Top 23 sporting moments of ‘23 Part 2: The biggest and best in local sporting headlines

We’ve already bid farewell to 2023, but it was a year to remember in terms of top sporting moments. What is your No. 1? In Part 2, we count down the year’s biggest sporting moments, achievements and success stories from 12 to 1. 12: AZTECS’ HAT-TRICK The Aztecs were never in doubt as they won their third straight grand final in the Geraldton Netball Association. They beat the Kazuals 62-49, a side who had given them grief during the season, becoming the first team to beat the Aztecs in two years — not once but twice. While their 36-game winning streak was snapped, it didn’t matter once the grand final came around. Kazuals had to settle for runners-up for the second year in a row. The game was a close contest in the first half, but Aztecs ran away with it in the last. Katina Kennedy was named the grand final’s fairest and best. 11: JURIEN REJOICE Jurien Bay had a season to remember. The Bulldogs took down Dandaragan in the Central Midlands Coastal Football League grand final 13.11 (89) to 4.7 (31). It was a year of change for the CMCFL, with this being the first grand final since 2007 that didn’t feature Lancelin-Ledge Point or the dominant Cervantes. Jurien Bay had a miracle season that began with the Bulldogs beating their rival Cervantes for the first time in six years. They did it not once but twice, as they had to take down the Tiger Sharks in their finals run that led to them winning their third flag in club history. Jaygar Martin was awarded best on ground. 10: MEN RETURN TO COUNTRY WEEK After three years of sitting on the sidelines, the Great Northern Football League men’s squad returned to country week and made an immediate impact. They had not been represented in the Country Football Championships since 2019, but hard work in the off-season brought them back in the game. The GNFL squad was coached by Leith Teakle and Brigades’ Kim Schofield was named captain. In the tournament, they managed to reach the division two grand final, but fell short to the Goldfields in the decider. Despite the loss, Jayden Schofield was named best on ground. 9: WATER POLO WARRIORS Geraldton let the country sides know who’s boss as both men and women’s teams went undefeated at the water polo country week, bringing home the shields. After both sides fell short to Karratha in the deciders last year, Geraldton came back hungry. Neither the men nor women dropped a game. Both met Rockingham in the grand final, getting the job done in outstanding dual performances. 8: TOWNS’ TRILOGY Towns Cricket Club completed an historic hat-trick this year when they took down Bluff Point, making it three grand final wins in a row. The side dominated the competition, making it all the way to the A-grade title where they faced the Pointers. But Towns were too good and won by seven wickets. Callum Marquis, with 56 not out off 153 balls, was the hero of the match and awarded the Bob Taylor best player medal. 7: NARKLE, TOWNSEND STAR Both these young athletes have gone above and beyond to earn recognition, but Johny Narkle and Khyan Townsend made history by becoming the first Indigenous pair to win Senior and Junior Sports Star of the Year at the Mid West Sports Awards in November. Narkle shot to national stardom after winning his second straight sixth man of the year, becoming a vital part of the Buccaneers championship run and winning the grand final MVP. He went on to star in the NBL1 national competition by making the tournament’s all-star squad and then played in the NBL1 West select team against the Perth Wildcats. Townsend reached the pinnacle of his sport when he travelled to Kazakhstan for the taekwondo world championships. He claimed a win in the tournament, and has been a stand-out player on the footy field as well. 6: #14 RETIRED FOR JUSTYCE The Geraldton community was struck to its core by the road fatality that claimed the life of local basketball star Justyce Potaka-Kumeroa. As a farewell to the aspiring young talent, a ceremony was held at Geraldton Christian College for his friends, family and teammates. The occasion was marked by the classy effort by his team, as the Olympians retired Justyce’s No.14 jersey, as a symbol of the legacy he leaves behind. Potaka-Kumeroa’s family was presented with a framed No.14 jersey as a cherished memento. The Olympians now wear a number 14 patch on their jerseys, keeping their teammate close to them on the court. 5: EIGHT STRAIGHT PREMIERSHIPS Winning a grand final is seen as the pinnacle of team sports and a feat all teams strive for. For the Cardinals, however, it has become a tradition as the side won an unprecedented eighth straight premiership in the women’s A-grade grand final of the Geraldton Hockey Association. Up against Murchison in the grand final, it wasn’t much of a contest as the Cardinals claimed a 3-0 win, with goals coming from Sharnee Williamson, Gemma Dix and Renae Brown. Dayna Cooper was awarded the Lucy Johnson Memorial Trophy as match MVP. 4: RISING STAR’S DEBUT SEASON Football’s quiet achiever Judd McVee had a massive rookie campaign which earnt him a rising star nomination and co-winning the award for Melbourne’s best young player. McVee appeared in every game for the Demons in his first season and became a solid, reliable staple in their back line. In round 18, the former Rover was nominated for AFL rising star of the year. After a big season that saw him play two finals, McVee finished inside the top 10 of voting for Melbourne’s best and fairest, and shared the best young player award with fellow West Aussie Jacob van Rooyen. 3: JK FOUNDATION CUP A game between Northampton and Towns became one of most anticipated matches in recent history as Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras announced they would lace up together for the Rams. Kennedy, who had not played for the Rams since retiring from the AFL the year before, suited up with West Coast premiership teammate LeCras in the curtain-raiser to the Josh Kennedy Foundation Cup. After the GNFL match was played, East Fremantle and Peel faced off at Towns football oval for a WAFL match. East Fremantle won the match and captain Matthew Jupp lifted the trophy for winning the Josh Kennedy Foundation Cup. Crowds packed in to not just watch the WAFL in action, but witness the long-awaited return of Kennedy to his childhood club and his reunion with LeCras. For the record, Kennedy kicked four in the Rams’ win. 2: CHAMPION BUCCS Championship glory belonged to the Geraldton Buccaneers during their “revenge” NBL1 West grand final. The Buccs rallied back to beat the Joondalup Wolves 86-80, claiming a third grand final win in club history. Going down to the Rockingham Flames in last year’s grand final was a major gut punch, but the Geraldton side rallied in 2023. Activewest Stadium was a fortress as the Buccs didn’t drop a game at their home court all year. Staring down the barrel of back-to-back grand final defeats, big game players Liam Hunt and Narkle stepped up and made crucial plays to get the Buccs over the line in the Perth decider. The Buccs then earnt the right to play the country’s best in the NBL1 national tournament, where they performed well but narrowly missed out on finals by percentage. 1: DROUGHT-BREAKING DRAMA With all the massive sporting moments that came from 2023, one that stands out was when a 19-year premiership drought was broken for the Mid West footy factory town of Northampton. The town is famous for producing elite AFL talent, but the Rams had failed to win a GNFL flag since 2004. But that all changed this year when they defeated Railways 78-60 in a game that will go down in the history books, not only for it being a drought-breaker but for its intensely dramatic finish. After playing a game during the home and away season, AFL legend Josh Kennedy laced up for the Rams’ finals run and helped his boyhood club win a flag alongside former Geelong champ Harry Taylor. The Rams dominated in the first half but then the Blues rallied in the second half, so the game came down to the wire. The match might be most remembered for the drama with the scoreboard, which showed Railways had won by one point when the final siren blew. But actually the scores were tied. The Rams went on to win in overtime and the rest, they say, is history.