Finals to kick off this weekend

IT is finals time again in the WAAFL and suburban grounds across metropolitan Perth are set to host the premier amateur footballers in the state this Saturday the 22nd as B Grade and below begin their quest for premiership glory.

Since 1922 the Western Australian Amateur Football League has been Western Australia’s premier amateur football competition, launching the careers of WAFL and AFL stars, as well as playing home to their own batch of talent.

Like all football competitions the real test comes finals time, and with the introduction of new teams in season 2009, this years’ finals series shapes as an intriguing journey.

One-time stalwarts of the A Grade competition Mt Lawley won six out of eight potential premierships from the mid 80’s to early 90’s before being relegated to the B Grade competition, they attack the 2009 finals series with hope of getting promoted to the A Grade competition for the first time in over 10 years. Standing in their way is a Swan Athletic side looking to advance on last years’ first round finals exit, coming into this series in third place earning a double chance.

In the B Grade elimination final Willetton take on another side looking to recapture a spot in the A Grade, Hamersley Carine, who will be looking to go one better than last years’ preliminary final defeat. Willetton start the match favourites after an impressive season which includes victories over Hamersley Carine and Swan Athletic earlier in the season.

Reigning Sunday Football League premiers Gosnells will take to the field for their inaugural WAAFL finals series, taking on a Warnbro side confident after taking out Gosnells in their Round 12 fixture earlier in the year in the C Black division.

It’ll be Gosnell’s old Sunday League rivals who take centre stage in C Black’s other finals match as Thornlie clash with Mosman Park, the loser facing the prospect of another long preseason without premiership glory.

In the C Gold it will be the ex-Sunday League clubs again taking to the big stage with High Wycombe hoping to replicate the form which saw them capture the 2003 C Grade Premiership, taking on long-time Sunday League contenders Kenwick in an elimination final. The first semi final in the C Gold also sees a new member of the WAAFL with Maddington taking on Ocean Ridge who just missed out on finals in 2008.

Coolbellup will be playing host to Carlisle in the D Black division, Coolbellup earning the promotion to D Grade after E Grade premiership last year against North Beach. The D Black qualifying final see’s Quinns, last years’ wooden spooners, try to continue the form which saw them finish second on the ladder as they take on Swan Valley at Ridgewood Park.

Although they may have missed out on finals in the A Grade competition, Wesley Curtin are still in the hunt for a premiership and their E Grade team faces a tough test this Saturday when they face off against Mt Lawley in a elimination final.

Their A Grade rivals North Beach and Whitford will be facing off in the E Grade’s Qualifying final, the winner advancing through while the loser facing the tough test of playing for their season next week.

F Grade see’s two teams already in finals playing off with Thornlie earning a spot along side Mt Lawley while Bullcreek Leeming get a chance at a premiership after failing to make the finals in the B Grade, taking on Willetton. In the G Grade Ocean Ridge will be hoping for a win over a Koongamia side who after a shaky start to the year, managed to secure fifth place and a finals berth while Bassendean and Brentwood Booragoon battle it out for the week off. High Wycombe will be hoping to knock over strong finals contenders Whitford in the H Grade as the curtain raiser to Rossmoyne and Fremantle CBC, Rossmoyne hoping to capture a WAAFL flag in their first season after leaving the WAFA.

In the colts its Bullcreek Leeming vs Willetton and Scarborough vs Mt Lawley in the B Grade, Scarborough looking to salvage something from a season which has seen their league side dropped back to C Grade for next year.

Thornlie is taking on Wanneroo and Warnbro vs Bassendean at Gosnells Oval in C Black while in the C Gold Division Ocean Ridge encounters Coolbinia West Perth and Maddington get introduced to WAAFL finals football against one of the biggest clubs, Kingsway.

Coolbellup start the day off at home against Kelmscott and Carlisle tackle Quinns at Quinns in D Black and another ex-Sunday League club in Canning Vic Park South Perth take on Ellenbrook while Manning take on D Gold rivals St Norberts.

Trinity Aquinas and North Fremantle’s colts lock horns in the E Grade a week before the A Grade powerhouses start their finals campaigns and in the other E Grade clash it’s North Beach and University, both clubs also hoping to get off to a positive start to their finals campaign.

For times, locations and fixtures for all WAAFL Finals matches and A Grade final round matches, please visit the “Fixtures and Results” page in the WAAFL drop down menu above.