Silky Skills on display in Western Desert Shield

A change in programming promises to be a boon for young Martu footballers in the Pilbara region.

The once-biennial spectacle held at Subiaco Oval as the curtain-raiser to the Eagles-hosted Western Derby will now be held every year. However, the game will be scheduled for the second half of the AFL’s fixtures, and played as a curtain-raiser to a game involving the West Coast Eagles and another AFL side, to be determined.

“The change of scheduling overcomes one problem and creates greater opportunities for the players,” said Telfer’s Community Relations Superintendent Leon van Erp.

“When it was the Eagles-hosted Western Derby curtain-raiser game, occasionally that meant the game had to be played early in the season, and that didn’t always ideally suit the requirements of our players from the Western Desert communities.

“Now, that problem has been overcome and, additionally, it means we will be able to host a Newcrest Mining Western Desert Shield game every season. I expect the communities will be delighted with that news.

“We are also most appreciative of the WA Football Commission and the West Coast Eagles for their understanding and support in meeting our needs,” Leon said.

This year’s Newcrest Mining Western Desert Shield game, between the Western Desert

Warriors and the Ngarda Goannas prior to the Eagles’ clash against St Kilda, was another fine example of the rare and raw Indigenous talent emanating from the Western Desert and adjoining regions in the far north of WA.

The Goannas comprise players from the southern and western areas of the Pilbara, while the Western Warriors come from communities up to 600km further to the east.

Many of them learn and play their football in raw conditions, and are accustomed to running, jumping, kicking and bouncing the ball on red dirt ovals, where boots hinder more than help.

Their style of play is quick and slick and, while natural skills abound, they rarely engage in an abundance of tenacious, ferocious, full-blooded tackles, as they prefer to fly, duck and weave, rather than heave.

For the record: The game ended in a draw. In addition to Newcrest’s major sponsorship, the event is supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation, Ngarda Civil and Mining, and Eurest Support Services.