Bush and ‘Burbs: The greatest star cameos in WA country football ahead of Buddy Franklin’s Dowerin return

The West Australian’s sports reporters take a look at what’s happening in the country and amateur leagues around WA in this weekly column. Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin will make a triumphant return to Dowerin on Saturday, with the Australian Football Hall of Famer to pull on the boots for the first time since retiring from the top level in 2023. Franklin’s appearance for his junior club, which has come about as part of a fundraising intiative to install new lighting at the Wheatbelt town’s oval, not be the first time an AFL superstar has made a cameo in WA country football. Here is a look back at some of the very best — with the rider we have kept the list to one-off games, meaning Josh Kennedy and Harry Taylor’s premiership-winning stints at Northampton will not feature. Matthew Pavlich, Beverley Arguably Fremantle’s greatest-ever player, Pavlich has stayed on the sidelines since calling time on his legendary career with the Dockers in 2016 — apart from one game in Beverley. Pavlich drew a crowd of thousands to the town when he pulled on the Redbacks’ colours for their final home and away game of the Avon Football Association season against reigning premiers Quairading. In a contest his newly-adopted side needed to win to stay in the finals race, he slotted two goals and hauled in some strong marks, but could not inspire them to victory. Pavlich’s appearance came as part of the Carlton Draft initiative. David Mundy, Dunsborough Within their first few months of fielding a senior side in the South West Football League, Dunsborough were given a huge boost when Fremantle champion David Mundy played a game for the club. Less than 12 months after the end of his 17-year, 376-game career with Fremantle, Mundy inspired the Sharks to what was just their second victory at league level, a 23-point victory over Eaton. More than 1300 fans packed into the football oval at the Dunsborough Playing Fields to see the ageless veteran, who produced a performance which included a goal and plenty of possessions through the midfield. “The first year for the men in the South West footy league is significant for Dunsborough and this football club . . . to be part of that history now is significant for me,” Mundy said after the game. Glen Jakovich, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault The reigning SWFL premiers were given a big boost for their clash with Busselton by the inclusion of the Eagles legend in 2008, though they were eventually defeated by the Magpies as rain teemed down at Brunswick Oval. Jakovich started the game on the bench and received a huge ovation when he entered the field midway through the first quarter. Much of his AFL career was spent as a defender shutting down some of the league’s premier forwards, but he managed to sneak forward and kick a goal himself to send the crowd into raptures. “I enjoyed myself out there, the atmosphere was terrific,” he told the Bunbury Herald after the game. Dane Swan, various Since a foot injury brought a premature end to his AFL career in 2015, Dane Swan has made himself available to country clubs around the country. And the 2011 Brownlow medallist has not been afraid to venture west, even playing for two clubs in separate leagues in WA last year. After making an appearance for York in the Avon Football Association in May, he featured for Lower South West Football League side Southerners in June, where he was greeted by some wet weather typical of the middle of winter in the region. In 2023, he starred for Chapman Valley in a massive Great Northern Football League win over Mullewa, kicking four goals to lead the Royals side to a 136-point win. Got a country or amateur sports story worth telling? Email josh.kempton@wanews.com.au