South West, Goldfields unbeaten after day one of Nutrien Ag Solutions Women’s Country Football Championships Thursday, October 2, 2025 - 7:23 PM - by Jordan McArdle

South West Football League are in the box seat for their sixth Division One title in a row after a dominant day one of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Women’s Country Football Championships in Bunbury.

Powered by captain and ex-AFLW player Ella Smith and fellow WAFLW fairest-and-best winner Beth Beckett, South West knocked off last year’s grand final opponents Peel and Great Northern by a combined total of 67 points to qualify for Friday night’s decider under lights at Hands Oval.

The race for the second grand final spot is well and truly up for grabs with Great Northern winning one of their two opening-day games against Great Southern, who split the points against the Cavaliers to sit in third spot.

South West, who were also well serviced by speedster Holly Creedon, five-time Country Championships winner Rennie Meadmore, livewire forward Daisy Rigby and Nola Marino medallist Kloe Bassett, complete their round-robin campaign against Great Southern at 11.30am, while Great Northern can seal their spot in the decider with a win over Peel at 12.30pm.

Former Olympic hockey star Kat Slattery was one of the other big performers in Division One on the opening day, impressing with her strength and tackling pressure in the midfield for the GSFL.

The most dramatic moment of the day was in the drawn clash between the GSFL and Peel an after-the-siren free-kick going the way of the Great Southern who needed any score to win but couldn’t make the distance with the two teams finishing on 3.5 (23) apiece.

Great Northern’s guns of Ellie Blackmore, Andie Payne and Olivia Bidwell fired in their hard-fought 10-point victory over Great Southern.

In Division Two, Goldfields did their promotion hopes a boost with two wins from as many games.

The GFL started the day with a 12-point win over neighbours Esperance before following it up with a nine-point triumph over North Pilbara.

Railways young gun and State 16s representative Marley Kelman showed she’s a star of the future with a best-afield performance in game two.

Esperance and North Pilbara have one win apiece after day one ahead of their tournament-defining clash at 10.30am on Friday, both defeating Kimberley Spirit.

Day two action kicks off with Kimberley taking on Goldfields from 9.30am.

Finals action heats up from 2pm with back-to-back three-versus-four play-offs before the Division Two and Division One grand finals from 4pm and 6pm respectively.

All day two games are live and free on Streamer.com.au

Day two fixtures

9.30am: Kimberley v Goldfields

10.30am: North Pilbara v Esperance

11.30am: South West v Great Southern

12.30pm: Great Northern v Peel

1.20pm: Longest Kick and Women’s Sprint final

2pm: Division Two - 3 v 4 Play-Off (2 x 20 minutes)

3pm: Division One - 3 v 4 Play-Off (2 x 20 minutes)

4pm: Division Two - Grand Final (4 x 15 minutes)

6pm: Division One – Grand Final (4 x 15 minutes)