NORTHAMPTON: Historic game to give back to the communityThursday, April 28, 2022 - 3:15 PM - by Rachael Osborne

The Mid West town of Northampton is ramping up preparations for a historic WAFL double header in a bid to raise vital funds for those impacted by Tropical Cyclone Seroja, just over a year ago.? 

Thanks to the hard work of the AFL Rams (a group of current and past AFL players from the Northampton region), Northampton Football Club, East Fremantle Football Club, the WA Country Football League and the West Australian Football Commission, the Festival of Footy, as it has been dubbed, will feature a double header, with East Fremantle’s WAFLW team hosting Claremont before the Sharks WAFL League side plays East Perth at 1.30pm.? 

With giving back to the community the priority, all proceeds from the jampacked game day will be donated to the community of Northampton to support their rebuild.  

A local business, TMS has donated a considerable amount to the event and the winners of the League game between East Fremantle and East Perth will be presented with the TMS Seroja Cup.  

Spectators will be treated to a full day of football fun including Northampton hosting the Brigades in a GNFLW match in the morning, before a GNFL showdown between the same clubs at 4.20pm.? 

West Coast Eagle stars Josh Kennedy and Jaime Cripps both home grown Northampton talents, will also be making the trip, in support of their community. While the Fremantle Dockers will host a series of school clinics in the region on the Friday.  

Game day captain Matthew Jupp (East Fremantle) and Angus Schumacher (East Perth) are both excited to bring WAFL to Northampton. 

“We’ve been working towards a country game for a while now and it’s exciting to be able to give back to the community,” Jupp said. 

“We’ve got so many great players that have come from that region and currently we have our Ruckman Brynn Teakle who is from Northampton and regularly goes back there to work on the farm with his family, so it’ll be a good homecoming for him.” 

East Perth Captain, Angus Schumacher said he’s hoping to deliver a good match, with the hopes his team flies home with the four points. 

“They’ve been through a fair bit in the last year, hopefully we can give back and put some smiles on their faces and take home the win.” Schumacher said. 
 
East Fremantle Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Todd Shimmon, said he is confident the event will be a huge success.? 

“Being part of our zone, and with such a strong history of producing outstanding footballers, we believe the matches in Northampton will inspire a generation of future champions,” Shimmon said.? 

Thanks to Rio Tinto, the weekend will also see East Fremantle deliver a range of Indigenous Engagement activities including coaching, education and cultural awareness sessions and an Indigenous Leadership breakfast on Sunday 1 May prior to a Colts game between Railways and Mullewa. 

In addition, there will be Talent Squad Training, School Clinics, Umpire Education and Little League matches over the two days.? 

A tremendous amount of planning and preparation has been undertaken by the Northampton FC organising committee to ensure the event could proceed and we acknowledge the tireless work of Andrew Lockyer, Liz Sudlow, Dee Simpson, Chelsea Randwick, Larry Cripps, Damian Harris, Grady Tomelty and Andrew Pluschke. 

This event could not go ahead without the support of local businesses in the Northampton and Geraldton area, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the Shire of Northampton, Western Australian Football Commission, Great Northern Football League and Rio Tinto.