Two wins and three players in all-star team caps solid campaign for Uppers at Great Southern Colts Carnival

Upper Great Southern finished on a strong note, claiming fifth place at the Great Southern Colts Carnival with a 51-point victory over Lower South West in Kulin on Sunday. The Rams were one of eight teams competing at the annual two-day carnival and finished with two wins from their four games while three players were also selected in the Great Southern 20 after stellar individual performances. On Sunday, the Rams played off for fifth and sixth place where they were far too strong for Lower South West, kicking six unanswered goals after half-time. Lower South West trimmed the margin to 13 points at the long break but the Rams produced a superb second half to run out victors 11.9 (75) to 3.6 (24) and end the tournament on a high – highlighted by a five goal haul from key forward Noah Logie. The Rams started brightly on Saturday but a narrow loss to Esperance and then a heavy defeat at the hands of eventual champions Peel ended their hopes of replicating last year’s third-placed result. Peel held the Rams to only three goals in the 50-point loss on Saturday and earlier the Rams had more scoring shots against Esperance but went down by three points. The Rams led by 10 points at half-time but were defeated 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31). A strong defensive display from the Rams kept Eastern Districts to a goal in each half as they won their opening clash by 29 points. Riley Holden and Logie booted two goals in each in the 6.7 (43) to 2.2 (14) victory. At the end of the carnival Wickepin pair Riley Holden and Flynn Spark and Williams’ Noah Logie were picked in the all-star team. Holden and Logie kicked seven and nine goals respectively and Spark was a driving force in the midfield. The Rams had South Fremantle awards given out for the carnival with composed Narrogin player Kacey Beard the best defender, Spark the best midfielder and Holden the best forward. Narrogin’s Finn Synott was named the overall best player after being a standout in the ruck for the Rams across all four games. Coach Gavin de Gruchy said it was disappointing not being able to replicate the overall finish of 2023 but was proud of his group’s performances. “To rebound strongly against LSWFL, finishing off with a win and fifth overall demonstrated great attitude, character and resilience amongst the group,” he said. “I thought that the difference between the sides finishing third, fourth and fifth was marginal, highlighting that we had two more scoring shots against Esperance . . . results could have been different.”