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The 2009 Landmark Country Football Championships

By Mike McGuire

In a fortnight’s time, the 2009 Landmark Country Football Championships will begin, with the best players from the countryside’s of Western Australia set to do battle with one-another from July 9-12.

The 2009 Carnival was launched at Subiaco on Wednesday 24th June by WACFL General Manager Cameron Knapton and Landmark State Manager David Timmel.

Former Landmark All-Star Toby Bairstow also made an appearance at Wednesday’s launch to share his various carnival experiences. Toby’s dad and former Geelong AFL player, Mark Bairstow was also involved in the carnival event, back in the day and played in the Upper Great Southern Football League. Bairstow was amongst the cream of the crop as he managed to break his way into the All-Australian Country team.  The feat is even more remarkable considering he was also the coach at his club the UGS.

Toby wasn’t overshadowed by his father’s impressive achievements however and managed to make the WA Country All-Stars side and is presently playing for WAFL side, South Fremantle.

Toby will be among the spectators who will be watching the Landmark Carnival this year and mentioned that the carnival is something his family has always followed and been apart of and that it was something that they were all proud of.

The 2009 Championships will also be the first where the bottom and top placed team from across the three divisions from last year’s competition will be relegated and promoted.

Last year saw the South West Football League take out the A-Division title, defeating the Avon Football Association in a goal scoring frenzy which included SWFL player Brad Hardingham booting an incredible ten goals for the game.

Another success story to come out of last year’s A-Division Grand Final was Jamie Bennell, who also represented the SWFL and has since been drafted by the Melbourne Footy Club due to his efforts throughout the 2008 Landmark Carnival but especially in the grand final where he showcased his contested marking ability.

As the teams prepare their final squads for the four-day battle in July, the rest of us shouldn’t be surprised if we were to see one or more of the players on our television screens one day.