GFL coach backing his players to end 34-year title drought in Perth

Dual Mitchell medallist Cale Delbridge and his Mines Rovers teammates, Silver Yousif and Sam Burge, are among five late inclusions to the Goldfields Football League’s division one side contesting the annual Nutrien Ag Solutions country championships in Perth, starting on Friday.

Boulder’s Jake George and Kalgoorlie’s Cuba Garlett also come into the side, after Fraser Softley, Dylan Clarke, Bryce Fiorentino, Jordan Angus, and Sam Stubbs were each ruled out after being originally named.

Stubbs, who is batting a hamstring strain, leaves arguably the biggest hole as the local competition’s leading forward with 42 goals, tied with Boulder player-coach Scott Worthington.

But GFL coach Bill Hansen on Thursday said he was confident that he had the cattle across each line to mount a big push for the region’s first division one title in 34 years.

“We’re very confident with the group we have, especially with our back line and centre-liners, who I believe are as good as anything going around,” Hansen said.

“A weak point may be in a key position, without Sam Stubbs at full-forward and Jordon Reid at centre-half-forward.

“But we have Amar (Elnour) who is quite versatile, and he’ll hold down a key position.

“And young Charlie Scafidi has played in those key positions for Mines as well, so it’s a great opportunity for that young bloke to show his worth and present a target for us.”

Hansen said that the group was committed to ending the long drought.

“It’s been way too long — especially when you consider the talent we’ve had, and the reputation of our competition over many years,” he said.

“That’s the biggest disappointment over the 34 years, and not to be winning the top division is a dampener and a downer for our league, that’s for sure.”

GFL last claimed division one honours in 1992 with a team coached by former Claremont, Perth and Footscray winger Allen Daniels that trounced Eastern Districts in the A-section final by 65 points at Subiaco Oval.

That match was played as the curtain-raiser to an AFL clash between West Coast and Sydney and is the first and only time the GFL has won WA regional football’s top crown.

That success occurred after the GFL were division one runners-up in 1988 and 1991, but a disappointing 1993 campaign resulted in the GFL being absent for the next nine years.

Twenty-eight players named for the 2026 series is in line with Hansen’s efforts to ensure sufficient depth and versatility across an initial four qualifying games in two days.

GFL launches its campaign on Friday against Avon and Great Southern, with both games at Lane Group Stadium, starting at noon and 3pm, respectively.

The side then plays Peel and South West the next day at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, at 11am and 1pm, respectively.

Finals in all three senior divisions will be played on July 12 at the same venue.

The 2026 program marks the carnival’s 60th anniversary.

GFL TEAM:

From Kalgoorlie:

Bailey Norris; Brock Deinobili; Tex McLeod; Ryan Macdonald (vice-captain); Cuba Garlett.

From Boulder:

Koopah Todd; Bronson Bishop; Tom Coughlan; Ethan Sambo; Zach Barrett; Jordan Hooks (captain); Callum Johnson; Alec Johnson; Ethan Bentley; Kobe Chrisp; Jake George.

From Railways:

Josh Clements; Kailen Leahy; Harrison Soraggi; Alijaah Evans.

From Mines Rovers:

Charlie Scafidi; Amar Elnour; Cale Delbridge; Silver Yousif; Sam Burge.

From Kambalda:

Ben Rioli; Jake Turner; Zaid Buckland.