Star Kimberley footballers take to the field in AFL round one, suffering losses across the board

A whole slate of star players from across the Kimberley took to the field last week as the first round of AFL for the 2023 season kicked off.

Broome’s leading football star Bailey Banfield found himself on the sub-bench during the Fremantle Dockers round one loss to the St Kilda Saints, a slight upgrade over the medical-sub bench which he warmed most of last season, 10.7 (67) to 7.10 (52).

However, the young gun got his chance after being subbed on early into the fourth quarter but failed to make the most of the brief time on the field, managing just three disposals.

Broome’s Jack Martin took to the field in the full-forward position once again for his team the Carlton Blues as they went up against the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 16.

The Broome product managed to get himself on the scoreboard with a single behind in the closing minutes of the first quarter but dropped off for the rest of the match, only making a total of six disposals.

The first round thriller ended in a draw, in the first time the two teams have drawn in 51 years, 8.10 (58) to 8.10 (58).

Halls Creek product Jy Farrar took up position in the back pocket for the Gold Coast Suns in their defeat to the Sydney Swans on March 18 under the lights at Heritage Bank Stadium, 16.14 (110) to 9.7 (61).

The young gun made an impressive 18 disposals throughout the course of the match, knocking back attacks from the Swans and proving himself once again to be a key asset in the Suns backline.

Despite being put on the interchange bench at the start of the match, Halls Creek legend Shane McAdam made his mark for the Adelaide Crows after being subbed in early on in the first quarter, despite their eventual defeat to the Greater Western Sydney Giants, 15.16 (106) to 12.8 (90).

The star forward kicked a goal in the opening 10 minutes of the first term and followed it up with a behind in the 18th minute.

Despite the players’ solid performance, McAdam will likely face scrutiny for hitting Giants wingman Jacob Wehr with a heavy shoulder blow after he took a mark in the third quarter.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of fellow Halls Creek product Toby Bedford during the clash who recently signed to the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Other Kimberley players who usually feature in the line-up were absent including, Sam Petrevski-Seton for the West Coast Eagles in their defeat to North Melbourne, 12.15 (87) to 12.10 (82).

Ash Johnson for the Collingwood Magpies in their win over the Geelong Cats, 19.11 (1250 to 16.7 (103).

And Callum Ah Chee for the Brisbane Lions in their defeat to Port Adelaide Power, 18.18 (126) to 11.6 (72).