‘Utter disappointment’ as 2021 Nutrien Ag Country Football Championships in Perth cancelled due to lockdown

Royals star Kylie Douglas says she was in “disbelief” when she heard that the Women’s Country Football Championships had been cancelled because of a snap COVID-19 lockdown. The Women’s Country Football Championships were scheduled to be played this weekend, before the CBH Group Colts Championships on July 8-10 and the Nutrien Ag Country Football Championships on July 9-11. However all three competitions have been called off after a COVID-19 outbreak in Perth triggered a four-day lockdown of the metropolitan and Peel regions this week. In a statement on Tuesday, WA Football Commission country football manager Tom Bottrell described the cancellation as an “extremely difficult decision”. The Great Southern Football League was set to send its first women’s side away to the championships this weekend. A strong squad was assembled to represent the league, to be coached by Colin Pass and captained by this year’s GSFLW fairest and best, Royals midfielder Douglas. Douglas said it was heartbreaking to hear the competition had been scrapped. “I was in disbelief and then utter disappointment when I found out the news,” she said. “I think everyone who knows me knows I love my footy, so of course this opportunity was one I was super-excited to be a part of. “I was really excited to be able to take the younger crew up and give them a shot to be seen by WAFLW, and AFLW scouts that maybe wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see them play. “I’m old now in footy terms and my days of playing competitive football are numbered, so to have an opportunity to travel and represent the GSFLW in a country championships style competition was a privilege for me. “It was something that I was working hard to achieve and make the most of, both in terms of my own game and the experience for the whole team.” The GSFL was ready to send a strong senior team to Perth coached by Andrew Ruck and featuring the likes of former AFL player Brett Peake. The Great Southern Storm, coached by Glynn Verbruggen, have also lost the opportunity to play in the colts championship.