The Advertiser brings you Around The Leagues, taking a look at football stories of players and personalities from the Great Southern, Ongerup and Upper Great Southern regions.
Record breaking Rossy
It was a special moment for one of Great Southern football’s longest serving players on Sunday.
North Albany champion Graham Ross officially broke the Kangas’ league games record, his 277th appearance surpassing the previous mark of Kleemann medallist and Kangas legend Brett Hall.
Ross is among elite company at his club with Hall (276 games), Murray Wynne (242), Kelvin Stephens (210) and Boyden Coyne (205) making up a very talented top five in the list of games played for the Kangas.
The 39-year-old was pictured with his family before leading the Kangas out in his milestone match at Retravision Stadium against Royals.
Ross booted four goals and was a terrific target in attack, but his side fell five points short in the end.
He was chaired off to the applause of both teams and supporters at the end of the round four Great Southern Football League fixture.
An eight-time league premiership player, Kleemann Medal winner, triple Kangas fairest and best and former league captain — Ross sits firmly as one of the club greats.
Passing of country footy legend
In sad news this month, country football is mourning the loss of Gordon Davidson.
Country Football WA announced on May 7 that Davidson had died after decades of involvement in the sport.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gordon Davidson, a cherished member of our football community, whose dedication and passion left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Country Football WA posted.
“Gordon retired from his role as State team head trainer following the 2008 national carnival, concluding a remarkable tenure of service to his club, league, and State. His commitment extended far beyond his official duties — he was a steadfast and invaluable presence in the country State team and a true servant of the game.”
Davidson spent 18 years playing with the Moulyinning and Kukerin football clubs and started as a volunteer trainer in 1987 with Kukerin-Dumbleyung and Central Great Southern Football League.
He became the WACFL trainer in 1988 and with a level two accreditation supported every national carnival from 1989 onwards.
Davidson also offered his skills to other sportspeople and treated people at his home.
His outstanding contributions were recognised with life membership of the Kukerin Dumbleyung Football Club (1996) and the Upper Great Southern Football League (2008), an outstanding service award in 2000, a WACFL merit award in 2004 and Country Football life membership in 2011.
Davidson leaves a legacy of dedicated service, commitment and passion for the game and he was remembered at a memorial service in Rockingham last week.
Auskick bouncedown in small Great Southern town
Bremer Bay is known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed holiday vibes but now the town is home to the Great Southern’s newest Auskick centre.
Bremer Bay has about 424 residents but the town comes alive in peak holiday periods as thousands flock to the coast.
Now young kids in the town have some regular footy with an Auskick centre launching there this season.
It is one of more than 10 centres around the Great Southern but after being delayed last year, it has kicked off with 24 children involved this year.
Run by Kirsty Rosman, the centre is being run in conjunction with the Bremer Bay Primary School and is held at the school oval on Monday afternoons.
The kids are loving the chance to play on a weekly basis, with lots of smiles in their bibs as they kick the new footies around.
Changes to country championships as new senior team joins
For the first time since 2018, Lower South West Football League will play in the annual Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships.
The LSWFL, made up of seven clubs including Kojonup, have not participated in the championships for six years but will be back when it kicks off in Perth in July.
Country Football WA announced that 25 teams will contest five divisions at this year’s carnival.
The CBH Group colts competition split into two divisions for the first time since 2010 after the addition of Pilbara who sat out 2024.
Lower South West will join the senior competition in division three while last year’s division three winners Great Southern jump up to division two and Great Northern will test themselves against the best after claiming division two last year.
In other changes Public School Association venues Scotch College and Guilford Grammar will host games for the first time and matches will return to the newly redeveloped East Fremantle Oval, now named The Good Grocer Park.
South West, Avon, Goldfields, Peel and Great Northern will tackle division one while Upper Great Southern, Central Midlands Coastal, North Pilbara, Eastern Districts, Ongerup and Great Southern all feature in division two.
Mortlock, Esperance, Hills, North Midlands, Central Wheatbelt and Lower South West make up division three in the men’s competition.
In the colts, Peel, South West, Great Southern and Great Northern will contest division one and division two will consist of Regional Districts, Kimberley Spirit, Avon-Mortlock and Pilbara.
Got a footy story from our region to share? Email cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com
