GSFLW 2024: Mt Barker flag heroes Georgia Kowald, Kaitlin Eades and Sheridan Kowald represent WA Country women

Three Great Southern Football League Women’s premiership winners represented the New Holland Women’s WA Country Team who drew with Perth Football League in a dramatic finish on Friday night. Mt Barker’s 2024 grand final fairest and best Georgia Kowald, teammate Kaitlin Eades and coach Sheridan Kowald, all hailing from Katanning, pulled on the yellow and black colours in the country team. The reignited annual State fixture was played out at Gil Fraser Reserve on Friday evening and after leading for most of the first half, the WA Country were forced to settle for a draw. Down by one straight kick in the final minutes, Georgia Kowald played a crucial role in the ruck with her enormous stoppage work leading to a deep-driven clearance before Kate Bartlett converted the equalising goal. The Bulls star ruck also booted a crucial goal in the second term in the 8.2 (50) to 7.8 (50) gridlock. It was the second time Georgia Kowald and Eades have represented WA Country with Sheridan Kowald taking the reins as assistant coach. Georgia Kowald said it was special to share the field with her fellow Bulls teammate and sister Sheridan Kowald. “I really enjoyed playing with Kaitlin (Eades) and under Sheridan (Kowald) and it was just a really good experience for us girls to play State,” she said. “It’s just a whole different ball game. “Kaitlin played amazing out of position in the forward line and Sheridan was incredible at pumping the girls up and getting us excited.” The 26-year-old ruck said last week that the State match would be one of her last ahead of a third knee reconstruction later this month. “I have one more game left in me because I just can’t keep killing my body,” Georgia Kowald said. “It was a very rough game and very defensive and contested. “The whole game in itself was really tough, we came out firing and then there were a few changes made that let us down a little bit. “Late it was very ping pong footy and played between the arcs and very defensive and we just didn’t have that forward connection. “The result wasn’t the one we were after but at the end of the day it wasn’t a bad result.” The trio are now tied up together at South Bunbury in the South West Football League and played in a 7.6 (48) to 1.0 (6) win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault on Sunday.