Far West Football Action - SA

[Brad-clare]

I will on Saturday watch my first Far West Football grand final which will be played between Koonibba and Western United at the Ceduna oval. This game is tipped to be tight, with Westies being favourites as they won the semi final 2 weeks ago well. Koonibba perforomed well in the preliminary final with a 25 point win over Thevenard.

I haven't been involved much in Far West Football but what I can see it is a passionate league filled with much history. Thevenard are the Australian record holders for 31 straight grand finals although they have struggled in recent times. In the semi final 2 weeks ago a melle developed between supporters, so Saturdays grand final is expected to be a firey affair.

Saturday also marks the first Northern Areas Grand Final i've missed since 1996, it also marks the first time since 1996 that my old club Crystal Brook wont have a Football side playing. In the 1997-2002 all grades made the finals except "B" grade in 2002.
During our grand final run our A grade played in 4 straight losses (97-2000) each one heartbreaking, need I say anymore? B grade went undefeated in 2000, Senior Colts played Jamestown in 5 straight Grand Finals (1997-2001) for flags in 99,2001 and Junior Colts won flags in 99,2001 and were runners up in 2002. In this period we played 13 grand finals for 5 wins and 8 losses, and I often wonder what if......

[timelord]

I don't know if this is a true story or not, but.....

A few years ago, Thevenard wanted to join the Mid West FL. The rumour was that they didn't want to play against Koonibba anymore - for all the wrong reasons. Koonibba - for everyone who doesn't know - is an Aboriginal mission in or close to Ceduna. And Ceduna itself had a reputation of being almost as bad as Kalgoorlie when it came to racial tension.

Anyway - I heard - that some players who wouldn't play against Koonibba were kicked out of the club, and Thevenard have never been the same since. They stayed with the FWFL (the league wouldn't let them go because it would have killed the comp - and they were absolutely right) and from memory they haven't won a premiership at all since that time - at senior level anyway.

I should point out that this is based on rumour and some logical deduction on my part. I have always said that I could be wrong. The only part that is definitely true is Thevenard wanting to go to the MWFL, and the FWFL wouldn't let them.