Round 13 of the Tyrepower Manjimup League season saw 1st and 2nd go head to head at Kojonup on Saturday. The previous meeting between the sides saw a 55 point win for Deanmill at home in Round 6, so this clash was a crucial one, as the teams not only jockey for ladder position, but try to measure the opposition as we head into the final few weeks of the qualifying rounds.
Kojonup entered the clash with 8 players who had been part of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships, a gruelling test of endurance with 5 games in 3 days. A win would almost certainly cement a finish on top of the ladder for the home side, while Deanmill looked to keep the pressure on for top spot, as well as trying to shake off the advances of Bridgetown for the double chance.
The first quarter was a high quality display of fast paced, attacking football. The two ladder leaders went toe to toe, hitting quarter time unable to be separated, the scores locked at 4.1.25 apiece. Spectators were getting their money’s worth in the first half hour, while arguably the worst place in Kojonup was in the defensive half for either team as they attacked with speed.
Jordan Strahan was muscling his way into every contest and after kicking 4 goals in the Round 6 clash, appeared single handedly set to take the game by the scruff of the neck. With the scores tied at the first change, both sides had good signs , Kojonup particularly encouraged by a firing Kyron Hayden, showing all the class we’ve seen in patches to this point in 2025.
The second term saw Kojonup pull away ever so slightly, working their way into a 15 point lead at the major change. Hayden kicked a clever goal, one of his 3 for the day, while Strahan kept kicking goals whenever Deanmill needed one and Cooper Sparks was getting plenty of the football through the middle of the ground. One of the points of intrigue coming into this match was how Kojonup would fare as the game wore on, but the likes of Jamie Marinoni and Harry Taylor were having plenty of impact and showing no ill effects from the exertions of a week earlier. Kojonup did have to re-shuffle late in the quarter after Brad Ashton received a Yellow Card, but went to half time in front and with a rising confidence they had the game on their terms.
The third quarter proved critical in a number of ways. Todd Gibbons kicked a clutch goal after a free kick, while Jaxon Cahill left the ground after contact in a contest in Kojonup’s forward line. Leon van Voorthuizen kicked one from the goal square and the game was drifting away from the Hawks. Brent Nicol and Blake East were still getting plenty of possession and Strahan remained a problem for the Cougars, but the margin at the last change had stretched to 25.
The final quarter was a shoot out, mirroring the first quarter somewhat with a rush of goals and fast attacking football. Strahan finished the game with 8 goals, while for Kojonup, Josh Crook tackled anything that didn’t move quick enough and provided constant pressure. For the winners, Hayden finished with 3, while ‘All Star’ Harry Taylor also kicked 3 and Lee Lucev, Jamaine Weazel and Matt Marinoni kicked 2 each. Deanmill were headed up Strahan’s 8 goals, while Blake Rawson and Jared Edgar booted 2 apiece.
Kojonup now sit three games clear on top of the ladder, with four rounds remaining, so what did we learn?
Kojonup’s forward line is potent. Even with Clancy Norrish’s Round 12 injury forcing a shift of Travis Abbott to defence, in addition to the well known double act of Taylor and Lucev, Weazel is a goal kicker, Hayden is making a habit of going forward and hitting the scoreboard, Mitch Blakers is a handful and the likes of Matt Marinoni and Lachy O’Shea are only too happy to drift down and impact the scoreboard.
Jordan Strahan could still be the August / September headline. On top of the bare stats with 54 goals from 10 games, Strahan is kicking goals against everyone, even the best sides. Strahan has kicked 3 goals or more in every game he’s played, with the exception of a solitary goal in the Round 10 game against Southerners, which was played in conditions that were completely counter productive to a power forward. Standing in the space in front of a leading Strahan is the worst job in the Lower South West right now and his sheer strength is proving a handful for every opposition.
Kojonup won the midfield battle on Saturday and their multi pronged attack helped get the job done. Running around in a red polo shirt delivering water on Saturday was the possible wildcard. Harley Sparks took home a match ball in the previous clash between the teams in Belt Up Round as Best on Ground, and if he plays a part the next time the teams meet, the midfield pendulum may just swing a little.
Deanmill’s Kai McGinty returned to club action after his role in the Regional Districts’ Colts win at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships.
It’s been a tough few weeks for Boyup Brook, albeit there is still pretty of class in green and white. The thrilling 1 point replay between the 2024 Grand Final combatants in Round 9, was a cruel turning point for the Roos. Within minutes of each other, both Matthew and Ben Thompson left the ground with serious injuries, while it would be the last time Mitchell Kings would provide the perfect one – two punch in midfield with David Cowan for some time as Kings headed away to travel.
The clash against Southerners in Round 13, represented a pseudo Elimination Final for the Roos. A win would see them close the gap to a single game, while a loss would open the gap between them and 4th placed Souths to 3 games with the weeks winding down.
Boyup Brook got the perfect start, Patrick Reilly hitting the scoreboard in the fourth minute after marking a Mat Michael snap. It was only Reilly’s 3rd game for the season in green and white, after spending much of the season playing in Royals colours at WAFL Reserves level.
When Ash Wallam marked another Michael kick and put through the Roos’ second goal in the 9th minute, Boyup Brook had a 13 point lead and Souths had yet to score. When Wallam harassed Hamish Omodei and forced a turnover that led to the Roos’ 3rd goal, the home crowd would have been thinking the season was turning for the better after a tough month.
Wallam narrowly missed another shot at the 12 minute mark and at that stage the scoreboard read 3.2.20 to 0.0.0 and Southerners had rarely been inside 50, and when they had any attacks and been comfortable rebuffed.
Tyson Jacob was proving a handful in the ruck, fresh off his East Perth Colts debut a week earlier and received a free kick in a boundary contest. His kick found Callan Sprigg, who kicked truly and put Souths on the board, a goal that at that stage was well and truly against the run of play.
Past the 20 minute mark, and while Souths had more of the ball, they still trailed and a couple of promising Boyup Brook attacks only came undone with one errant kick. A turnover in the middle of the ground saw the ball in the hands of Will Omodei, who found Ben Cabassi. Cabassi kicked truly and the margin was back to 6 points, still not a hint of what was to come.
Jacob went forward for a rest and his shift proved a turning point in the game. Another centre clearance for Souths saw Jacob contest inside 50 and receive a free kick for a holding infringement. Another quick goal and in the blink of an eye, the scores were tied.
As the quarter head to its conclusion, Lachlan Hughes was again involved and sent the ball forward, where Sprigg took possession and centred a superb ball to Alex Cabassi. The South Coach put another on the board and all of a sudden, Souths headed to the break 7 points ahead. It was the classic quarter of two halves, which I’m not even sure is a thing – but after the Roos started like they hadn’t been joined by an opposition side on the ground, Souths turned the scoreboard around in 15 minutes of dominant footy.
After a cagey first 10 minutes of the second quarter, Wallam kicked his 3rd of the game and narrowed the margin to 3 points. After his outstanding Country Championships form, Wallam was a constant threat and appeared likely to take the game away from Souths if the Roos could break even in the middle of the ground. Minutes later, Hughes was involved again and it led to another Ben Cabassi goal. Hughes was once again demonstrating his progression on both the wing and in the midfield as he was involved in much of Souths’ positive work. When Tayten Smith sent the ball forward and again found Cabassi (Ben), the margin flipped out to a 15 point lead.
Jacob once again won a centre ruck contest, Hughes got on the end of it and send the ball to Cabassi yet again. Ben Cabassi had 3 in a row and between Hughes, Jacob and Smith – a 16, 18 and 19 year old were causing havoc for Souths.
Southerners went on to dominate the rest of the second term, kicking 8 goals to 1 and going to half time with a 51 point lead. Wallam did hit the post in amongst the carnage as he went for his 4th, but aside from his efforts up forward, the resistance was wilting in the face of the relentless attacking from the visitors.
Wallam started the third quarter with a goal of the day contender, dancing around multiple defenders to give Boyup Brook the first goal of the second half. He added another one minutes later, taking his own tally to five and threatening to bring the Roos back into the game.
It took until the 15th minute of the half for Souths to kick their first goal, Sprigg taking a strong overhead mark and kicking truly. The 20 year old was on his way to a 4 goal return, another of Southerners’ young guns shining at a crucial time.
Wallam kept kicking goals on his way to 7 for the day, but Southerners kept finding answers across the ground and went to the final change with a 44 point lead. With the heat out of the game, Southerners piled on another 6 goals in the final quarter to extend the margin to 74 points, effectively sealing their own return to finals football and ending Boyup Brook’s premiership defence.
Sunday saw challenging conditions face Bridgetown and Tigers, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast. With a strong breeze favouring one end of the ground, Tigers got the jump on their finals bound hosts, going to the first change with a 17 point lead, 4.1.25 to 1.2.8. The home team got the better of the second term, narrowing the margin to 4 points, but as the teams went back to the rooms, the upset was still on.
The third quarter proved to be the difference maker. Bridgetown defied the day’s trend, kicking two goals to none at the ‘non scoring end’ and taking a 9 point lead to the final change. Max Wilson was getting plenty of the ball and Sam Doherty was continuing the good form he showed representing Regional Districts in the Colts Country Championships. Thomas Quaife was another player taking his championship form back to club football, getting the best of the ruck contest after his herculean efforts a week earlier.
Bridgetown finally got on top in the final term, kicking 5.3 to no score against the tiring young Tigers outfit. While the 42 point margin went against the visitors, there were more flashes of the future from Aaron Watson’s side as they kept the game alive against a genuine flag fancy until late.
For all the latest scores, goal kickers and best players – the Lower South West Football League has it’s home on PlayHQ HERE.
