NMFL Round 1: Three Springs get grand final redemption while Dongara and Mingenew surprise opponents

It was upsets across the board in the opening round of the North Midlands Football League.

The grand final rematch between Three Springs and Carnamah-Perenjori headlined the round one fixtures all played on Saturday.

The 2023 final saw a big upset as the minor premiers Three Springs Bombers went down by 14 points to the third-placed Carnahmah Kangaroos

In the opening game of the 2024 season, it was the Bombers who got up in the rematch, gaining redemption against the home side Roos, as they start their season with a 16.12 (108) to 9.9 (63) statement win.

Both sides came out firing early with a combined eight goals kicked in the opening term, but Three Springs started to pile on the score with a six goal second quarter.

The lead became too much for the reigning premiers.

In the surprise of the round, Dongara and Coorow-Latham ended in a 10.7 (67) to 10.7 (67) draw on the weekend.

Coorow-Latham are one of the title favourites this year after finishing second on the ladder in 2023 with an 11-4 record.

While Dongara finished last year with just one win, going 1-14, but start this season with a tie against one of the leagues top sides in recent years.

A 4.2 (26) to 0.1 (1) opening quarter in the Magpies’ favour had the game looking like both sides were in 2023 form, but the Eagles didn’t roll over.

As Coorow’s scoring slowed down, Dongara managed to pick up their scoring in the second and third quarters, but it was the five-goal final term that helped tie the match and walk away with points despite the early deficit.

Magpies’ Kobe Farmer and Eagles’ Paul Kappeler both lead their team in scoring, each kicking a hat-trick of goals.

The surprising results didn’t stop there, as Mingenew travelled to Morawa and beat them 12.13 (85) to 6.9 (45).

The Bulldogs come off a 2023 where they finished towards the bottom of the table with a four-win record, while the Tigers were finals contenders, but Mingenew have proven to be a new side this year with a statement round one win.

Mingenew have proven to be a different team from last year under new head coach Craig Walker, who came over from the Rovers in the Great Northern Football League.

The Tigers struggled to score in the second half, while up and down accuracy on goal from the Bulldogs did little to change the result, as they start their season with a 40-point win.

The Bulldogs shared the riches during their triumph, with 10 players kicking goals, while Brendan Cockman and Jack Roberts each had two.

Round two will see Carnamah-Perenjori travel to Morawa, while Dongara host Three Springs and Coorow-Latham go to Mingenew.