The Lower South West Football League returned to the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships in Perth on the weekend, attending the celebration of country football in W.A for the first time in 7 years.
After an undefeated run in the pool games, Sunday saw Gavin Norrish’s team take on Mortlock at Leederville Oval in the Division 3 Grand Final. While the team navigated Friday and Saturday with an unblemished record, it wasn’t all plain sailing, with the side trailing Mortlock at half time in the game on Friday and carrying a slender 1 point lead at the break against Central Wheatbelt on Saturday.
As every organisation that attends a carnival away from home understands, a lot of planning goes into what ultimately boils down to (hopefully) 5 games of footy.
A big thank you must firstly go to Gavin Norrish, who took the reigns of the side for it’s return in 2025 and was instrumental in bringing together a collection of the league’s finest players. Most importantly, Norrish bought together a set of players who bought into the concept and wanted to represent their region. Alex Cabassi and Lyndon Muir were also key to bringing together a cohesive squad as Norrish’s Assistant Coaches.
Therese Lloyd had the mammoth task of putting together much of the logistical side of things for the championship as Team Manager and in between that, kept the team fed and watered across the three days.
A key requirement of any championship format with games coming thick and fast is to keep the team healthy with minimal turnaround. To that end, the team of Trainers did a superb job. Suzi Giblett, Grantly Marinoni, Gary Mitchell and Tim Lyster worked hard to keep the players ready to play and with such a fine margin in the Grand Final, every little bit counted.
Darren Tassos was tasked with keeping the messages flowing off the bench and again in this type of format where part of the challenge is getting to know players, and players potentially adapting to unfamiliar roles, did a super job.
Steve and Kathleen Holdsworth for their support and Amy Wilson who completely behind the scenes had one of the most arduous roles of the weekend – turning around the players’ kit each night, a job that would not have been much fun after the conditions at Joondalup on Saturday in particular.
A big thank you to Country Football W.A and Nutrien Ag Solutions for a wonderfully well organised championship and the many umpires from around W.A who officiated across the weekend, as well as our own Jeff Bennett, one of the LSWFL Directors who was on hand to support both the league and the umpiring fraternity.
Finally thank you to the East Perth Football Club, who welcomed the team on Saturday night for a well earned and crucial recovery session.
On field, you’ve seen the match reports and perhaps even watched the streams, so who were the official and (very) unofficial award winners for the carnival?
All-Stars
Harry Taylor and Co-Captain David Cowan, were both named in the Men’s Championship All Stars Team at the conclusion of Sunday’s Grand Final. Cowan was also awarded the Jock Beattie Medal for the Overall Championship Fairest & Best in Division 3.
David Cowan receives his All Star jumper at the conclusion of the Division 3 Grand Final.
Image courtesy of Jack Foley Photography.
Harry Taylor was selected in the Championship All Star team after a fantastic three days of football. Remarkably given his longevity in country football, this was Taylor’s first attendance at the championships.
Image courtesy of Jack Foley Photography.
Leading Goalkicker(s)
Ashley Wallam and Mat Michael – 8
The Boyup Brook team mates set the tone early, Michael booting 5 in the first game of the championships against North Midlands, while Wallam added 3 of his own. Both also kicked goals when it mattered. Michael kicked two in the tense and low scoring pool group game against Central Wheatbelt while Wallam kicked 3 of the team’s 8 goals in the Grand Final win over Mortlock.
As six other clubs have found time and time again in Lower South West Tyrepower Manjimup League action, it is a double act that is hard to stop and they combined beautifully over the weekend. The pair worked well alongside team mates they weren’t used to playing with, sharing the load well with the likes to Tilbee, Lucev and Taylor.
Mat Michael was in good form across the championship, finishing with 8 goals, including a bag of 5 in the opening game (keep in mind games were 44 minutes long). Michael kicked majors in 3 of the 5 games, including a crucial one in the Grand Final.
The best players perform when it matters, and Wallam booted 3 goals in the opening game of the championship to help set the side on their way, and followed up with 3 in the tense Grand Final.
Wait….What?
We all agree Harry Taylor had a fantastic championship – but it took a couple of rewinds to confirm that yes, early in Sunday’s Grand Final the commentators described Taylor as a George Clooney lookalike!
Perfectly Timed Captain’s Game
In an interview immediately post Sunday’s epic Grand Final, Co-Captain Brett Wilson was interviewed by Tim Lees and in his words “hadn’t done much for the whole carnival”. Whatever you think of Wilson’s self assessment of his pool game form, there can be zero dispute that his performance in the Grand Final was absolute top shelf. Wilson bullocked his way to the all important first goal of the Grand Final, took two mark of the day contenders, rucked for much of the game against taller opponents and saw off multiple opponents as Mortlock looked for ways to curb his influence. It was a genuinely epic performance from someone who has played in the Lower South West for many years and was determined we were bringing the shield home!
Bridgetown’s Superkids Day is approaching in Round 15, but Brett Wilson may as well have worn an actual cape for the Division 3 Grand Final, such was his influence.
Unsung Hero – Pt 1
Picking a representative side sounds like playing Football Manager in theory. Look around the league and choose the best players in each position and put together a winning team spoilt for choice.
Unfortunately for a number of reasons, Gavin Norrish had ONE recognised specialist ruckman in his squad. One specialist ruck for a championship consisting of 4 x 44 minute games in two days and if all goes well, a Grand Final consisting of 4 x 20 minute quarters on day three.
Fortunately, the one ruck Norrish did have at his disposal, was Thomas Quaife, who showed that along with superb ruck craft, he had a giant heart over the three days. Quaife battled against a range of different styled rucks across the championships, with support coming at various times from Matt Tilbee in particular. By the Grand Final, the workload was adding up, but Quaife loaded up and put his body on the line, this time with plenty of support from Wilson. It was an unavoidable risk for Norrish to take one ruck to Perth, but all Lower South West supporters should be thankful that one ruck was Quaife.
Thomas Quaife went into the Nutrien Ag Solutions Championships as the only specialist ruck and was superb, fronting up for 5 games in 3 days against a wide range of opponents and styles.
Unsung Hero – Pt 2
A Tigers team mate of Quaife, in fact his Captain at club level, Liam Edwards had a fantastic championship. We know it’s been a tough couple of seasons for the Tigers, but Edwards is respected for his leadership style. One of the fantastic elements of representative football, is the opportunity for players who are perhaps having a tougher season at club level ladder wise, to experience a different environment and thrive. The proud Tigers’ skipper did exactly that. His kicking from defence was a feature, while his uncompromising approach to 1 on 1 contests was universally admired by team mates.
Edwards can go back to Tigerland and his developing young team with a confidence and perhaps some fresh ideas to share as they continue an impressive build towards the future.
Liam Edwards’ kicking off half back was a feature of the Lower South West game style across the weekend, but just as important to the team was his uncompromising attack on the football.
Did What Had to Be Done
Lee Lucev has had a fantastic year for Kojonup, currently sitting 2nd in the Tyrepower Manjimup League Goalkicking for 2025, just 3 behind power forward, Jordan Strahan. He’s kicked goals in every game of the season at club level and leads formidable Cougars’ forward line with Taylor.
Lucev booted 1 goal on Friday against North Midlands, but sharing a forward line with not only Taylor, but Wallam, Tilbee and Michael, Lucev adapted his game and in addition to his output being measured in goals, his forward pressure went off the charts. Lucev did kick a mini bag against Esperance (3 in a 44 minute game), with his tackling again a feature. Unfortunately in the midst of the 36 point win over Esperance, Lucev copped a corked thigh.
While many of his team mates were happy to enter and exit the ice bath on Saturday evening in record time, the veteran used the opportunity to do all he could to be ready for Sunday. It’s fair to say Lucev was hampered on Sunday, but again got himself involved while Wallam in particular supplied the scoreboard pressure and did all he could to lock the ball in the Lower South West forward half and was the very essence of a t team player who is so valued when representative team assembles. Many players in carnival teams are used to be being their team’s main man in one area of the field, but Lucev played higher up the ground than he does at club level and bought whatever he could to Norrish’ side to get the job done.
Lee Lucev finished the championships with 4 goals, playing a different role to his role at club level for the Kojonup Cougars and impressing with his forward pressure.
The fact we’ve got this far without mentioning Travis Abbott’s multiple strong defensive marks, the job Keenan-Cruz Wilson did on the dangerous Brandon Matera in the crunch game against Central Wheatbelt on Saturday, the sheer consistency of the likes of Hugh Mitchell, Leon van Voorthuizen, Lachy O’Shea and Brodie Grant, or Matt Marinoni’s wonder goal against Mortlock on Friday, just goes to show how even the contribution was across the squad. All 25 players who pulled on the various jumpers across the championship contributed in a result that was ultimately earned by the finest of margins.
The Lower South West Football League was 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 provided magnificent support, as did;
KJB Fabrication
Blackwood Plant Hire
Outdoor World Bunbury
Manjimup Toyota
South West Haulage Co.
Alison Rutten in Real Estate
Brooks Contracting
