Country Champs: South West is best in Div 1 grand final against Peel

South West is best at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships.

The country footy powerhouse defended their Division One title with a 19-point victory over Peel Football Netball League – 8.3 (51) to 4.8 (32) – at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Sunday.

It was their third Division One triumph in four years, getting one back on their rivals after going down in Friday’s CBH Group Colts decider and on day one of the senior carnival.

The win was on the back of a dominant premiership quarter, booting three goals while keeping Peel scoreless to turn a three-point half-time lead into 22 by three-quarter time.

Man mountain Jack Fletcher won the Nutrien Ag Solutions Medal for best-on-ground in the final after a dominant performance in the ruck.

Former Fremantle rookie Jason Carter was everywhere for the victors, from winning clearances in the engine-room to kicking goals and taking intercept marks, and provided a spark every time his team needed it.

Prolific ball winners Luke English and Simon Moore did what they do best, Jesse Crichton was excellent with his tackling pressure, his co-captain Tom Gorter barely made a mistake down back, Zaz Trigwell was lively inside attacking 50 and Jye Clark provided plenty of run-and-carry on the wing.

For Peel, Michael Randall and Andrew Walsh had their moments and Lachie Cullen was dangerous up forward early, but their opponents had a lot more consistent contributors.

Peel were dealt a blow pre-game with former Subiaco ball magnet Rylie Morgan out, with vice-captain Fraser Miller followed suit in the opening term after suffering a shoulder injury.

South West opened the scoring through recruit Clark, the younger brother of Docker Jordan, who was one of his side’s best.

Former Fremantle train-on and Peel Thunder forward Cullen was in everything at the other end, missing his first set shot before converting his next.

After a low-scoring first quarter, it took all of 30 seconds for SWFL to hit the scoreboard with Baiden Parsons kicking a beauty from the boundary after an early clearance from Jason Carter.

Carter was having a big say in the contest, racking up the clearances and creating plenty of attacking opportunities for his team with Ben Ganzer the next beneficiary.

The defending champs looked to be running away with the match before a purple patch from Peel with another J Carter – Jeffrey – and Zac Moody among the goals to help their team regain the lead.

Key forward Liam Creighton, who won the best-afield medal in last year’s grand final, nailed a stunner around the body from the boundary line on the half-time siren for South West, who were up by three at the break.

Crichton had some inspirational moments late in the half, landing a couple of big tackles at the defensive end.

Carter continued his dominant day with the first goal of the second half within the opening minute on his non-preferred left foot, with fellow first-year SWFL player Luke English following suit.

The South West didn’t look back from their five-goal run from late in the second to early in the fourth to claim their 26th title in the competition’s 59-year history.

Creighton kicked the sealer early in the final term, with Peel finishing well but unable to make enough ground.

The grand finalists dominated the All-Stars side with South West quartet English, Trigwell, Creighton and Fletcher joining Peel’s Randall, Brett Hill, Andrew Walsh and Kaine Ah Chee in the team.

Fellow Division One players Sam Stubbs, Richard Bourne (Goldfields), Tom Lee and Kaidyn Fullgrabe (Avon) also made the cut after impressive campaigns.

Fullgrabe also won the Jock Coleman Medal for fairest-and-best player across the Division One competition.

Dick Smith Trophy for coach of the championships went to South West’s Seth White, while the Rising Star award for the best player under 21 was won by pressure forward Jake Green was part of the grand final-winning team.

SCOREBOARD

SWFL 1.2 4.2 7.3 8.3 (51)

Peel 1.4 3.5 3.5 4.8 (32)

GOALS – South West: L Creighton 2, J Clark, B Parsons, B Ganzer, Jason Carter, L English, Z Trigwell. Peel: L Cullen, Z Moody, Jeffrey Carter, C Gavin.

BEST – South West: J Fletcher, Jason Carter, L English, T Gorter, J Crichton, J Clark, Z Trigwell. Peel: L Cullen, M Randall, A Walsh.

Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships All-Stars

Coach: Seth White (South West)

Squad

Gus Devitt

Central Midlands Coastal

Cervantes

Liam Creighton

South West

Busselton

Morgan Davies

Great Southern

Albany

Justin Joyce

Ongerup

Lake Grace/ Pingrup

Declan Phillips

Upper Great Southern

Narrogin

Richard Bourne

Goldfields

Boulder

Isaac Baum

Great Southern

Albany

Ryan Melvin

Upper Great Southern

Wickepin

Kaidyn Fullgrabe

Avon

Cunderdin

David Cowan

Lower South West

Boyup Brook

Luke English

South West

Collie

Kaine Ah Chee

Peel

Secret Harbour

Andrew Walsh

Peel

Rockingham

Samuel Stubbs

Goldfields

Mines

Harry Taylor

Lower South West

Kojonup

Zac Trigwell

South West

Donnybrook

Jacob Feist

Mortlock

Calingiri

Jake South

Central Wheatbelt

Koorda

Michael Randall

Peel

Mustangs

Thomas Lee

Avon

Quairading

Brett Hill

Peel

Centrals

Jack Fletcher

South West

HBL