Day 1 of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships saw a return the competition after 7 years away, the first assignment of the return was a clash against North Midlands. One of the fascinating elements of the championships, is unfamiliar opponents and North Midlands were certainly a new challenge for Gavin Norrish and his team to negotiate. The North Midlands were the definition of middle of the pack in 2024, with 2 wins from their 4 pool games, but as much as teams change for year to year, league representative sides can vary wildly.
The Lower South West team was full of energy heading out for the first half, after some last words from Norrish about managing some of the vagaries of championship football. Tigers’ ruck Thomas Quaife lined up ready for the first bounce, in the square with him two League Best & Fairest winners in David Cowan and Hugh Mitchell (with 2 each), as well as Josh Power who has been one of the competition’s best since joining Bridgetown.
For those nervously watching and wondering how the side would fare in its return, the first hint of answer arrived 24 seconds later. Kicking into a strong breeze at Gil Fraser Reserve in North Fremantle, the ball spilled from the ruck contest into the path of Cowan who sent it inside 50. Lee Lucev did well to push the ball into space and Matt Tilbee helped shovel the ball out to Harry Taylor, who provided a fantastic finish to put the first goal of the day on the board. Winning it out the middle once again, Mat Michael was involved in the next chain and sent a kick deep inside 50 which spilled in the forward pocket. After a scramble, Michael, who had followed up his own kick, did the football equivalent of sending one into the top corner with. superb soccer off the ground on the run to put the second on the board with only 1:43 on the clock. It was the dream start and the collective sigh of relief from the Lower South West was almost enough to change the direction of the breeze. Minutes later and Jamie Marinoni sent a blazing pass forward to Brett Wilson, who found Michael with about a metre to land the pass between three North Midlands defenders. Three goals in less than 10 minutes and pleasingly for Norrish and his staff, beyond the scoreboard itself, the team were connecting well across the ground for a group that hadn’t played together.
Superb pressure from the forward line created the fourth goal, with a pair of turnovers across the centre seeing the Lower South West force repeated forward 50 entries. A rushed kick from deep eventually just landed in the arms of Power, who happily accepted the gift and kicked his first. North Midland did find their way forward as the half wound down, before running into a wall of Tigers. Liam and Reece Edwards were both heavily involved in a chain of possession along with Quaife, before the ball found it’s way to Nick Hansen who kicked his first. North Midlands did add one goal in the final couple of minutes, seeing the half time score with a good advantage to Lower South West 5.4.34 to 1.1.7.
In a bad sign if you were a North Midlands supporter, Ash Wallam got involved early in the second half and added his first, of what would end up being three for the half. A few minutes in, Michael added after some powerful work close to goal and a fantastic snap, before kicking his fourth barely a minute later. Lower South West were using the breeze well, with both of Michael’s goals close to goal and running back to connect with long kicks. Lucev and Matt Marinoni added goals of their own, while Michael went on to finish with five in a Best on Ground display. Tilbee was superb throughout, while Liam Edwards was also amongst the best, successfully taking on some risky kicks off half back that helped set the side up to go forward.
The 13.9.87 to 1.1.7 win was a fantastic confidence boost for the side, as well as having the practical element of the resulting percentage. With the two day pool format and every team playing every other team once, not only do wins count, but percentage can become crucial in the race to grab a place in Sunday morning’s Grand Final.
Ash Wallam booted three goals in a half in the first championship match against North Midlands.
After a one hour break, Norrish and his side returned to action against Mortlock, who had seen off Esperance by 13 points earlier in the day. That clash was the first of the championship for the Division 3 sides, and gave an early indication of how much of a factor the breeze would be in games between evenly matched sides. Esperance led the contest by 26 points at half time and Mortlock had barely been inside 50, before Mortlock came home with a 7 goal second half, keeping in mind the halves were 22 minutes and no time on.
A solid contest loomed, and there was once again an easy goal, though this time it went against the Lower South West. Mortlock cleared the ball from the first centre bounce and kicked long, the ball getting over the back for the easiest of goals directly in front and with just 23 seconds on the clock, Norrish’s team were behind for the first time in the championship.
Cowan found Tilbee with a superb lace out kick after Mitchell had earned a free kick for high contact in the middle, Tilbee putting through the answering goal with the contest still less than two minutes old.
Lachy O’Shea put through another following a free kick to put the Lower South West in front into the breeze, before Tilbee added his second after a wonderful chain of handballs and an even better snap. It seemed the dream start, a 3 goal to 1 lead half way into the first half against the breeze. Anyone dreaming at this point in the championship was rudely woken up in the next 11 minutes. Mortlock added three goals to none, heading to half time with a 6 point lead, 3.1.19 to 4.1.25.
Wallam gave the side the goal they needed to get the second half started, restoring confidence after Mortlock had dominated the last part of the first half and seemed to be getting the players involved that they needed. Jacob Feist was proving a handful with his speed and drive off half back for Mortlock, but the Wallam goal tightened the contest up and it was the Lower South West who settled. Another forward entry and tough tackling from Taylor saw a ball up. Matt Marinoni roved the ball but was penned heading towards the boundary line at speed. Marinoni put it on the boot and his follow through almost put him into the car park, but the result was a remarkable goal. The breeze held carry it across the line and a dumbfounded Mortlock defender marked it barely a metre over the line. If you haven’t seen this game on Streamer, do yourself a favour. In a practical sense the goal also put Lower South West in front for the first time since halfway through the first half and they stayed there. The good goals kept coming, Reece Edwards hitting Wallam from distance after a free kick with an outstanding pass, before Wallam wheeled onto his right and banged it through from just beyond 50. Cowan then earned himself a free kick and used the breeze to ride one home from outside 50, giving Norrish’s team a 19 point lead with 10 minutes left. There was one more scare left in the game, as they didn’t score again and Mortlock did add one and threaten to go forward late. But the Lower South West did enough and took out their second game of the championship, 7.3.45 to 5.3.33.
The championship is now nicely set up for the Lower South West, a win over Esperance in Saturday’s first game likely to put one foot in Sunday morning’s Grand Final.
The Lower South West Football League is proud to be back at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships and very thankful for all our championship partners, led by Greenacres Mill.
Manjimup Gateway Hotel and MacMahon have provided magnificent support, as have;
KJB Fabrication
Blackwood Plant Hire
Outdoor World Bunbury
Manjimup Toyota
South West Haulage Co.
Alison Rutten in Real Estate
Brooks Contracting
