SWFLW 2023: South West talent features prominently in WA State Country women’s team

The South West Football League will be healthily represented at Optus Stadium on Sunday morning, when the West Australian State Country women’s team takes on WA’s under-18 representative side. Reigning premiers Busselton are represented in Gemma Harrison’s squad, with five players — including reigning Nola Marino medallist Katie-Jayne Grieve — selected. Busselton playing coach Rennie Meadmore and South Bunbury’s Sheridan Kowald have also been appointed as two of Harrison’s assistant coaches. Despite the match being held on Sunday, the team will complete a training session on Saturday afternoon, meaning none of the South West players will be available for club duty this weekend. Ahead of the clash, Harrison said she was upbeat about the make up of her side, although she felt selection was a difficult task. “It was extremely difficult,” she said. “I guess from the (State country) men’s perspective, they had a lead-up carnival. We’ve been talking about this side since the end of the women’s country football championships last year. “The men’s team selectors were able to get an eye over players at the Nutrien Ag Solutions country football championships, so we didn’t have that.” The other variable to consider for Harrison was the fact so many South West players feature regularly in the WAFLW, which can affect eligibility. “There’s so many women who are playing in the WAFLW now,” Harrison said. “It’s wonderful they are playing the game, but from a coaching perspective, I would’ve loved to have them in the team.” Elite SWFL players who were ineligible included Bunbury’s Ruby Mahony, Harvey Bulls forward Trinity Brown, Donnybrook spearhead Bethany Bond, Busselton utility Beth Beckett and Bunbury youngster Daisy Rigby. SWFL representatives Busselton — Emma Borinelli, Rennie Meadmore, Katie-Jayne Grieve, Maddy Obal, Mia Dronow; Donnybrook — Jessica Verbrugge, Lacey Holdsworth, Taneika Handley; Harvey Bulls — Rachel Wright