Country Championships: Great Southern Storm recall the big guns in pursuit of Country Championships glory

A much-bolstered Great Southern Storm are hoping for a successful Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships this week despite being plunged into the tournament’s “group of death”. The Storm will square off with Great Southern Colts Carnival winners of the past two years Peel Cavaliers and powerhouse arch-rivals South West in their pool games. However, with huge cavalry returning to the Storm side who missed out on the carnival in Kulin last month, including Gus and George Bockman, star swingman Ryan Lazar, defender Aiden Clark and ruck Tobyn Lowry, coach Darrell Panizza believes his side boasts the potential to go deep into the tournament. “We have seven new players who missed out through injury and they’ve all been playing league footy so it probably strengthens our team,” Panizza said. “There is a cross section of ages again and they’re the kids that really put the effort in and want to play so they’re the ones you want to take away. “Tobyn Lowry will add something for us as a ruck-forward so that’s probably what we were lacking, is someone to actually straighten us up going forward “Ryan Lazar has been in outstanding form and can either play forward and back and George Bockman can kick goals. “Aiden Clark gives us a bit more run and strength in the backline so we just get that little bit extra out on the field.” Despite having a much-improved squad, Panizza is under no Illusions about the championships’ difficulty, particularly given they must lock horns with Peel, South West, Regional Districts and Kimberley in their qualifying games. “We always go to win but it’s a totally different carnival to Kulin and it’s just another step up and not a little step either,” he said. “You’re basically playing against players from colts level in Perth and it’s just a little bit harder. “You’ve got 40 minutes to play, so if you’re not switched on you can get torched in the first 20 minutes, so we just got to make sure we start well and build into the carnival. “We would expect we’re going to go there in a positive mode and will see how we go in the first game.” The team possesses a wealth of experience with nearly all players playing league football for their Great Southern Football League clubs so far this season. GSFL reigning league premiers and current ladder leaders Albany are the strongest represented side with nine players while Panizza’s club Royals have eight. Hard-nosed Lions midfielder Jordan Hulm and Railways winger Caleb Haua will co-captain the strong 27-man squad. Their campaign begins on Thursday at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah against South West at 11.30am before they square off with Regional Districts at 2.30pm. On Friday they take on Peel at Sir Ross McLarty Oval in Pinjarra at 10am followed by Kimberley at 1pm with the final played at 4pm at the same venue. The colts division is part of the four-day annual championships played across Perth. Great Southern Storm Team 2. Kaleb Germain (Albany) 3. Marlon Mastalerz (Denmark-Walpole) 4. Milan Jaggi (Railways) 5. Mitchell Paine (Royals) 6. Harvey Taylor (Albany) 7. Jared Ballard (Mt Barker) 8. Ben Michael (Railways) 9. Evan Delbene (Albany) 10. Fynn Kelleher-Bird (North Albany) 11. Jaiden Mole (Royals) 12. Jack Carlson (Royals) 13. Ryan Lazar (Royals) 14. Charlie Benson (Denmark-Walpole) 15. Caleb Haua (Railways) 16. Jordan Hulm (Royals) 17. Joley Graham (Royals) 19. Teague Valli (Royals) 20. Max Grimes (Albany) 21. Aiden Clark (Albany) 23. Gus Bockman (Albany) 24. George Bockman (Albany) 25. Jarrod Pearce (Mt Barker) 26. Trent Herbert (Railways) 27. Brock Zambonetti (Royals) 28. Brock Pearce (Mt Barker) 29. Flynn Jackman (Railways) 30. Tobyn Lowry (Albany)