Five Pies make squad

Five women from the Busselton Magpies have been selected for the South West Football League’s inaugural women’s Landmark Cup, to be held on July 6-7.

Magpies co-captains Angela Williamson and Rennie Sansom, Beth Beckett, first-year players Liana Perrella and young gun Tessa Keane have made the 25-woman squad who will take on teams from the Peel, Pilbara, Goldfields and Great Northern Football Leagues.

Sansom and Williamson said it was an honour to be selected among the best players in the competition.

“It’s the first proper carnival so I thinks it’s awesome that we had five players selected,” Sansom said.

“This is our third year of playing women’s footy at Busselton and definitely our strongest group,” Williamson said.

Coach Matt Grosse said his players’ hard work was evident in the scratch matches.

“They’re our stand-out performers each week, and Landmark coach Michelle Harris has a lot of experience so I think she will get the best out of them,” he said.

In previous years, the South West have dominated the other regional leagues in exhibition matches, and this year they are looking to make their claim as the best women’s league in country WA official.

This season, Busselton currently sit equal second on the ladder behind undefeated South Bunbury, with only percentage separating Harvey, Busselton and Bunbury on four wins and two losses.

On Sunday, the Magpies take on Harvey in a second v third grudge match, which could be crucial in their bid to play finals after missing out by percentage last season.

“We had a goal at the start of the season to make the finals, which I think is realistic,” Williamson said. “We have a really good squad and we’ve had some really talented players come in.”

“There is no doubt we can play finals,” Grosse said.

“If the girls are having a good day, we can match any team in the comp.

“We have a lot of good girls down here so I think we can challenge for the title.”