By JONATHAN BOX

With its Mininera and District Football League Cinderella story completed in 2019, Great Western will be keen to keep the momentum going into 2020 and make its position on the top ranks of the ladder the new norm.

The Lions captured the attention and imagination of country football followers across the state last year, winning their first senior premiership since they joined the competition. 

More profound was the fact their premiership was their first in 36 years.

While the majority of the 2019 team will be returning if football starts up in June, Great Western will be without its three Tiwi Islanders, Gerrard Cunningham, Bradley Palipuaminni and Steven Lorenzo, who had an enormous impact on the league throughout the home-and-away season.

The trio booted 148 goals between them and in the grand final they kicked eight, including Cunningham’s last of four goals  that sealed the win against Penhurst and won him the best-player medal.

The departing players will be replaced by two newcomers in Harley Puruntatameri and Kurt Dunn, who I’m sure the Lions will hope will pick up where their fellow islanders left off.

These players will also be joined by former Swifts players in Damon and Ryan Folkes and Daniel Parkin.

These players should all slot in nicely to an already well-oiled outfit likely to hit the ground running.

Pre-season training was well underway with all signs pointing to another good season on the park for the Lions until the sudden halt across the board in response to COVID-19. The delay effects the club’s major fundraiser for the season as well as the football side of things.

Great Western football figurehead Dale Hurley said the Lions, similar to all other football clubs, eagerly awaited an all-clear so sport could restart.

“With that in mind the club hopes that some form of competition eventuates for the benefit of everyone across Australia,” he said. 

“While the wellbeing of all is paramount, a return to community support is essential to ensure that all Australians have access to sporting and social pursuits because the mental-health benefits are critical to so many.

“As a club that has experienced this isolation following our recess nine years ago, we know too well the impact of losing access to such an important sporting-community club.”

Coaches: 

Seniors: Will Bell

Reserves: Nick McCartney

Under-16.5s: Luke Notting

The entire April 1, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!