SWFL 2023: SWFL coach Chris Kinninmont reflects on narrow grand final loss against Avon

Two days after the SWFL’s 6.7 (43) to 4.7 (31) upset loss against the Avon Football Association in the 2023 Nutrien Ag Solutions country football championship division 1 grand final, heartache was still audible in coach Chris Kinninmont’s voice. Tipped by many to successfully defend their 2022 title, the South West side was held goalless in the first half by a plucky Avon — a team they beat two days earlier in the round-robin phase — and left their fightback too late. “At half-time, we spoke about belief,” Kinninmont said. “I still felt we were in the game, as our fitness levels were extremely high along with our kicking skills. “However, we made some critical turnovers at critical times, particularly in the last quarter while going forward. “Probably some of our running with intent and tackle pressure also wasn’t where it was on day two. If you don’t do all of these things in a grand final, it’s obviously going to unravel and you’re going to come unstuck.” Kinninmont was dealt a significant blow before the grand final, with two squad members, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault duo Jarrod Humphries and Jono Fenwick, both ruled out through injury. “We lost Jarrod to a small fracture in his lower leg — which obviously proved costly for us later in the carnival, as his form was pretty sold early,” he said. “Fenners (Fenwick) copped a bit of a ‘stinger’ to the shoulder, which was bordering on dislocation. I had a chat to the trainers and they were concerned about how it was. “It was unfortunate, because his run off half back was really good and was his ball use.” Despite falling short in the grand final, Kinninmont is a big fan of the shortened round-robin games, as he believes it adds extra excitement. “After day one, any two sides could’ve ended up playing in the grand final,” he said. “On day two, Avon beat Uppers (Upper Great Southern) in a close game, Peel sort of faltered against us, which was handy from South West perspective. “It was a pretty exciting end to the week and fortunately we were lucky enough to get to the big dance, but we faltered in the first 20 minutes and it was catch up footy from there. “We hit the post a couple of times late. If we had of slotted them, it could’ve been different.”