Day 1 Wrap: Thrilling Draw Sets Up South West–Great Northern Decider

A thrilling draw between South West and Great Northern headlined the opening day of the 2026 Country Football WA Women’s Championships, with both teams securing their places in Saturday’s Nufarm Division One Grand Final. At Good Grocer Park, North Pilbara finished undefeated to book a direct passage to the Division Two Grand Final, leaving Peel and Kimberley to battle for the remaining spot on Saturday morning.

Nufarm Division One

Six-time reigning Nufarm Division One champs South West will take on Great Northern in Saturday’s decider at Mineral Resources Park from 3pm after the two rivals fought out a thrilling draw on the opening day at Cockburn.

The stunning draw was the highlight of an exciting opening day of the 2026 Country Football WA Division 1 Women’s Championships action, with both sides remaining undefeated for the rest of the day with two-and-a-half wins apiece.

South West were the first team through to the grand final after defeating Goldfields and Great Southern by a combined total of 90 points.

Great Northern then ended day one by snatching top spot on the ladder in a do-or-die clash against Goldfields, holding them scoreless after doing the same to Great Southern.

Country football powerhouse South West looked like going down to the GNFL in the group stages for the second time in as many years before late behind to gun forward Sarah Lang with less than 15 seconds on the clock snatched a draw for her team.

Lang also kicked a second-half goal to help the SWFL recover from a 13-point half-time deficit as scores finished at 3.3 (21) apiece, with Maddy Obal, Isabella Fransz, Holly Creedon and Indiana Godridge also influential in the hard-fought comeback.

Talented tall Jessica Giudice-Nairn was outstanding at both ends for the Great Northern outfit, with ruck Davina Wear and midfield duo Taylah Broadhurst and Andie Payne also impressive.

Payne then followed that performance up with a best-afield effort against Great Southern which resulted in an easy victory.

The GNFL managed to keep Great Southern scoreless in a 4.14 (38) to nothing result which included three second-half goals against the breeze with Giudice-Nairn, Ruby Wallace and Sharntay Westberg all doing their bit in attack.

Goldfields produced a five-goals-to-none second half against Great Southern earlier in the day to prevail by 21 points – 5.6 (36) to 2.3 (15).

Railways star Drew Epis, who topped the GFL competition’s goal-kicking again this season, booted two goals, with former Royal Jessica Bolton, who won the GFLW fairest-and-best award last month, Chloe Jones and Emma Dixon also among the best.

South West were at their brilliant best in their dominant defeat against Goldfields, flexing their muscles with a 41-point win with Isabella Fransz, Chloe Hewson, Indiana Godridge and Beth Beckett leading the way.

The GFL were remarkably kept scoreless against the South West, who piled on 6.5 (41) before following it up with the biggest score of the day against Great Northern.

Lang and six-time champion and fellow Busselton star Rennie Meadmore contributed three goals each in the 49-point win and Beth Both kicking an absolute stunner in the second half.

Great Northern then ended Goldfields’ grand final hopes with an 8.5 (53) to 0 victory, with Emily McAuley, Ruby Wallace and Tia Morgan kicking two goals each and Jessica Giudice-Nairn taking an absolute screamer during her best-on-ground display.

Great Southern will be looking to finish their campaign with a win in the three-versus-four playoff against Goldfields from 11am.

Division Two

North Pilbara secured their place in Saturday’s Division Two Grand Final with two victories at Good Grocer Park, edging Peel in a tight opening contest before recording a commanding win over Kimberley.

The opening match went down to the wire, with North Pilbara prevailing 2.3 (15) to 1.7 (13).

Jaedey Evans, Macy Bruce, Cerys English and Ruby Harris were among North Pilbara’s best, with Harris and Jayda Viti contributing a goal each.

Hannah Davis, Kate Beswick, Sarah Smith and Ainslee Elliott stood out for Peel, while Addison Martin kicked their sole goal.

Peel responded emphatically against Kimberley, recording a 12.8 (80) to 2.1 (13) victory.

Rikki-lee Morgan led the scoring with three goals, supported by Jaymee-Lee Curry, Martin, Lucy Kane and Ava Muir with two apiece.

Beswick and Smith again featured among Peel’s best. Hayley Crute kicked both of Kimberley’s goals and was among their strongest performers, with Sarani Bin Bakar, Joanne Dick and Tahleah Pascov.

North Pilbara then delivered a dominant performance against Kimberley, keeping their opponents scoreless in a 15.17 (107) to 0.0 (0) victory.

Lilly Dhu led the way with four goals, Amelia Viti added three and Jayda Viti kicked two.

Rochelle Hammon, Dhu, Amelia Viti and Kirsty Kubala were named North Pilbara’s best, while Kate Ditchburn, Joanne Dick, L’eja Roe and Nickyrah Baker were recognised for Kimberley.

Day One also marked a milestone for umpiring, with an all-female field umpiring group officiating the Nufarm Division One matches. Across the Championships, 11 of the 24 selected umpires are women — six field, four boundary and one goal umpire — representing the highest female umpire participation in the event’s history.

Thank you to all our umpires for their contribution throughout the Championships, and to the Road Safety Commission and SportWest for supporting travel subsidies that help regional officials take part.

Looking Ahead to Saturday

The Championships conclude at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

In Nufarm Division One, Goldfields and Great Southern will meet in the third-versus-fourth relegation match from 11am. Great Northern will then take another shot at six-time reigning champions South West in the Grand Final from 3pm, following their thrilling opening-day draw.

In Division Two, Peel and Kimberley will battle it out in the morning, with the winner advancing to face North Pilbara in the Grand Final.

Gates at Mineral Resources Park open from 9:30am, with free entry for kids aged 16 and under and $7 entry for those over 16.

Hungry Jack’s will be open, and with the weather looking like it’s clearing up, come on down for a great day of country football!

Can’t make it to the ground? Catch the action live on the Country Football WA YouTube channel.