Erica Trotter makes Country Week Carnival history with win

Railways captain Erica Trotter has landed in the history books as the winner of the women’s first Country Week Carnival Fairest and Best.

The Great Northern Football League team captain led Geraldton to second place in the inaugural Female Country Football Championships, while impressing on the midfield with her tackling, ball winning and leadership.

Trotter is no stranger to heading a successful team, having been captain when Railways stormed through the GNFL women’s inaugural season last year undefeated and took home the grand final.

Her efforts were complemented by vice captain Mikala Cooper, who sparked much of Geraldton’s scoring opportunities and was deemed the team’s Fairest and Best by coaches Cobber Headland and Illia Battistessa.

GNFL operations manager Alex Bunney said the bus ride home was brimming with excitement.

“The girls were celebrating like it was a win,” Bunney said.

“Coming second place in that group of talent, particularly with competitors like Peel who have their own WAFL women’s side, was pretty exceptional.”

During the championships, Brigades player Ella-Kae Dalgety sustained an ankle injury.

The GNFWL, which had a league-wide bye at the weekend, will return on July 13 with two games at GBSC Sports Park.

Brigades will play Railways at 2pm and Rovers will face Towns at 3.30pm.

Chapman Valley and Northampton have a bye.

RESULTS

GNFL 18 def PEEL 14. Goal kickers: M. Bain, J. Phillips, M. Cooper. Best players: M. Bain, K. Singh McConnell, E. Trotter, M. Cooper.

SOUTH WEST 68 def GNFL 2. Best players: G. Cable, M. Cooper, S. McKay, M. Bain.

GNFL 22 def GOLDFIELDS 6. Goal kickers: J. Phillips, J. Giudice-Nairn, C. Zappara. Best players: A. Anderson , J. Phillips, C. Zappara, E. Trotter.

GNFL 42 def PILBARA 6. Goal kickers: M. Johnston 3, J. Phillips 2, M. Cooper. Best players: J. Phillips, H. Corlett, E. Trotter, M. Cooper.