Southerners and Tigers share spoils in epic junior grand final wins

The Lower South West Junior Football Association wrapped up its 2021 season with a fantastic day of grand finals in Kojonup on Saturday. The day began with a long-bomb competition for the Year 4-5 grade. The Year 6-7 Southerners were then crowned premiers after an astounding 6.4 (40) to 3.2 (20) win over Boyup Brook. The two sides began the game with plenty of pressure as the ball spent equal time in front of each set of goals but it was the Southerners who were able to convert and build their lead early on. Despite the incredible attack being displayed by Southerners, Boyup Brook did their best to hold on and were saved multiple times by the excellent intercept marking of Samuel Roeger. Southerners kept up their barrage, including a sensational goal on the run from Harry Cybula, but the Roos started to fight back on the scoreboard, including a stunning effort from the boundary by Aston Halsey. Southerners were able to hold Boyup Brook off long enough and finished the game winners by 20 points. Other goalkickers for Southerners included Levi Thomas with three, with Lachlan Hughes and Gill Riley kicking one each. The premier’s best on ground players were Cybula and Thomas, as well as Grace Sebire, Alex Cross, William Beck and Shayla Ditri. While for Boyup Brook, Halsey, Henry Simpson and Rhiley Bock all kicked one goal a piece, with Halsey and Simpson also named best on ground along with Shae Knapp and Felix Twigg. Post-game presentations saw Cybula named most valuable player for the grand final with the season’s best and fairest going to Jack Leusciatti from the Kojonup Cougars. Runner-up best and fairest was Cougars teammate Ruben Stansbury. Following up, the Tigers claimed the premiership in the Year 8-9 competition with a huge 104-point victory against Bridgetown. The Tigers gave a full-team effort with players sharing the ball around and finding ways to carve through the Bulldogs’ defence as their scoring rampage began. Bridgetown did their best all game to hold off the relentless attack of the Tigers but it was a tall task, with Chiranat Beggs, Thomas Ryan and Luke Hallett all booting four goals each, while Mykala Craig, Joshua Seroka, Connor Brown, Blake Whatman and Conor Cole all kicked one each. However, the Bulldogs were able to celebrate after slotting two goals of their own thanks to Levi Nichols and Decklan Fry. The Tigers eventually finished on top with a final score of 17.16 (118) to 2.2 (14). Both clubs gave their best on ground votes to a team effort. Tigers’ Connor Cole was named the grand final’s most valuable player. Imperials’ Angus Brisbane, Raymond Mayers and William Richards took out the season’s best and fairest, runner-up and the LSWJFA achievement award respectively.