After a brief hiatus in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CBH Group Colts Carnival looks set to return with a bang, with a fresh crop of country talent ready to impress. After years of dominating the carnival and winning the last four titles could this be the year the South West are beaten? Or with years of experience in the competition will the South West continue their winning streak? 

Peel and Great Southern Storm will both be looking for redemption after going down to the South West in the 2018 and 2019 grand final matches, respectively. Great Southern Storm, with a host of talented colts players from the Albany region, as well as a few players from the Kimberley due to their Claremont alignment, will again be coached by Glynn Verburggen who will be hoping to take his team all the way this time around.

For the first time in over 10 years the competition sees the return of the Pilbara Allstars, led by coach Mike Fountain. An exciting group of talented young men from clubs spanning Karratha, Tom Price, Wickham, South Hedland and Dampier, rejoin the competition in hopes of an upset. Having not had a presence in the competition for the past decade the Allstars hope to showcase some hidden gems amongst their squad who Fountain believes are more than capable of playing competitive footy against the best in the state. With the likes of Dampier Sharks speedster Colin Skeen, who has recently returned from winning the Stawell Gift foot race in Victoria, agile Port Hedland forward Sidney Eaton and evasive midfielder Jamie Newland, the Pilbara Allstars have chosen a side that can compete across all areas.

Regional Districts will be looking to improve on their recent performances in the carnival. A makeup of talent from Esperance, Goldfields, Upper Great Southern, Ongerup and Eastern Districts were all picked from the Great Southern Colts Carnival at the start of June, which should see them being competitive against the carnival’s best.  

Players from Avon, Mortlock, Central Midlands and Midlands come together for the Championships to form the Northern Suns. They will be looking to find the same form that led them to success in 2015 and are determined to still be successful, despite not playing in the Northern Regions Colts Carnival this year.

Each year the colts carnival provides a platform for the next generation of Country stars to showcase their talent and after having to cancel last year’s carnival, all teams will be eager to prove themselves.