Bush and ‘Burbs: Former Fremantle Dockers player Dillon O’Reilly wins PFL goalkicking award with epic haul

The West Australian sports reporter Jackson Barrett takes a look at what’s happening in the country and amateur leagues around WA in his weekly column. Ocean Ridge has won a tight final day shootout to slot into the Perth Football League finals by just 1.55 per cent. The Eagles lost to Scarborough in the final round of the season on Saturday, but the eight-point margin wasn’t enough for the Sea Eagles — featuring former West Coast player Connor West — to jump them into the top five. University’s finals hopes ended on the last day of the season with a three-point defeat to Fremantle C.B.C at home and and Trinity Aquinas — who played off in last year’s grand final — were left outside the five after a 25-point defeat to Curtin Uni Wesley. Reigning premiers Kingsway finished a game clear on top of the ladder and have earned a week off in this weekend’s opening round of finals. It leaves North Beach to take on Curtin Uni Wesley in Saturday’s qualifying final at Curtin University, while Fremantle C.B.C will host Ocean Ridge in the elimination final. C.B.C star Dillon O’Reilly — who was listed at Fremantle and most recently played WAFL for East Fremantle — finished as the A-grade competition’s leading goalkicker with 62. The son of ex-Docker, Carlton and Geelong player Stephen O’Reilly finished 22 goals clear of North Beath rival Alexander Marklew and Kingsway star Braydn Furmark. That’s despite him not kicking more than two goals in a game since round 14. O’Reilly was taken on a six-month deal by the Dockers in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft before earning a one-year extension. He then returned to East Fremantle, where he played 51 league games. Grand finals are here! One of the State’s first grand finals will be played this weekend between Ord River Magpies and Waringarri Crows, who meet for the second year in a row. Ord River won straight through to the grand final to defend last year’s flag in a qualifying final win over Port Wyndham a fortnight ago and will meet the Crows in Kununurra on Saturday. The Magpies are shooting for a three-peat. They have not lost a premiership since the league split and then lost several clubs after the 2022 season.