Looma Eagles soar over Saints at carnival grand final

The footy is back and Looma Eagles Football Club have made a convincing win over Broome Saints Football Club in the West Kimberley Football League’s Lightning Carnival Grand Final on the weekend.

Nine male and two female teams competed in the WKFL Men's and Women's Lightning Carnival held at Broome Recreation and Aquatic Centre’s Father McMahon Oval and Joseph “Nipper” Roe Oval last Saturday.

The Eagles would defeat Saints by seven points in the final while defending champs Cable Beach, Bidyadanga Emus, Derby Tigers, Broome Townes, Broome Bulls, Peninsula Bombers and the Central Kimberley Football league invitational team Noonkanbah Blues were left to watch on.

WKFL chief executive Samuel Alexeeff said there was strong interest in the local football scene with the national AFL season already started.

He also added that the various teams had different goals in their three 30-minute games.

“Teams approach the lightning carnival with different aims or different outcomes, some will focus on getting junior players some football or to increase fitness and sharpen strategies; obviously some will just be there to play to win and take home the silverware,” he said.

“Noonkanbah Blues are from the central Kimberley and they have a close rivalry with Loomba and Derby; we had hoped that there would be a tenth side in the Bardi Sharks from One Arm Point but they weren’t able to make it due to a competing basket competition.”

In other news, around 24 WKFL team players will be selected for a representative game against a North Pilbara combined side on the June 4 weekend.

All teams will play in the ANZAC Day game on April 23 and additional women’s league fixtures have been planned for this year.