Great Northern women’s squad dialed in on big prize after missing grand final for past two years

Country week coach Nathan Johansen is feeling confident in the squad of 25 he has picked as Great Northern prepare to head to Mandurah for the women’s country championships next week. The 2024 Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championship women’s division will be held in Mandurah from October 3-4, with Great Northern looking to go better then their campaign last year. In 2023 the Geraldton women brought a historic upset over South West, becoming the first team in the competition’s decade to hand them a loss. However, the side missed out on finals due to percentage and finished in third place for a second straight year but coach Johansen is eyeing the big fish this year. “We’ve got to set our sights on the highest goal, and that’s to get to the grand final,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty strong squad, training pretty hard over the last few months and really ramped it up over the last four-week period.” With their first slate of games on the Thursday featuring a new and old foe, they are preparing for everything. “(Peel) are up from division 2, so they’re a bit of an unknown for us,” Johansen said. “We know what (South West) are going to provide in competition, so we’re ready for them.” They will then face the Kimberley on Friday, a side they have struggled with in the past. Johansen is coming with a clear game plan this time around. “We’ve gone with a taller squad which I think might help up against the Kimberley, because I think that’s where we’ve been done before, with a lack of height we’ve been outplayed,” he said. “With a bit more height in the squad, I think that’s where we can get on top of them and hopefully come away with the three wins.” The squad will feature a new captain with last year’s leader opting out of the position — instead filling a new role. “Little bit of a changing of the guard. Jess Giudice-Nairn stepped down from her captaincy role to take a on field coaching role, she’s sort of my eyes and ears on the ground,” Johansen said. “That’s going to be massive for us, leadership, guidance, and experience — you can’t buy that. “I could see her taking over that head coach role in years to come when she finishes playing, so it’s going to be super handy. “The games are played in two 20 minute halves, they’re really quick, really dynamic . . . so to have Jess out there, she’s going to see more than we will on the bench.” With Giudice-Nairn stepping down, the role of captain was left open. Johansen said that the new leader was a fair replacement. “Taylah Broadhurst, who was vice-captain last year, has been nominated captain for the carnival — she’s a really strong leader, leads well at her local club, has been really prominent at the training sessions,” he said. “Our vice-captains, we’ve gone with the defender in Lani Paradella from Towns and our other Towns player, who predominately plays a forward or mid role, Gemma Dix.” Their 2024 campaign will take place at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah, with their first match against Peel on October 3. “Just like to thank the sponsors and the GNFL for getting behind the ladies this year, the support there has been massive and for all the players themselves, putting in those extra training sessions,” Johansen said. “It’s really good the community support they receive . . . they’re a long way from home and to hear all the good vibes running down from up in Geraldton — it really gets the girls up and about.” Country week squad: Andie Payne (Chapman Valley), Taylah Broadhurst (C) (Chapman Valley), Cassie Green (Chapman Valley), Gemma Burges (Chapman Valley), Ruby Wallace (Chapman Valley), Maddi Broadhurst (Chapman Valley), Tayah Palmer (Chapman Valley), Geneva Johansen (Brigades), Shanelle Farmer (Brigades), Claire Garnaut (Brigades), Abby Green (Rovers), Davina Whitney (Rovers), Gemma Dix (VC) (Towns), Olivia Bidwell (Towns), Charli Bidwell (Towns), Emilee Bevan (Towns), Jorja Bevan (Towns), Keeley Hunt Svenson (Towns), Lani Paradella (VC) (Towns), Ava Gould (Towns), Selina Kiddle (Northampton), Rachel Trusso (Northampton), Kasey Maynard (Towns), Sam Williamson (Chapman Valley), Jess Giudice-Nairn (Towns).