UGSFL 2024: Hometown pride and passionate support to inspire Williams Football Club in UGSFL 2024 season

With the Upper Great Southern Football Association 2024 season kicking off soon, Williams Football Club president Simon Maylor says the close-knit Cats are looking good. Williams suffered a heart-breaker in the 2023 league decider when it went down to Katanning by 14 points after a dominant season. Maylor said the sniff at glory left players eager for 2024. “We didn’t really have to do much to get the Perth boys back, they were all pretty keen when we spoke to them in the off-season,” he said. “We’ve lost a few boys that have gone back to their home clubs but . . . for the first time in a while we’ve got some local kids that are living in Perth and they’re going to start travelling back down the highway, so that’s really exciting for us.” Last season’s Leo Graham Medal recipient Simon Panizza has been appointed senior group coach. “He’s been really good for the playing group,” Maylor said. “He’s got a clear game plan that he wants the boys to play to and they’ve been practising that in the preseason . . . we’re looking good.” Nick Panizza will captain the league side and the vice-captaincy will be split between speedy forward Addison Dew and Michael Cowcher. “Addison Dew, one of our travelling players, he’s going to be vice-captain and . . . Michael Cowcher, one of our local boys, has been selected as the other vice-captain,” Maylor said. “Michael’s come a long way in the last couple of years and it’s exciting to see that he’s been given an opportunity to lead as well.” The reserves are expected to benefit from the experience of club stalwart James Medlen. “He’s been amazing for the B-grade boys,” Maylor said. “He’s a really good leader and his coaching is getting better and better. I was really happy that he said he’d do it for one more year. “Him and his senior assistant Rodney Ford, it’s their fourth year, huge effort.” The Cats’ 2024 campaign will be buoyed by a strong committee and passionate hometown support. “There’s a lot of people around our footy club that want to help and want to contribute and I think that just flows through to our supporters,” Maylor said. “We enjoy our sport — everyone takes pride in representing Williams and it flows across all sporting codes.” The 2024 UGSFL season starts on April 27, with the Cats’ first game on the road against Boddington.