Around The Leagues: Railways gun Jacob Blight’s hard work rewarded by Richmond, four father-sons in same game

The Advertiser brings you Around The Leagues, taking a look at football stories of players and personalities from the Great Southern, Ongerup and Upper Great Southern regions. Dream come true for Blight Jacob Blight has become the latest Great Southern footballer to be drafted to the AFL, finding a home in Wednesday’s mid-season rookie draft. Blight’s story has been one of determination and perseverance, having stints at two WAFL clubs before his dream was realised. Hailing from Railways in the Great Southern Football League, the 22-year-old started with Claremont and then made the switch to Peel Thunder where he has flourished. After a superb 2023 season, this year Blight has gone to another level with his influence as an intercept defender rewarded by making his State debut for WA. Richmond pounced with the No.2 pick in the mid-season rookie draft, snaring Blight who had spoken to multiple clubs in the lead-up. He is the latest in a long list of Great Southern talent in the AFL. The most recent selections are Mt Barker’s Arthur Jones (Western Bulldogs) and mid-season draftee and Denmark-Walpole big man Kalin Lane (Brisbane). Blight has wasted no time, already flying to Melbourne to play in the Tigers VFL side against Geelong on Saturday. Family affair for Katanning Wanderers We were told about this wonderful moment for a group of father and sons in Katanning and it was hard not to share. Katanning Wanderers had four sets of father and sons playing together recently. Dylan and Russell Quartermaine, Connor and Steve Irvine, Pete and Ely Anderson and Kaiden and Jason Flugge were part of the special moment as they played in the same side against Narrogin in round four of the Upper Great Southern Football League competition. The Tigers have been struggling for numbers in the reserves this season, on the back of a big exodus of senior players after their premiership win last year. League coach Steve Irvine ended up playing two games at Clayton Road Oval, a half in the reserves before heading in to prepare his league side. He then ran out and played in the league fixture but his side was outgunned by an impressive Hawks outfit. Colts chance for Great Southern guns Three more Great Southern footballers made their WAFL colts debut on Saturday. Blake Panizza, Kaleb Germain and Aiden Clark play their first colts games for Claremont in the Tigers win over Peel Thunder on Saturday morning at Revo Fitness Stadium. Panizza is the son of Claremont legend and games record holder Darrell Panizza. The emerging tall and Royals product has been in strong form for Wembley in the Phil Scott Colts competition in the Perth Football League and was picked to line up at centre half back in his debut. Germain earned a spot in the Tigers side after his outstanding early season form with Albany in the Great Southern Football League. Germain is among a three-way tie at the top of the Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year award, having polled two best on ground performances in the opening five rounds. The young gun was named to start in the centre in his debut game. Clark is also a rising star with the Sharks in the GSFL. Their inclusions take the Great Southern representation to six in this week’s colts team. They joined Lucas Ravenhill (North Albany), Rory Luscombe (Royals) and Lachlan Cale (Railways) as the Tigers made it seven straight wins. Fixtures out for annual country championships Fixtures have been released for this year’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships in Perth. The CBH Group colts competition will be held on July 11 and 12 while the senior men’s divisions will be contested between July 12-14. Great Northern, Avon-Mortlock, Peel, Regional Districts, Great Southern, South West and Kimberley will make up the colts division played at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah. There will be three senior divisions played around the metro area before the championship finals will be decided on Sunday, July 14 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in Leederville. Division one sides playing are Goldfields, Peel, Upper Great Southern, Avon and South West. Ongerup, Mortlock, North Pilbara, Central Midlands Coastal, Eastern Districts and Great Northern make up division two. Division three will consist of Great Southern, Onshore Cup, North Midlands, Central Wheatbelt, Hills and Esperance. Got a footy story from our region to share? Email cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com