JK’s in! Josh Kennedy set to return to the field for Northampton as WAFL clash almost locked in

The GNFL is set to host another festival of footy as the WAFL is poised to return to the Mid West with East Fremantle to face powerhouse Peel at Wonthella on July 15 — and Josh Kennedy’s return to Northampton will be the curtain-raiser. Last year the WAFL clash between the Sharks and East Perth in Northampton, which helped raise funds for cyclone Seroja, saw more than 4000 people flock to the ground. There are hopes to capture that same success again in Geraldton this time with the game set to take place at Towns’ home ground in Wonthella. Andrew Lockyer, who once again led the charge for the WAFL to be brought north, said Wonthella was the only ground up to WAFL standard other than Northampton. “We’re pushing ahead, we’re just waiting for the State Government to provide that last bit of funding but we’re already 70 per cent of the way there,” he said. It’s no coincidence Northampton is set to play Towns the same day, with Lockyer confirming they made sure it lined up with Kennedy’s return for the Rams. “He’s already pencilled in and committed to the game and (Harry) Taylor will play as he has done for Rams already,” he said. “We’re also hopeful we can lure Marc LeCras up as well, which will be huge.” Wonthella hosted a preseason derby in 2017 with almost 9000 people in attendance and Lockyer is hopeful of a huge crowd again, though he is unsure if Kennedy or the WAFL will be the bigger drawcard. “We wanted to make sure we get as many people in the gates as possible hence why we wanted to put as much as we can into the day,” he said. “We want to raise enough money to pay for all junior registrations in the 2024 season and if we can get 5000 people through we’ll be able to achieve that goal.”