Nyoongar Country defeat Yamatji in contest for cup

Round 9 was the AFL’s Indigenous Round – a round that celebrates the contribution of Indigenous players to the game of Australian Rules football.

09 June 2010

On a day when West Coast Eagles fans celebrated the career of recently retired Indigenous legend of the game David Wirrpanda, the next generation took to Subiaco Oval to show that they are ready to carry the torch in a contest for the Stephen Michael Cup.

The Yamatji Sharks (Mid-West, Gascoyne and Murchison) and Nyoongar Country (Wheatbelt, Peel, South West and Great Southern) 16s teams provided the curtain raiser for the West Coast vs St Kilda game on Sunday 23 May.

The curtain raiser was funded by the Department of Sport and Recreation’s (DSR) Indigenous Sports Program (ISP) and was organised in partnership with the West Coast Eagles, WA Football Commission, Nyoongar, Geraldton and Gascoyne Aboriginal Sports Associations, the Indigenous community and Stephen Michael.

The wet and windy conditions failed to dampen the spirits or skill level of the Nyoongar Country team which defeated the Yamatji Sharks by 26 points; Nyoongar Country 7.12 (54) to Yamatji Sharks 3.10 (28).

The winning Nyoongar Country side was coached by Bill Bennell and Yamatji by Keno Phillips. Jay Collard was named Best Player for Nyoongar Country and Kyle Dalgety for Yamatji.

DSR Indigenous Sports Development Officer Trevor Stack said playing before the West Coast vs St Kilda game on Sunday had been a chance for these country footballers to shine.

“Our Indigenous Sports Program is all about creating opportunities in the sport of AFL for Indigenous players in regional areas, and is a chance for these players to have their talents recognised,” he said.

“For a lot of them this was the first time they had been to Subiaco Oval, let alone set foot on the hallowed turf. It was also a chance for them to play some representative footy and get a taste of what it’s like at the next level.”

The football immortal himself, Stephen Michael, was there to cast an eye over the game, which according to Trevor had provided an added inspiration for all the players.

In his 243 games played over 11 seasons with South Fremantle, Michael racked up just about every achievement the game had to offer, including Sandover Medals in 1980 and 1981, a Tassie Medal and five club fairest and best awards. He was selected as captain for the 1983 All Australian team, and was part of South Fremantle’s 1980 premiership team.

Michael was later inducted into the 1999 Australian Hall of Fame and named in the 2005 Indigenous Team of the Century.

A Welcome to Country preceded the main game, and the young Indigenous players formed a guard of honour for the West Coast and St Kilda players.

Despite a strong start, the West Coast Eagles went down to St Kilda by 35 points; West Coast 8.8 (56) to St Kilda 13.13 (91).