On Sunday 16th June the Great Southern Junior Football carnival was held down in the Ongerup catchment area, this year in Lake Grace. This annual competition expanded this year to 8 teams, with 168 players coming from 20 different towns to compete. From as far east as Ravensthorpe, to Narembeen and Corrigin in the North, to Boyup Brook and Kojonup in the West. There were a massive 3 teams from Southern District Junior Football Association, organised amazingly well by Brayden Dunkeld and Kristy Ashwin. A new entrant this year from the Eastern Districts Football League, wearing Kulin Kondinin Jumpers, were players from Corrigin, Hyden, Narembeen, Kulin and Kondinin.

There were 28 games of football played throughout the day in a round robin format. The winners by countback of the day, were the Kojonup/Boyup Brook team, coached by Jamey Eyres and Troy Hornby. The team won 6 games (2 by less than a goal) and lost 1. Importantly for them they defeated the otherwise undefeated Ongerup Football Association team, coached by Ian Lloyd and Damon Pellham in the second last game of the day.

The carnival is intended to give kids in the Great Southern the chance to play football at a higher level than can be achieved each weekend. All the kids being the same age and size makes for great competition, and hopefully improves their football into the future. It is extremely valuable to the aspiring footballers from the Ongerup Football Association.

A big thankyou goes out to Brad Nisbett from the West Coast Eagles, for supplying a signed WCE jumper to the player of the carnival. Jaxon Liddelow from Country Football WA, for supplying game day balls and prize balls to the best player from each team.

This carnival would not have been possible if it wasn’t for Jeff Mckenzie and the Lake Grace/Pingrup Football Club for hosting, Chris Rumble, Viktoria Lance and Rochell Walker from the Ongerup Football Association for organising and running the day.

Most Importantly thanks to the kids and parents for giving up a Sunday to play the best sport there is in WA!