The annual Great Southern Colts Carnival was held once again this weekend in Kulin, with the Lower South West Football League pausing as 24 of our brightest young talents went to represent the region. A taxing two days of football was concluded Sunday morning with a draw against Goldfields, 6.3.39 to 5.9.39.
Following three games in around 6 hours on Saturday, Aaron Watson’s charges lined up against the Goldfields in the first game of the day on Sunday. Goldfields were in the match up between the 3rd placed teams in the respective pools on percentage, after a draw with Eastern Districts split their Saturday after a win against Upper Great Southern before a 4o point loss to Peel.
A couple of early goals had nerves jangling amongst the Lower South West support. While the breeze was favouring the end the Goldfields were kicking, of concern was the fluid ball use they were able to string together and their ability to find uncontested marks inside forward 50. The side settled and dug in for the last few minutes of the quarter, but the message at quarter time from the team’s leaders was clear. Breeze or no breeze, it was a wasted quarter and now meant a tough next 45 minutes.
Kai McGinty got the home side on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a classy finish on the run as the team lifted. Goldfields answered back relatively quickly, but the balance of the game was far more even than the first 10 minutes, with Lower South West starting to put some good chains of possession together. There was a clear difference in style of play as Goldfields looked to open the game up and run at every opportunity, with chances being created by a couple of strong marking talls who then kept the game moving. Jed Edwards added the side’s 2nd goal and McGinty had a difficult set shot after the siren for a chance to further narrow the margin. The miss left Lower South West 13 points down at half time, but the momentum had definitely begun to swing.
Key to the chances of a win were preventing Goldfields kicking away in the 3rd quarter with the use of the breeze. The advantage to the town end of the ground was only two goals or so, but Watson’s side couldn’t afford to let a 13 point margin blow out to 25 points plus at the last change. The team defended superbly in the quarter and attacked with more fluency than they had previously, with the likes of Tayten Smith, Lachie Hughes and Cooper Rayson providing plenty of drive. McGinty was in the middle of everything, while Edwards and Tyson Jacob were wearing down the Goldfields’ athletic big men. A goal apiece for the quarter left the game finely poised with Goldfields in front 5.7.37 to 3.2.20.
The last quarter was largely played on Lower South West’s terms, with 3 goals to 0. As in the first quarter, the side got the early goal they desperately needed, before a few minutes of tough, contested footy. Goldfields were unable to get into the space they had earlier been able to create and Tayte Craven laid a couple of tremendous tackles, one of which directly contributed to a goal. After Jake Tonissen had booted one in the third term, McGinty hit the scoreboard again, along with McKenzie Greene who cleverly lost his defender and got one out the back and a smart finish from Koby Brown. In amongst the desperate last minutes, a Goldfields defender made the decision to rush a point from several metres out, leaving the margin at 6 points and opening the door for a tying goal.
After one final desperate defensive shut down in the final seconds, the siren sounded with the scores locked at 39 apiece and officials scrambling for the carnival rule book and LSWFL President Tristan Mead front and centre as one of the Field Umpires of the contest. Carnival organisers rang the siren on an epic contest and exhausted players from both sides moved on to formalities to round out the weekend.
Kai McGinty launches a superb goal on the run in the 2nd Quarter to kick start the Lower South West in the playoff match v Goldfields.
Lower South West’s placing in Pool B came courtesy of a mixed set of results on Saturday at Kulin. After a wonderful start against Esperance, they were pegged back in the last half, with an 8 point half time advantage reduced to 3 by the final change. Esperance did the only scoring in the final quarter to run out winners, 5.2.32 to 4.4.28. Smith booted 2 goals, while Jed Edwards and McGinty also hit the scoreboard, with Smith, McGinty and Kenny Beggs who playing well.
The 4 point loss was a tough one for the team, who then had to back up against the always strong, Great Southern Storm. After a tight first term, the Storm got on top in the second quarter and went to half time with a 17 point lead. As bodies started to tire, the Storm increased the advantage to 43 points at the last change and ultimately ran out 50 point winners, 9.11.65 to 2.3.15. Cooper Rayson and McKenzie Greene booted the team’s two goals, while the likes of Smith, Sam Doherty and McGinty worked hard.
The final game of the pool stage saw the side take on Ongerup, with both sides looking for their first win of the day. Watson’s team were on top all day, leading at every change by 10, 37, 40 and ultimately 44 points to run out winners. Connor Brown kicked 4 goals, Tyson Jacob added 2, while Koby Brown, Lachie Hughes, and Smith also kicked 1 apiece. The result from earlier in the day was costly, with Esperance claiming 2nd place courtesy of their 2 wins, despite a percentage that was almost 30% lower than the Lower South West.
Tayten Smith was outstanding all carnival, along with McGinty. Tyson Jacob and Jed Edwards worked hard against some very different ruck combinations across the two days, while Lachie Hughes, Connor Brown, Kenny Beggs and Sam Doherty were all amongst the sides’ best at various times.
Connor Brown ended as the team’s top scorer with 4, while Smith and McGinty both ended the carnival with 3. Koby Brown, Greene, Jed Edwards and Jacob were also multiple goal kickers.
A big thank you has to go to Watson, along with John McGinty and Josh Rayson for their leadership both across the weekend and in the lead up. Tracy Carlow and Donette Edwards were kept busy with the schedule across the two days, always a tough assignment for trainers, but looked after the side superbly.
A big thank you to LSWFL President, Tristan Mead, who acquitted himself well across the two days as our Field Umpire representative, along with Jeff Bennett who was Goal Umpire for our four games.
The East Perth Football Club and Jordan Smith in particular who supported the boys’ effort in attending the carnival with kit and support as a water runner is much appreciated, along with the Great Southern Colts Carnival organisers and the town of Kulin who welcomed the event with open arms.
Importantly, to the Co-Captains, Bodee Reeve and Max Wilson, along with Vice Captains, Kai McGinty and Connor Brown along with the whole squad – thank you for representing the Lower South West competition and region with pride.
Finally, for our carnival partners, a massive thank you;
Action Drill & Blast
Mensland Manjimup
Price’s Fabrication + Steel
Callcup Creek
Greenacres Mill
Elders Insurance Manjimup
