Ports’ Riley Mayfield lays a tackle on Gibson’s Callum Smart. The Tigers totally outclassed the Blues at the Soak winning by 109 points, 18.15 (123) to 2.2 (14). Photo: Bill Cutten.
New EDFA coach Kallen Williams is looking to a forward showing by his side at this weekend’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships in Perth.
Williams, who takes over the reins from Michael Perry, believes the Association has provided a strong squad with a good mix of experience and youth featuring 17 players from both the Esperance and Gibson Football Clubs.
“We have got Regan Morris, Brendan White, Riley Mayfield, the Wood brothers, and a couple of the young blokes in Tyson Graham and Jack Riley coming up from the Colts Championship to play,” Williams said.
“It should be a pretty good weekend.”
The players who will represent the EDFA at the Country champs in Perth. Photos: Bill Cutten, Greg Symes and EDFA.
The EDFA will be competing in division three for the third year in a row, looking to go one better than its runners-up position at the last two championships.
Qualifying for last year’s final after three wins from four matches, the EDFA side suffered defeat at the hands of the Great Southern Football League, 7.7 (49) to 3.4 (22) in the grand final, marred by inclement weather at Leederville Oval.
Williams said the Association had presented an impressive group of players despite the ongoing strain to get players to commit to the Championships.
“We have had a few injuries and some blokes who haven’t been able to take time off work who are definitely in our best 25 players around town, which can be a bit frustrating,” Williams said.
“We are working hard on getting Sam Johnston (to play), who has played some good footy at Gibbo but recently left town and is currently playing in another comp (North Midlands).”
Esperance commences its campaign today at North Fremantle’s Gil Fraser Reserve with matches against Mortlock and Central Wheatbelt.
Games opposed to Lower South West and North Midlands round out Esperance’s qualifying matches at Arena Joondalup on the Saturday.
The division three championship final is scheduled for 9am on Sunday at Leederville Oval.
Meanwhile, Esperance’s Graham, Riley and Jaxon Walsh, and Ports’ Luke Maloney and Keenan Rymer were selected for the Regional Districts side to compete at the CBH Group Colts Championships.
Regional Districts played matches against Kimberley Spirit, Avon/Mortlock and West Pilbara yesterday at Guildford Grammar School, with today’s finals set to be played at East Fremantle Oval.
All games of the Championships are live streamed on the Streamer Country Football Hub at https://streamer.com.au/
