Great Northern coach Leith Teakle proud of side after regaining spot in top WA country football division

Great Northern coach Leith Teakle is proud of his side’s efforts to make it back to division one of the WA Country Football Championships just two years after the league did not send a team to the carnival.
The Great Northern Football League opted not to send a men’s side to the country championships in 2022, citing a lack of player interest.
However, two years on the side has returned to the top division after a six-goal win over Central Midlands Coastal in the division two grand final last weekend.
Teakle said it was a strong effort from the team.
“Coming back into country week last year, we had a good team and made the grand final,” he said.
“I knew that if we bolstered the midfield going into 2024, we would be a real chance to take it out.”

A survey of players two years ago found there was not a strong desire for a country week side.
Teakle said a shift in thinking had some of the league’s best players opting in to get the side back to division one.
“There’s a group of players that would go each year no matter what, but it’s very difficult to put a competitive team together if you’ve only got a few of your top echelon,” he said.
“The GNFL is a proud league and there’s proud people throughout who know country week is really important to putting our league on the map and attracting good players, sponsors and support.”
The side was able to defeat Central Midlands Coastal in the decider, despite losing to them in the round robin a day earlier.
However, Teakle said their strong start enabled them to manage their players through the back end of the tournament.
“I think we rested 12 players in in that last game and I would consider probably six to eight of them to be starting players,” he said.
“Central Midlands Coastal, they didn’t see our best team on the track that second day.
“On grand final day we were fit, firing and ready and managed to perform.”

Among the top performers was Kim Schofield, who won the Bud Byfield medal for player of the division.
He was named in the all-stars squad for the competition, alongside brother Jayden.
Teakle said some players enhanced their reputations across the carnival.
“Those two guys (Kim and Jayden) impress all the time, they’re fit and competitive and they’ve been around a long time,” he said.
“Dylan Ralph, Chris Scott and Ringo McKenna were three of our absolute best and put in strong performances.
“Harry Taylor at his age performed excellent for us as a forward. He was disappointed with his carnival last year and I know he wanted to really perform for the GNFL this year.”
Teakle also credited the performances of younger players Izak Ronan, Klay Sipila, and Flynn Dillon, who also impressed.
He believed Great Northern would perform strongly in division one, where they will come up against some of the State’s best in Avon, Great Southern, Goldfields and Peel.
Teakle hoped he would get the opportunity to coach the side again next year following their successful campaign, and thanked the GNFL clubs and sponsors for helping the side get to Perth for the competition.
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