Country Championships: Upper Great Southern name young, talented side in bid to reach division one grand final

Upper Great Southern Football League are confident they can contend for the division one title at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships, after narrowing missing out on the grand final in the past two years. Despite missing last year’s all-star duo James Laurino and Haiden Schloithe and classy forward Ryan Bennell, Uppers have assembled a strong squad for the annual tournament in Perth. Boddington stars Harry Cabalzar, Lloyd Padwick and Zak Pretty are key inclusions, along with Narrogin youngster Tom Kilpatrick. Ezekiel Bolton (Brookton-Pingelly), experienced pair Kye Barker (Wickepin) and Matt White (Boddington), tall Henry Gould (Narrogin) and defender Byron Blevin (Kukerin-Dumbleyung) are other big names driving Uppers’ hopes of reaching the decider. The side will again be coached by Gerard Medlen, who is rapt with the squad he will take to the championships. “I’m very happy with in,” he said. “We have got some talent there and I’ll back these blokes in. “Last year we had Haiden Schloithe and Kade Stewart but I think there is even more depth this year. “Tom Kilpatrick is in good form, Zak (Pretty) has gone back to Boddington, and Matt White and Byron Blevin didn’t play last year. “Padwick is a big inclusion, and Henry Gould will also be great in the ruck and can go forward.” Notable names missing from the squad include dominant ruckman Riley Smith, who is unavailable, while State country representative and ex-Subiaco midfielder Justin Joyce and Williams star Simon Panizza will both miss through injury. Uppers will start their campaign against reigning champions Avon on Friday at Leederville Oval before facing South West later that day. On Saturday at Fremantle Oval they will clash with Peel at 3pm and Goldfields at 5pm. “We all set out to win,” Medlen said. “We’ve finished third two years in a row and should have been in last year but it was our own undoing. “Hopefully we are right amongst it again. Some of these guys have been here for three years now.” Nathan Ditchburn and Ty Miller will be Medlen’s assistants for the carnival. The top two sides in division one will contest the grand final on Sunday at 1.30pm at Sullivan Logistics Stadium. UGSFL squad 1. Harry Cabalzar (Boddington) 3. Cam Stedman (Williams) 4. Zak Pretty (Boddington) 5. Blake Reynolds (Boddington) 6. Tom Kilpatrick (Narrogin) 7. Ben Sherry (Boddington) 8. Cade Bolton (Brookton-Pingelly) 9. Matt White (Boddington) 10. Daniel Trevaskis (Brookton-Pingelly) 11. Ryan Melvin (Wickepin) 13. Ezekiel Bolton (Brookton-Pingelly) 14. Fraser Wittwer (Wickepin) 15. Jacob Schorer (Boddington) 16. Byron Blevin (Kukerin-Dumbleyung) 17. Lloyd Padwick (Boddington) 18. Tom Fleay (Wagin) 19. Kye Barker (Wickepin) 20. Bronson Harry (Wagin) 21. Jye Depane (Kukerin-Dumbleyung) 22. Jonty Petchell (Williams) 24. Flynn Spark (Wickepin) 25. Brayden Fairhead (Brookton-Pingelly) 27. Ryley Conlan (Brookton-Pingelly) 28. Riley Holden (Wickepin) 29. Jonty Robinson (Kukerin-Dumbleyung) 30. Henry Gould (Narrogin)