Member for Roe Peter Rundle says the entire Great Southern football community can feel proud of local product Nat Fyfe winning his second Brownlow Medal.
Mr Rundle congratulated Fyfe on his success in the AFL’s annual fairest-and-best player award, saying the Fremantle captain has never forgotten his early playing days in Lake Grace.
“Even during his acceptance speech at the count Nat recalled how he developed as a junior, kicking the ball around the local district,” Mr Rundle said.
“It is a credit to all the coaches, officials and volunteers in the Ongerup Football League that one of their own can go on to be a champion of the great Australian game.
“Nat is not only an outstanding player but a wonderful ambassador for the code and, of course, his hometown of Lake Grace.”
Mr Rundle said the town and surrounding communities are also keenly supporting another former junior, Liam Baker, as he prepares to represent Richmond in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
Baker grew up on his family’s wheat and sheep farm in Pingaring and played for Lake Grace-Pingrup.
“Apart from Fyfe and Baker, the Lake Grace-Pingrup has also produced AFL stars including Mark Bairstow, who won a Sandover Medal with South Fremantle in 1986 before going on to be a champion with Geelong,” Mr Rundle said.
“And the Morton brothers, Mitch, Jarryd and Cale, all made it to the AFL. Mitch won a premiership with Sydney in 2012.”
Mr Rundle also highlighted that two WA country-produced talents finished on the podium in this year’s Brownlow Medal count with Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, who honed his football skills in Northampton, finishing equal-third.
“The ability of WA country football players to rise and become among the best in the country shows that the development system at the regional grass roots level is an outstanding success,” Mr Rundle said.
