It’s been dubbed the footy factory of the desert: The Halls Creek Oval, fenced off on the town’s main street, is surrounded by car bonnet art – typically painted at the local arts centre which is just a short walk up the road.
Key points:
- The Ord Valley Magpies were officially awarded the one-point win over the Halls Creek Hawks by the WA Football Commission yesterday, after it was appealed due to a drunk umpire officiating the match
- Halls Creek Hawks are now in discussions about branching out into their own league that would take in outside communities
- Winning club president Mark Davey says he supports the idea but he doesn’t want club officials to come to it out of ‘anger’
Images of Kimberley players Sam Petrevski-Seton, Irving Mosquito, Shane McAdam and Cedric Cox are all proudly on display. They are all products of the East Kimberley Football League.
Ord River Magpies club president Mark Davey said “there’s something in the water” at the outpost, which acts as a gateway to communities such as Ringers Soak (Kundat Djaru), Balgo (Wirrimanu) and Warmun (formerly Turkey Creek).
For a side that often travels hours to home games in old cars and buses, their success in the EKFL has been sustained.
ABC Kimberley: Hannah Barry
)But an ugly incident last week at the 2021 Grand Final against the Ord Valley Magpies has the club rethinking if it’s worth the effort.
The Ord River Magpies led by a point when the final siren blew on Saturday, winning 6.7 (43) to the reigning premiers Halls Creek Hawks’ 6.6 (42).
However, the goal umpire was breathalysed after the game, where he was found to be well above the legal limit.
Supplied: Tim Lee, Lees Media
)The Hawks appealed the result of the game on that basis.
However, the WA Football Commission announced yesterday that the result would stand.
“Following detailed examination of the match-day vision and consultation with the West Australian Football Commission, a professional finding was reached to maintain the result, meaning the Ord River Magpies remain 2021 Premiers,” executive manager Tom Bottrell said.
Mixed reactions see frustrations boil
Davey said the whole saga had been unpleasant for everyone involved.
“A lot of players didn’t get the opportunity to go up and collect the medallions, as you normally do … it would be nice to have done that at the time.”
For Hawks coach Craig Dempsey, it’s left a bad taste.
“It’s years of frustration,” Dempsey said.
Following the loss, the Hawks and their fan base have floated starting their own league, taking to social media to invite interested parties to talk about the idea at a meeting next week.
Concerns around hours-long trips, ongoing time commitments and associated costs have long been concerns for regional clubs, with some communities from the East Kimberley previously bowing out of the competition due to ongoing issues.
Dempsey said it was time they reconsidered their position.
Support for secession
Supplied: Michael Dawson
)Davey said that he supports the formation of a new league, which would cater to the dozens of small communities nearby and dramatically reduces travel times.
“You have teams for Balgo, Bililuna and other teams that used to play — like Mulan, Ringers Soak — they can’t be expected to travel that distance to Halls Creek for a home game and then have to go all the other way to get to Kununurra for another game,” Davey said.
He said he was also concerned about player and fan safety on the roads post-match, as people had to drive several hundred kilometres home.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
“We should have looked at this a lot sooner. These guys now have enough players and enough teams to make their own league.
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
