Country-Metro Rivalry to ignite Community Weekend
29 Apr, 2008
Country and metropolitan rivals will do battle on Community Weekend when colts and senior teams do battle at Gil Fraser Oval, North Fremantle Oval on Friday, May 9.
At 5.15pm the WA Country Football League (WACFL) CBH State Colts team takes on the Amateur Football League State Colts, followed by the game between the WACFL State Country team and the West Coast Eagles U/23 State Amateur team at 7.15pm.
The games are of high importance as the teams work towards gaining match experience for their interstate fixtures in 2008.
The CBH Colts will take on a competitive Amateur unit coached by the vastly experienced Andy Leinasars.? Leinasars has been at the helm of Trinity/Aquinas colts for the last six years and has a formidable record.
Community Football Operations Manager, Geoff Palmer said Leinasars had an enthusiastic and eager squad who would be going all out to win the Neil Judge Shield game against the WACFL Colts team which is being coached by Dale Ballantyne.
Ballantyne has also put together a squad of colts players eager to impress with the prospect of further WACFL senior honours a distinct possibility for several of the young men in the future.? AFL and WAFL Club talent identification personnel have been invited to attend a game that should be close and hard-fought. The country boys will come from as far afield as Broome, Pilbara, Kalgoorlie and Esperance and will thoroughly benefit from the experience.
The CBH Country Colts were victorious in 2007 by five points in a great game and will be out to make it back to back victories against the amateur colts.? The CBH Colts currently hold an 8-4 lead on the Neil Judge Shield.
The WACFL New Holland/AMCAP State Team will be coached by Rod “Rocket” Williams for the second year. Williams has tasted success five times as the? Landmark carnival coach with the UGSFL (2004 -07) He has a long and established career with Boddington Football Club as both player and coach and it is great to see him get an opportunity at State team level.
“I am excited about coaching the side and was looking forward to exposing some new faces to the program,” Williams said about his challenge.
Some of the familiar names spectators might see on the night include former WAFL players Ricky Mott, Brad Hardingham, Jesse Gribble, Damian Casson, Brett Claudius, Simon Duckworth, Bryan Hardie and James McRae.
The West Coast Eagles U/23 State Amateurs will be coached by Wayne Langbourne for the fourth consecutive year.? Langbourne is a stalwart of Amateur football and has been around football with the North Fremantle club for a number of years.?
Some of the players at his disposal for this game include Mitch Sewell and James Teakle (CBC), Jarrad Heller and Tyrone Miller (Collegians), Brad Wedgewood (Nth Fremantle), Tom Wilday (Trinity Aquinas) and Blake Ingersol (Willetton).
The West Coast Eagles U/23 State Amateur senior side will travel to Launceston in June (2-4) to participate in the National Amateur Carnival, so this game will provide a great opportunity to help pick a squad.
The WAAFL players will be keen to break the winning streak of two games to the Country boys.? The Kevin Duffy trophy currently stands at eight wins to seven in favour of the Amateurs
Entry to the game is free and members of the general public are welcome to make their way to the ground for some great Australian Football action.? The fixture will kick off the AFL’s focus on Community Football for the weekend as we celebrate 150 years of Australian Football.
