Tigers smash league records

Several North Midlands Football League records — some wanted and unwanted — fell on Sunday during the Morawa and Carnamah-Perenjori clash.

Playing at home, the Tigers became the first team to kick more than 40 goals in a NMFL fixture, with Josh Mills’ men running riot during their 46.9 (285) to 3.9 (27) win over the Roos.

Additionally, Tigers spearhead Antoine Gartlett surpassed Gordon Thompson (Coorow-Latham) and Brad Groves (Three Springs) for the most goals kicked in a single match.

The 18-year-old booted 22.3 on Sunday, surpassing Thompson and Groves’ shared record of 21 goals.

He has kicked 61 goals in seven matches this season.

Post-match, Gartlett said he loved playing with his teammates and being a part of his club.

“It was pretty special (to share the moment in front of family and friends),” he said.

“They (Morawa) are the only club I’ve been with all of my life and I’m very dedicated to them. I’m loving it (with the team) at the moment.”

In contrast, the Roos, who have suffered three losses by more than 200 points in the past year-and-a-half, found the going extremely tough.

Coupled with heavy defeats on the field, the Roos faithful spent most of last year coming to terms with the death of club legend Daniel “Boots” Wellington.

They did find some success in the reserves, however, falling to Dongara in the 2016 grand final.

Club president Tom Page said the club had gradually improved on-field this season and he was hopeful the Roos would eventually return to good times.

“If you look at our results from the whole of last year to now, they are a whole lot better now than what they were,” he said.

“You can’t get too down on results — obviously you want to be competitive and have a good competitive game and go for the win every weekend, but for us to get two teams (league and reserves) each week is important.

“Not many towns can do that week in, week out in this league and as a club, we are happy where we are at.

“Every town goes through it through the decades and has their real bad patches but hopefully down the track, a few of the younger players stay, (we) get the young legs and talent in the town and into the club.

“Obviously it is disappointing to get floggings like that.”

Page said he was heartened by the efforts of youngster Rylie Poultney who, even in defeat, always gave his best.

“It’s the first year he has played for us and he’s from Mingenew,” he said.

“He’s got an apprenticeship in town and we are glad he is playing for us.

“He is a definitely a rising star.”

In other NMFL fixtures, Mingenew had all the answers in their big win over Coorow-Latham, while Dongara demolished Three Springs by 96 points.