder Sam Menegola is a shock name among the team lists, lining up for Ongerup Football Association in Division Two.

Menegola, who played more than 100 AFL games for the Cats after being listed with Fremantle and Hawthorn, was cleared to OFA club Gnowangerup late last month and will be a massive addition for the club, league and Country Champs.

The 33-year-old featured in Geelong's losing grand final in 2020, the same year he made the 40-man All-Australian squad, and played his last AFL game less than two years ago in Round 24, 2023.

Brett Peake (Great Southern), Tom Lee (Avon), Jesse Crichton, Jason Carter, Durak Tucker, Tom Gorter (South West), Blayne Wilson (Eastern Districts), Steven Dodd (North Pilbara), Kayle Kirby (Upper Great Southern), Timm House (Ongerup) and Brandon Matera (Central Wheatbelt) are the others with AFL experience.

Over 50 matches will be played across eight venues from July 10-13, with the CBH Group Colts divisions kicking off on July 10 and 11 and the Nutrien Ag Solutions Men’s divisions running from July 11–13. 

You can catch every game live on Streamer

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Premiership Tiger lands in Great Southern

Dual Richmond premiership gun Josh Caddy has joined Great Southern side Royals in a massive and surprising coup for the competition.

As first reported by The Albany Advertiser, Caddy moved to Albany recently and has begun a new job selling insurance for Lions coach and Claremont legend Darrell Panizza.

The 32-year-old finished with three goals on debut against North Albany to show he’s still got plenty left in the tank.

Stubbs’ Goldfields return

Perth Demons star and former Fremantle train-on Sam Stubbs has officially retired from the WAFL in a massive boost for Goldfields outfit Mines Rovers.

Stubbs will play alongside his brothers and fellow Demons Ben and Daniel Stubbs for the Diorites as well as the Goldfields Football League at this week’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships.

The talented forward last featured for the Demons in Round 5.

He booted a game-high 10 majors for Mines against Kambalda last weekend in a dominant display.

Notte’s new home

Recently-retired Swan Districts games-record holder Tony Notte hasn’t taken long to find a new footy home.

The Busselton-based former Black Duck and West Coast-listed tall will play locally for South West outfit Busselton Magpies.

Notte made his debut for the Magpies in an away victory over Donnybrook last week after 322 appearances in the WAFL.