This week on from the Vault, we look at Round Five, 1997, which saw some close matches and two hidings!
This round also features three current day League Coaches, with Mark Docking, Richard Barnard and Paul Fimmano all playing in their respective teams. Donnybrook were on the top of the ladder at the time, with the competition having Collie (Saints), Mines Rovers and Boyanup Capel Dardanup in the ten team competition. Eventual premiers Mines Rovers, were sitting in third position on the ladder.
Shaun Gardiner of Donnybrook had already kicked 22 goals, while Collie’s Aaron Fraser was in second place with ten majors. The week after Fraser and Gardiner would both kick seven goals each.
Night football really took off in 1997 with 50% of all League matches played at night. The Augusta Margaret River versus Donnybrook match would be played on a Saturday night, just the second night fixture at the venue, after the same two teams played in the very first night match on 25 June 1995 at the same venue. It was also in this round that the first three umpire system was trialed in a Colts match. Two of the three umpires involved would then Field Umpire the League fixture.
Match Centre
Bunbury 1.3.9 2.9.21 8.16.64 11.19.85
Collie 5.0.30 7.1.43 10.1.61 12.6.78
Goals: Bunbury – I Testrow 4, D Dillon 2, M Walker 2, S Hough 1, C O’Keefe 1, S Taylor 1. Collie – A MacNish 5, A Fraser 3, D Lewis 2, J Garner 1, P Beeck 1.
Best: Bunbury – I Testrow, M Hick, C O’Keefe, S Hough, M Kelly, A Kelly. Collie – T Edwards, A MacNish, D Lewis, W Miller, D Nelson, C Turley
Umpires: R Pearce, S Bordis
Reports: Nil
Ground: PC Payne Park, Bunbury
Donnybrook 5.1.31 8.2.50 10.4.64 13.11.89
Aug Marg-River 3.3.21 8.3.51 10.8.68 11.10.76
Goals: Donnybrook – S Gardiner 6, B Bidwell 2, C Chiswell 2, J Bruechle 1, B Johnston 1, M Biffen 1. Augusta Margaret River – T Scott 2, S Donovan 2, G Ahola 2, S Hadley 1, M Payne 1, D Campbell 1, D La Fontana 1, P Allnutt 1.
Best: Donnybrook – D Cheffers, B Bidwell, S Gardiner, M Kendle, N Tuia, S Atherton. Augusta Margaret River – R Thompson, P Allnutt, G Ahola, D Campbell, D La Fontana, S Donovan
Umpires: K Sabourne, A White
Reports: Nil
Ground: Gloucester Park, Margaret River
South Bunbury 3.0.18 7.2.44 10.3.63 12.5.77
Harv Bruns-Lesch 2.4.16 5.6.36 8.7.55 10.11.71
Goals: South Bunbury – N Martyn 3, T Rendell 3, M Docking 2, T Gallagher 1, S Maiden 1, M Slatter 1, T Wallrodt 1. Harvey Brunswick Leschenault – R Brookes 2, C Roberts 2, R Soulas 1, C Macri 1, B Bartley 1, T Strano 1, S Mooney 1, P Mathews 1.
Best: South Bunbury – M Cummins, M Slater, N Martyn, S Wallrodt, B Jones, A Duplex. Harvey Brunswick Leschenault – S Mooney, T Strano, C Macri, P Fimmano, B Offer, R Ietto.
Umpires: J Beaton, I Wanstall
Reports: Nil
Ground: JE Hands Memorial Oval, Bunbury
Mines Rovers 3.8.26 9.12.66 12.15.87 17.19.121
Carey Park 1.3.9 1.7.13 1.15.21 4.17.41
Goals: Mines Rovers – D Broadbent 3, B Swan 3, N McCagh 3, S White 2, P Moyses 2, S Dyer 1, P Dark 1, J Marley 1, B Barrett 1. Carey Park – G Dehring 1, S Jones, 1. R Barnard 1, G Delfs 1.
Best: Mines Rovers – P Moyses, C Rinder, A Fontana, S Sherwood, P Dark, B Barrett. Carey Park – J Baggetta, G Dehring, J Pritchard, C Kinnimont, D Lutrell
Umpires: K Nettleton, R Harrop
Reports: Nil
Ground: Collie Recreation Ground
Busselton 4.4.28 12.5.77 17.10.112 25.13.163
Boy-Capel-Dard 0.3.3 0.7.7 2.10.22 3.11.29
Goals: Busselton – J Cook 6, T Hall 5, D Fancote 4, M Carter 4, M Maxwell 2, P Davies 2, R Burling 1, V Carter 1. Boyanup Capel Dardanup – A Collard 1, P Bennell 1, C Buchanan 1.
Best: Busselton – G Gracie, J Cook, M Maxwell, D Fancote, D Helliwell, T Hall. Boyanup Capel Dardanup – J Page, B Maguire, D Bennell, T Higgins, K Collard, S Cain
Umpires: D Horner, G Lawrence
Reports: Nil
Ground: Boyanup Oval, Boyanup