Masterful footy: Margaret River players bring home medals

The Margaret River Hawks Masters Football Club is celebrating some big success following their stellar appearance at the National Carnival earlier this month.

A total of 12 members of the club travelled north for the competition, tackling some hard-fought games in the Fremantle heat.

Their efforts resulted in seven gold medals coming home to Margaret River.

Spokesperson Jessica McFarlane said eight local women and four men ran out for Team Western Australia, competing across three age divisions, “the largest representation from Margaret River in a national carnival to date”.

“Five Margaret River women took to the field in the inaugural Over 35 ‘New to Footy’ team and took out the gold medal against Victoria and won the national championship for Team WA,” explained Jessica, who was also the Captain of this team, alongside fellow players Sophie Bahen, Alana Norton, Tahnee Abbott and Asti Jorgensen.

To enter the division, players must be in their first two seasons of Masters Football.

“All games were convincingly won to allow us to be the first ever winners of ‘New to Footy’.

“Thanks goes to the team jumper sponsor – Viewhealth Chemo@Home.”

Three local women competed in the Over 40’s for Team WA and came away in second place after a hard fought last game where they kept NSW to their lowest score of the carnival.

Maegan Anthony scored an impressive goal in the fourth quarter to give NSW a scare as she was joined by team members Shelley Joyce and Amy Smith.

Shayne Joyce, Coach of the Women’s Hawks 2024 Masters team competed in the over 40s men’s competition and “wiped the floor, taking out all their opponents with huge margins” on Saturday, defeating Tasmania in the Grand Final to take out the national championship.

Joyce has previously represented Australia in Ireland for Masters Football.

Brett Anthony competed in the Over 45s, where Team WA came away with a huge win against a combined Victoria and ACT team.

Jessica said the National Carnival would next be held in 2025 in Darwin.

“We encourage people interested in playing football to keep an eye out for pre-season information on our Facebook page, and join in the fun, fitness and friendship that football brings.”

To find out more about Hawks Masters Football, visit www.facebook.com/Margaretrivermasters