UGSFL 2025: Warriors celebrating league premiership victory after outlasting Hawks in absorbing grand final

Wickepin ended years of grand final pain, as they broke through for a long-awaited Upper Great Southern Football League premiership on Sunday. A determined Warriors side claimed their first league flag since 2008, having lost five grand finals since then including a one-point loss to Boddington in 2022. Up against Narrogin in the decider in front of a big crowd at Quartermaine Oval, the Warriors booted five goals to two in the opening half to set up their 25-point victory. Warriors player-coach Dion Anthony was brilliant, shaking close attention to boot three goals from the midfield, and spearhead Kayle Kirby was dynamite in the front half with six majors. The Hawks launched a final-term comeback with four goals but the Warriors kept finding answers, Kirby booting two clutch goals to hand his side a memorable 11.9 (75) to 7.8 (50) result. Hard-running half-forward Ryan Melvin was key to the Warriors getting a strong start and he was awarded the George Warren Medal as best on ground. Kirby had a day out with 6.3 as the Warriors key forward while the performances of Anthony and David Roche were also outstanding. Anthony said he was extremely proud of his team and ecstatic for the Wickepin community to achieve a premiership after years of heartache. “I’m just so proud to have got the job done, for the players that play but also the community, it’s a small town, Wickepin, and they just love their footy,” he said. “I’m just so happy, there’s boys that have come out here without getting paid for 10 to 15 years driving from Perth, two of them have lost five grand finals, another couple have lost four, so to be able to get the result for them in the community just means so much. “I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to coach them.” Anthony kicked the first two goals of the game, as the Warriors led by 12 points at the first break. Kirby had his first goal early in the second before Declan Phillips broke the drought for the Hawks. But Phillips came off with a serious shoulder injury and didn’t return, in a major blow to the Hawks’ hopes in the second half. Kirby had kicked his second and a Jordan Heil miss after the siren proved costly as the Warriors held a 17-point buffer at half-time. The Warriors skipped clear in the third term, as Kirby took his tally to four and Anthony kicked another after his side took the ball from defence to attack as the Hawks wasted their chances forward of centre. A late Coen Jackman major left the Hawks with some hope, trailing by 29 points at the last change. Kadence Flanagan sparked life into the game with two early majors for the Hawks in the fourth before Kirby responded with his fifth. Jackman and then a classy finish from Byron Blevin on the run got the margin back to 12 points as the Hawks kept coming. Roche made life tough for the Hawks pushing the margin to 19 points and fittingly, Kirby sealed the deal, bagging his sixth and turning to salute to the crowd as his side tasted long-awaited premiership success. Ruckman Sam Fortini was superb all day while Miles Franklin, Kendal Ballard and Regan Wilson shone in defence for the Warriors. Heil worked tirelessly all afternoon and midfielder Tom Kilpatrick came to life after half-time to give his side some much needed drive through the middle. Blevin, Fraser Goode, Declin Mumby and Flanagan were also strong contributors for the losing side.