Diorites looking to make up ground on Railways, ahead of GFL resumption

Mines Rovers will look to make up valuable ground against Railways this Saturday in their bid for a top-two finish when fixtures resume in the Goldfields Football League.

Following last weekend’s general bye for the annual Nutrien Ag Solutions country championships in Perth, Mines Rovers trail the second-placed Panthers by two games.

And with seven rounds of the qualifiers remaining, the Diorites’ prospects could hinge on the fitness of player-coach Sam Stubbs, who boasts a competition-best 42 goals but has been sidelined with a hamstring strain.

In two head-to-head battles this season, Railways have prevailed on both occasions, but the winning margins have been just four points and 13 points.

Railways have eight wins — a game and percentage adrift of Boulder, ahead of an anticipated clash of the top sides on July 25.

Also this Saturday, Kalgoorlie will chase a fourth win of the season against Kambalda at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre.

Kalgoorlie have won both clashes against the Eagles in 2026 and turned in their best performance of the season in round 12 when they upset Boulder by five points.

Stubbs and Boulder player-coach Scott Worthington are currently tied on 42 goals for the Dick Robinson Medal, awarded to the GFL’s leading goal kicker — six clear of Railways’ Josh Clements.

Boulder’s Michael Mallard (30 goals), Railways’ Cody Grace (23), and Mines Rovers’ Daniel Stubbs (19) round out the top-six.

Boulder officially celebrate the club’s 130th anniversary in the August 15 derby clash against Mines Rovers, when players will wear special-edition guernseys.

The jumpers will include the names of the Tigers’ life members and fairest-and-best winners and will be auctioned off after the derby clash at Digger Daws Oval.

A concise anniversary book, covering every era of WA’s oldest country football club, is also being produced.

The 130th anniversary program starts on August 14 at the clubrooms with a meet-and-greet and casual dinner.

Since their inception in 1896, Boulder has won 28 league flags — the last in 2023 when they held off Railways in an epic grand final by two points.

It broke a heartbreaking run of four consecutive grand final defeats for the yellow-and-blacks and delivered coach Aaron Sweet his first flag since taking the helm in 2019.