West Coast Eagles champion Matt Priddis shines in footy return playing for Lake Grace-Pingrup in Big Freeze clash

Brownlow medallist and West Coast Eagles champion Matt Priddis starred in his return to the football field but it was not enough to get Lake Grace-Pingrup across the line in round five of the Ongerup Football Association league competition last Saturday. Priddis came out of retirement to be part of the fourth annual Big Freeze event at Lake Grace, but the home side went down by 33 points to reigning premiers Boxwood Hill. The 2014 Brownlow Medal winner started in the midfield for Lake Grace-Pingrup after being presented with his No.15 jumper by president Shane Carruthers, who asked him to come down for the event, and injured player-coach Luke Bairstow. After taking a few minutes to get accustomed to the brand of footy, Priddis was one of the best players on the ground. The 35-year-old played in the middle for most of the day and was named Lake Grace-Pingrup’s best player in the defeat. Bairstow said Priddis was fantastic both on and off the field for his club. “It was a hell of a crowd and he took about 10 minutes to pick our pace up,” Bairstow said. “There was no mucking around. He started on the ball and was keen to stay there after he mentioned finishing at the Eagles at half-forward. “Below his knees, he was so clean and just one grab and he played his part big-time. He’s one of the best (high-profile) players we’ve had down and is such a genuine fella. “There wouldn’t have been one kid that didn’t get a signature from him and they even auctioned off a dance with him later that night.” Boxwood Hill emerged victorious in the Big Freeze game, after kicking with the wind in the final term to run out 33-point winners. Scores were level at quarter-time before Boxwood took control in the second term and went into the main break 21 points up. Lake Grace-Pingrup dragged themselves back into the contest with three unanswered goals in the third but still trailed by five points at the last change. Boxwood booted four goals to nil in the last to secure a 9.15 (69) to 5.6 (36) win, securing second spot and a berth in this Saturday’s second semifinal against Gnowangerup. Brock Ramsay, Edward Moir and Alex Baum were terrific for the winners while Hayden Richter, Beau Vaux and George Bungey all kicked two majors. Priddis was highly influential in the middle of the ground and well supported by Lake Grace-Pingrup teammates Alex Duckworth and Mitch O’Neill while Tyson Prater bagged two goals up forward. “It was really good fun,” Priddis said after the game. “It was a really good standard too, good young fellas running around and having a good time so I’m looking forward to next year. “It’s a beautiful day, good community, everyone has got a big smile on their face and that’s what it’s all about.” The annual Big Freeze clash between Lake Grace-Pingrup and Boxwood Hill has raised more than $215,000 for motor neurone disease research over four years. West Coast premiership player Quinten Lynch featured in last year’s match for Boxwood Hill before hitting the slide in his full playing kit. More than $65,000 has already been donated during this year’s event. You can donate through the FightMND fundraiser page here. Meanwhile in the weekend’s other OFA fixture, Jerramungup won their first game of the season by 18 points to claim fourth spot. Newdegate and the Eagles were winless heading into the clash but four goals from Jedd Siviour and strong performances from Kym Brown and Ben Hislop guided the Eagles across the line. Kim Newman kicked three majors for the Lions while David Newman and Harvey Lynch played well but the home side’s season was ended, 6.9 (45) to 9.9 (63). The first semifinal between Lake Grace-Pingrup and the Eagles will be on Sunday at Newdegate while the second semifinal will be on Saturday in Lake Grace.