Lack of interest to blame for GNFL’s 2022 country week snub

The Great Northern Football League will not be sending a senior side to compete in the 2022 country week carnival when it takes place on the weekend of July 8, citing a lack of interest from players and clubs. Instead the Gascoyne Football Association will field a side and be allowed to use five top-up Geraldton players. GNFL director Leith Teakle said the league consulted clubs and players before making the decision. “We did a survey of the clubs, there wasn’t really a strong desire for a country week team and then we followed that up with a survey of some of the senior players as well and that ratified the decision.” Teakle said it mainly came down to player commitment and availability. “So I think in recent years, the availability to be able to send our strongest team, we haven’t been able to attract the cream of the crop to play country week,” he said. “I think there would be interest in some players going but I think our view is that if we can’t at least get close to the strongest team possible, then we should be striving for that rather than just putting a team together of players.” However, the GNFL will be sending a colts team to the competition, which was cancelled last year due to COVID. “Given that there wasn’t any country week last year, we thought we would take the opportunity to reset, take another year off and focus on the colts team that’s being sent to try and build some momentum from the younger group, and then look to send a senior team again in the coming years”, Teakle said.