Kathryn Slattery, Sophie Richards and Nardia Humphries named in New Holland WA Women’s State Country squad

Three of the Great Southern’s top footballers are gearing up to perform on the State stage after being called up to join the ranks of the exclusive New Holland WA Women’s Country Squad on Monday. Nardia Humphries (Royals), Kathryn Slattery (Railways) and Sophie Richards (Mt Barker) have been named for the 22-player strong Country side set to take on the Perth Football League on Friday. While Humphries ran in the 2023 squad, it is the first selection for Tigers captain Slattery and Bulls ball winner Richards. “I’m pretty excited about representing the Great Southern because there’s a lot of talent and players that are really great down here,” Slattery said. “I think it shows the strength of the league as well, like locally it’s just getting better and better every year. “We’re matching it a bit with some of the girls in the leagues that have been going for so much longer.” The Great Southern Football League trio will be joined by players from the South West, Peel, West Kimberley and Great Northern leagues. Busselton’s Rennie Meadmore be head coach while coach of the dual premiership-winning Bulls Sheridan Kowald will return to her post as assistant coach for the third time. “This is the most players we’ve taken up in my time as assistant coach,” she said. “I think it’s good to see this representation for the league and you can see how much it has grown in the past two, three years. “They are just absolute talents. “Every week you watch them play and they stand out — both on the field and off the field — so they completely deserve to be there.” The trio will arrive in Perth on Thursday to meet and bond with the rest of the squad before competing for bragging rights against the metropolitan team at Gosnells Oval at 7.15pm on June 20. New Holland WA Women’s State Country squad: Kate Bartlett (Secret Harbour/Peel) Ebonee Hardie (Secret Harbour/Peel) Kloe Bassett (Bunbury/South West) Dominque Fedele (Bunbury/South West) Daisy Rigby (Bunbury/South West) Beth Beckett (Busselton/South West) Olivia Bidwell (Towns/Great Northern) Jessica Giudice-Nairn (Towns/Great Northern) Sarani Bin Bakar (Cable Beach/West Kimberley) Lyeesha Mongoo (Cable Beach/West Kimberley) Ellie Blackmore (Chapman Valley/Great Northern) Taylah Broadhurst (Chapman Valley/Great Northern) Tegan Brooks (Chapman Valley/Great Northern) Eva Campo (Chapman Valley/Great Northern) Andie Payne (Chapman Valley/Great Northern) Taneika Handley (Donnybrook/South West) Kelly Polla (Donnybrook/South West) Ella Smith (Donnybrook/South West) Nardia Humphries (Royals/Great Southern) Sophie Richards (Mt Barker/Great Southern) Zoe Roberts (Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault/South West) Kathryn Slattery (Railways/Great Southern)