Our brightest stars: Peel Football LeagueThursday, June 4, 2020 - 3:25 PM

Western Australia has a proud history of developing elite football talent, with many of the game’s brightest stars beginning their careers at local junior football clubs right across the State.

In a series of articles highlighting the rich talent pool in WA over the years, Lenny Fogliani takes a closer look at the best current and former WAFL and AFL players to emerge from junior clubs in WA’s regions and districts.

This article focusses on junior clubs in the Peel Football League.

Photo: Hayden Ballantyne. AFL Media

PEEL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Peel Football League is a country football league based in the Peel region of Western Australia. It was formed in 1992 after Clubs from the Metropolitan Football League and Murray Districts Football League merged.

There are currently seven clubs which compete in the Senior competition – Baldivis Brumbies, Halls Head Lightning, Mandurah Mustangs, Mundijong Centrals, Pinjarra Tigers, Rockingham Rams, South Mandurah Falcons, and Waroona Demons.

Baldivis, Halls Head, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Rockingham, South Mandurah and Waroona also field teams in the junior competition. North Mandurah, Port Kennedy, Safety Bay, Secret Harbour and Warnbro also compete in the junior competition.

To find your local junior club, please click here.

A number of great players have come from the Peel football region. Below are some of the most notable.

HAYDEN BALLANTYNE – BALDIVIS

Affectionately nicknamed “Frodo” Ballantyne was a star for the Fremantle Dockers between 2009 and 2019. Across 11 seasons, Ballantyne played 171 games (14th most by a Docker) and kicked 254 goals (3rd most by a Docker). Throughout his career he won Life Membership at Fremantle (2017), All-Australian selection (2014 – forward pocket), a Leading Goalkicker Award (2014: 49 goals), an International Rules guernsey (2015), the AFL Goal of the Year (2011) and had four top-ten placings in Fremantle’s Best and Fairest (2011: 9th, 2013: 8th, 2014: 5th, 2016: 6th). Prior to being drafted, Ballantyne was a star for Peel in the WAFL. In 2008, he won the Sandover Medal, Peel’s Best and Fairest, Peel’s Goalkicking Award and finished second in the Bernie Naylor Medal.

NATHAN WILSON – MANDURAH CENTRALS

Of Noongar heritage, Wilson has gone on to become a reliable rebounding defender since his debut in 2012. In eight seasons, he has played 116 games (39 with Fremantle and 77 with GWS), and currently averages 15 possessions, 4 marks and 4 rebounding 50s. He has represented the Indigenous All-Stars twice in 2013 and 2015, and in 2018 he finished sixth in Fremantle’s Best and Fairest Award. Prior to this season, Wilson was rated as Fremantle’s third best defender behind Luke Ryan and Joel Hamling, and Fremantle’s seventh best player overall.

JAMES CLEMENT – NORTH MANDURAH JFC

Currently a Director at the Fremantle Dockers, Clement was a great key defender for both Fremantle and Collingwood. In twelve seasons, Clement played 230 games (84 for Fremantle and 146 for Collingwood) and averaged 14 possessions and 5 marks. During his time at the Magpies, he won two Best and Fairests (2004 and 2005) and had a further four top ten placings (2001: 7th, 2002: 3rd, 2003: 9th, 2006: 2nd). During his playing career, he also won two All-Australian guernseys (2004: interchange, 2005: back pocket), represented Australia in the International Rules Series in 2002, and represented WA in State of Origin on two occasions (1997 and 1998).

SABRINA FREDERICK - PINJARRA

Of Antiguan and Jamaican descent, Frederick is one of the most recognised footballers in the NAB AFL Women’s competition. Across four seasons, Frederick has played 29 games (23 with Brisbane and 6 with Richmond), kicked 18 goals and currently averages 10 possessions, 4 tackles and 3 marks. Her 2017 campaign was memorable as she won All-Australian selection as the centre half-forward, represented the Allies in State of Origin, finished second in the NAB AFLW Rising Star Award and finished second in the Lions’ Best and Fairest. She also won All-Australian selection in 2018 (centre half-forward) and had a further two top-ten placings in the Best and Fairest Count (2018: 5th in B&F, 2019: 7th).

RORY O’BRIEN - PINJARRA

One of the greatest players in the WAFL in the modern era, O’Brien was a star for both East Fremantle and Peel Thunder. He has played the most games by a Peel player with 139, and also played 108 games with East Fremantle for a total of 247 WAFL games. He is most noted for winning the 2013 Sandover Medal after he averaged 31 possessions, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s and 4 tackles across 20 games. O’Brien won two Best and Fairest Awards with Peel (2006, 2010), three Best and Fairest Awards with East Fremantle (2011, 2013, 2014) and represented WA in State of Origin on two occasions (2011, 2013). He was also instrumental in Peel’s Grand Final triumphs in 2016 (26 possessions, 3 tackles and 3 inside 50s) and 2017 (19 possessions, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s and 3 marks).

DANIEL WELLS – ROCKINGHAM RAMS

The cousin of former Hawthorn player Harry Miller, Wells was one of the greatest Indigenous players of the modern era. Across 17 seasons, Wells played a total of 258 games (243 with North Melbourne and 15 with Collingwood), and kicked 166 goals. His 243 games at North Melbourne places him twelfth for most games played in the Kangaroos’ history. Across his career he won two Best and Fairests (2011, 2013), represented Australia in the International Rules Series (2003, 2005, 2008, 2013), including captaining the 2013 squad, represented the Indigenous All-Stars on two occasions (2005, 2007), won the Polly Farmer Medal in 2005, won the AFLCA Best Young Player of the Year Award in 2004, the AFLPA Best First Year Player Award in 2003, and the AFL Goal of the Year in 2004. Prior to being drafted, Wells finished second in the 2002 Sandover Medal Count.

CHELSEA RANDALL – SAFETY BAY JFC

An Adelaide Football Club Community Programs Officer, Randall is one of the premier players of the AFLW competition. In her career to date, Randall has played 23 games for Adelaide, has won two AFLW premierships (2017, and 2019), three AFLW Players’ Most Courageous Award (2017, 2018, and 2019) and three All-Australian guernseys (2017: half-back flank, 2018: centre half-back, and 2019: centre half-back). In 2018, she won Adelaide’s Club Champion Award and finished third in the AFLW Best and Fairest.

PAUL BOWER – SOUTH MANDURAH

One of the few Maori Australians to play AFL football, Bower was a strong performing defender for Carlton between 2006 and 2012. In seven seasons, he played 70 games and averaged 16 possessions, 5 marks, and 3 rebounding 50s. He won the 2007 Carlton Past Players Encouragement Award after he averaged 13 possessions and 5 marks across 10 games. He also finished seventh in the 2009 Best and Fairest Count after he averaged 19 possessions, 6 marks and 3 rebounding 50s across 21 games. In 2013, Bower returned to Peel where he would finish fourth in the Best and Fairest, after he averaged 22 possessions and 8 marks.

List of notable WAFL/AFL players from the Peel Football League.