Brigades coach Cory Foot credits team connection & colts’ role behind success as GNFL minor premiers

While it quickly became evident Brigades coach Cory Foot had a finals-bound Great Northern Football League side, his team has exceeded expectations.

Either Railways or Rovers were thought likely for the minor flag but the Hawks, with nine successive wins, won the race.

“It’s surprised me a bit,” Foot said.

“Our aim was to blood as much youth as possible and hope results would follow, but the truth is all four finals sides have a great chance of winning it.

“The win (in round seven) against Rovers was where we got self-belief we could beat anyone, but there is no magic wand.

“We connected as a group, a lot of colts stepped up, and we got good players from elsewhere.”

He said tomorrow’s final qualifier at GBSC Sports Park against Railways would be another timely test ahead of the season’s business end.

“We match up evenly, there’s parts of the ground where we’re strong and vice-versa,” he said.

“But their midfield is deep and we’ll have to work hard there with rotations as needed.”

Foot could not say if Dale Williamson would play but regardless, he is one of seven players with 10 or more goals.

Williamson has 61 goals, but Kaiden Dann, with 34, has shown he’s among the other options.

“Dale’s available, but whether we play him I can’t say until I talk with the other coaches,” Foot said.

“He’s kept himself fit and we might use him off the bench. I really don’t know at the moment.

“Kaiden’s goal kicking gets noticed but we have others we can throw up forward.

“We don’t want to rely on one or two players but what we like about Kaiden is his tackle count, where he excels.”

Another player who has shone, though he has flown under the radar, is Jack Deschamp.

“He’s from Bunbury and here with his work, a keen water-polo player as well and really, it’s just luck he’s with us.

“He’s fit in well, he’s tough and from the South West league which is high quality.

“We’ve been lucky with injuries.

“We’ve lost Llewyn Valli, a good colt who’s a lockdown backman, which is a pity as he was doing well but otherwise we’re OK and fingers crossed, we’ll stay healthy.”

The other game is at Purcher International Oval where Northampton play Towns.

Without discounting Towns, Norths should win handily and that will do.

A top-two finish will also exceed their pre-season expectations.