Who would be the best chances for the Leo Graham Medal this season?
Not that I have seen a lot of any team, Brendan Lim from Kukerin should poll well, but I think very open.
Chances from limited I have seen
Willaims : Winter, Panizza, Crosby ,Walters, Andreoli
Boddington: Depane, White
Wickepin: R.Duckworth, Ramsay
Kukerin/Dumb : Lim
Brookton/Ping: Spano
Katanning: Shepherd, Allen
Narrogin; Hunt
Wagin : xxxxxxxx
Last round saw expected results, Wickepin beat a struggling Wagin, Boddington finally saw off a game Brookton Pingelly, who went undisciplined in the last quarter, a weakness they have to get out of their make up, as at their best are a good side. Kukerin Dumbleying toyed with an undermanned Narrogin, and Williams smashed Katanning, who again have been a big disappointment this year.
This Sunday First Semi Final at Pingelly, will go down for a look, could be a good game.
1ST SEMI FINAL
Game Reminder
SEMI FINAL 1
Wickepin vs Kukerin/Dumbleyung
2:30 PM / Sun 21 Aug
Pingelly (Map)
WICKEPIN
16 J.Kayler-Thomson 7 0
19 B.Smith 6 0
11 B.Duckworth 4 4
T.O’Brien 4 0
K.Wittwer 3 0
9 J.Flavel 1 6
35 R.Melvin 1 0
13 S.Fortini 1 0
J.Duffy 1 0
20 G.Leeson 0 5
10 J.Miller 0 3
17 C.Taylor 0 2
1 J.Gust 0 1
51 R.Duckworth 0 0
15 L.Crouch 0 0
18 T.Miller 0 0
5 R.Astbury 0 0
31 R.Melvin 0 0
4 J.Crabtree 0 0
25 A.Quartermaine 0 0
8 K.Medcalf 0 0
2 C.Medcalf 0 0
14 F.Wittwer 0 0
M.Trevenen 0 0
26 R.Mullens 0 0
G.Francis 0 0
KUKERIN DUMBLEYUNG
27 J.Ward 12 1
17 M.Longbottom 4 0
52 S.Ashford 3 4
23 C.Davidson 3 0
15 S.Wisewould 1 6
20 M.Roberts 1 3
6 B.Lim 1 2
18 K.Gooding 1 0
1 R.Taylor 0 5
7 J.Clayton 0 0
34 H.Murray 0 0
10 N.Ditchburn 0 0
16 P.Young 0 0
19 R.Gooding 0 0
45 G.Bolt 0 0
33 C.Doney 0 0
A.Shepherd 0 0
12 S.Pearce 0 0
J.Doney 0 0
24 J.Carew-Reid 0 0
43 B.Lucev 0 0
On paper Wickepin were the strongest team in Uppers this season, but never seemed to gell on the field, and their season came to an abrupt end in the 1st Semi Final yesterday, after a 8 goal blitz second quarter by Kukerin/Dumbleyung set up there 22 point win. In windy conditions Wickepin held a 15 point lead at quarter time, but with the wind in the 2nd quarter KD dominated and went in at half time with a 32 point lead. Wickepin tried hard in the third stanza, but KD managed to hold a 7 point lead going into the last quarter with the breeze and the rain arriving, and held on comfortably at the end.
WICKEPIN v. KUKERIN/DUMBLEYUNG
Round 1 - 21/08/2016
Kukerin/Dumbleyung 1.3, 9.4, 10.5, 13.16 (94)
Wickepin 3.6, 3.8, 7.16, 9.18 (72)
Heading up to Wickepin on Sunday to watch the Grand Final.
Williams will start favourites but it should be a great game.
Kukerin/Dumb will be sentimental favourites , with Williams winning many flags in last 10 years.
KD & Boddington put on a great display in the Prelim, with KD hanging on by 2 points. Other than their usual suspects, ex Amateu player Longbottom was very good with 5 goals. Williams are a smooth unit and get State cricket coach Stewie Walters back this week, so just make them that little bit harder to beat.
Williams ran out easy winners 17.13.115 to 5.9.39 yesterday. Despite the margin it was still an entertaining game to watch.
Williams midfield led by Jarrad Winter, the evergreen Jon Price and Simon Panizza seemed to get their hands on the ball first and gave their forwards more opportunities. Gerard Medlen and Andrew Crosby looked dangerous all day and finished with 5 and 3 goals respectively.
The Williams backline including Nick Panizza, Teke Vernon, Jarrad Martin, Warrick Andreoli and Bryan Hardie playing a sweeping role when kicking into the wind were almost impenetrable.
The highlight for Kukerin-Dumbleyung would have been when Jon Ward took an absolute screamer in the first quarter and goaled into a stiff breeze from close to 50m out. Nathan Ditchburn was injured early in the first quarter and played no further part. they also looked to have a few sore blokes during the duration of the game.
Williams also won the Ressies.
Unfortunately Williams made it a one horse race after quarter time, and were a far better side than kukerin Dumbleyung who looked flat after such a taxing win in the Preliminary Final,
Williams have some real quality players and whoever is their recruiter of travelling ($$) players does a fantastic job getting real good players. Jarrod Winter (Ex EF), Warrick Andreoli (ex St Kilda Rookie), Andrew Crosby just to name three, are top of the tree as far as country footballers go, and the depth of the side runs right through to the 21st player, with some great local country players in Jon Price, Glyn Medlan, Bryan Hardie, Rob Rose to name a few, that deep in fact that ex State Under 18’s player Myles Bolger only played reserves.
It was a cold windy day, but Wickepin F.C put on a great day with a good crowd in attendance
At half way point of year, Narrogin, Katanning & Boddington head the table, and not much between them the three of them. Williams look likely to finish 4th, but not sure last years Premiers are up to the top 3. Wickepin have an outside chance for 4th but may miss out. Brookton Pingelly have been very disappointing, Wagin lack depth and poor Kukerin-Dumbleyung who lost more than half of their grand final side from last season are really struggling.
How are all teams shaping up coming into finals ? And who are the Leo graham chanches from each club this year ?
Final Round this weekend 4th Williams play Boddington 1st, Wickepin 5th play Narrogin 3rd, with just 0.6 % difference, a spot in Finals will go down to the wire for the 45th & 5th sides. Katanning still a chance to grab top spot, play struggling Kukerin Dumbleyung, and Brookton/Pingelly play Wagin for the Cellar Dwellars Cup.
Should be a great Finals series, will be four good sides. Boddington maybe not playing at their peak at the moment, Katanning when good are good, but have a habit of going missing, Narrogin, have been the quiet achievers all year. Williams if they make it, are the smokies on past history, Wickepin, if play at there top can beat anyone, but known to have off days.
Leo Graham, will be tightest contest for years I am thinking, no stand out.
My tip James Laurino Katanning.
Williams 4th, Wickepin 5th, beat Boddington 2nd & Narrogin 3rd, but Wickepin missed Finals on %, most probably best team to miss playing in Finals for sometime. Williams have come good at the right time, and Narrogin will be worried going into 1st Semi at Wagin Sunday, Williams should have too much experience and get the job done.
Season has ended for Wickepin as we said, and they have the neucleus of a good side going forward if they can retain players. Kukerin Dumbleyung struggled all season after big player losses from 2016 and be interesting to see where they are at over the next few years. Brookton Pingelly need to back to square one and rebuild around some good local talent, with the right recruits. Wagin, also are in a bad spot with plenty of work to be done to be competitive again
a wet few weeks
Mid Season 2018, and Katanning who proved far too good last year to break a long Premiership drought & their first in Uppers, if anything are far stronger this year, with the basis of last years side adding Kade Stewart from Hawthorn, Billy Collier (SF), an injury free Adam Carter, it is hard on results so far seeing anyone get close to them.
Boddington, Wickepin & Williams are going along steadily and up to last weekend looked the likely top 4 teams, until Narrogin threw their hat into the ring beating Williams. Narrogin who were runners up last year, lost a heap of players in the off season, and are just starting to get some good team footy going, so the final 3 Finals positions may play out right to the final Round behind Katanning.
Kukerin-Dumbleyung are a bit off the pace, though competitive have no chance of making finals, and Brookton-Pingelly & Wagin have not improved on last year, and have their own Mini Finals series over 3 matches to see who will be Wooden Spooners.
Any updates on the UGS , can Katanning be beaten? Leo Graham Medal chances?
Leo on tonight have not seen as many games this season, but Bravington chance to go back to back, Simon Panizza may get votes off him. Katanning have many good players who will share many votes between them. Will not be many games where they do not get the 3,2 & the 1. Kade Stewart been very good since returning from Hawthorn.
Williams got home in 1st Semi over Narrogin after a tough battle. Katanning should be too good for Boddington this Sunday 2nd Semi. Not sure Williams can beat a full strength Boddington in a Prelim Final the week after.
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Winner of Leo Graham!!!
Kade Stewart- Katanning
Runner up
Simon Panizza- Williams
Third-
Jye Depane- Boddington
Nathan Bravington- Williams
Cheers Kirbs - some good players in that lot.
Katanning through to the GF as expected though Boddington had the lead early and were close enough at 3/4 but could not go with them in the last.
This Sunday Bodd v Williams will be close but I think Bodd will just get home with their bottom 6 better than Williams
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