West Australian Football

WHEN Eric Floyd competed at the US AFL Nationals in Canada last August, he never imagined it could lead to playing a season in country Western Australia.

The 21-year-old, who arrived in Perth last month, will be playing for Kukerin-Dumbleyung in the Upper Great Southern Football League this season after being introduced to Australian Rules by a friend at highschool.

He was then encouraged to venture to Australia by fellow US import Brady Phillips, who played for Donnybrook in the South West Football League last season.

CANBERRA will host the 11th Australian Country Football Championships on July 22-25 this year, the first time the nation’s capital has secured this biennial event, first staged in 1990.

The ACT (AFL Canberra) is the current Australian Country Champions with their win against Victoria Country in 2008 in Shepparton Victoria. Western Australia finished third after defeating South Australia.

The West Australian Country Football League released its Annual Report at the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, February 6.

Season 2009 proved to be a great year for Country Football with record participation numbers exceeding 27,000. There was also record funding distributed to the Leagues through grants sponsorships and rebates in 2009.

FORMER Kojonup junior and East Fremantle back-man Kyle Hardingham was selected with pick seven in yesterday’s AFL Pre-season Draft and will head to Essendon to commence his AFL career, highlighting another strong crop of country recruits.

Six country players were selected in last month’s AFL National Draft including Anthony Morabito from Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault, Bunbury excitement machine Lewis Jetta, Lake Grace’s Nat Fyfe, Gerrick Weedon from Broome, Eaton’s Aaron Black (pictured) and Margaret River's Ben Stratton – four of which were picked in the top 25.

FOOTBALL development in regional Western Australia will come under new leadership heading into the 2010 season following the appointment of five new RFDC Chairmen.

The recent announcement of Paul Omodei as new South West RFDC Chairman has been followed by the appointment of Tony Power as Goldfields Chairman, Damien Leeson as Midlands Chairman, Michael Kain as Wheatbelt Chairman and Peter Watson (pictured) as Great Southern Chairman.