COUNTRY and metropolitan rivals will do battle on Community Weekend when colts and senior teams meet 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 important not only in their own right but as preparations for the teams' 2008 interstate fixtures.
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 a WACFL Colts team coached by Dale Ballantyne.
Ballantyne has put together a squad of players eager to impress, with the prospect of future WACFL senior honours a distinct possibility for the young stars. AFL and WAFL Club talent identification personnel have been invited to attend what is expected to be a close and hard-fought battle. The talent pool showcased in the match has come from as far afield as Broome, Pilbara, Kalgoorlie and Esperance.
The CBH Country Colts were five-point victors in a great 2007 fixture and will be out to make it back-to-back wins 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 his opportunity to coach at State team level is well deserved.
"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 include Mitch Sewell and James Teakle (CBC), Jarrad Heller and Tyrone Miller (Collegians), Brad Wedgewood (North Fremantle), Tom Wilday (Trinity Aquinas) and Blake Ingersol (Willetton).
The West Coast Eagles U/23 State Amateur side will travel to Launceston on June 1 to participate in an Australian Amateur Football Championship match. Their match against the WACFL State Country will provide a great opportunity to help pick a squad.
The WAAFL players will be keen to break the two-game winning streak of 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.
