WAFL Colts Geraldton Trip a Success

The East Fremantle Colts headed to the Mid West for their round 7 clash with Perth Football Club on Saturday the 25^th May.

East Fremantle Talent Manager Mark Pashby and West Australian Football Commission Talent Pathways Manager Michael Ablett headed to Geraldton early on the Thursday prior to the game, to assist in the facilitation of several community events.

On Thursday afternoon they attended the East Fremantle Football Club’s High Performance Academy training at Todd Teakle’s Gym, watching the first 9 scholarship inductees going through their paces. This was followed by the GNFL Umpires training night and presentation of umpire cards for the weekend, including those local umpires who were awarded the East Fremantle vs Perth WAFL Colts game.

The Manager of Headspace Geraldton, Fiona Stewart, then facilitated a presentation to the umpiring group and GNFL club people on Mental Health.

On Friday we were welcomed to the Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre by Head of Campus Youth, Heather Brett, to interact with some of the young people from the Geraldton area.

Eight of our East Fremantle Colts players attended and ran training drills for the Geraldton Auskick Centre on Sunday morning.

The visit culminated with the game on Saturday evening, where a huge crowd attended a high standard and keenly fought game with Perth running out 3-point winners in a thriller.

The two teams lined up prior to the game to hear a message and support the GNFL’s “Men against Violence Round.”

The East Fremantle Colts side fielded 18 of their 22 players who originate from the Mid West, 14 of whom reside there.

The 4 day visit to Geraldton was a tremendous success and could not have been carried out without the enormous help from Adrian Bartlett from the Geraldton Sporting Aboriginal Corporation; Darren Winterbine - Director of the Mid West Academy of Sport; Ross McKimm and the City of Greater Geraldton; Grady Tomelty - Regional Manager Mid West; Kandi Cullen & the Towns Football Club; Damian Harris & the Northhampton Football Club; Jason O’Brien & the Brigades Football Club who hosted the Colts game on Saturday; Rod Owen & the GNJFL.

The East Fremantle Football Club looks forward to delivering more Colts games and community events in Geraldton.