The very best of WA Country football and the Perth Football League women's competitions will go head-to-head on June 19 at HIF Health Insurance Oval in Joondalup. Now in its fifth instalment, the fixture promises to continue its well-earned tradition of thrilling contests across four quarters.

The women's game will start first at 5:30 pm, followed by the men’s game at 7:30 pm. The game will not only showcase top-quality football free of charge but will be played under a very important cause of FightMND, with a halftime activation and merchandise available throughout the evening in support of those battling MND.

Since the first game in 2021, with WA State Country coming out 25-point victors, the winning margin hasn’t gone over 2 points, a draw back in 2024 further emphasising how closely matched the two sides are.

WA State Country currently leads the series after their one-point win over the PFL last time the sides played in 2025, taking them to two wins to the PFL’s one win.

PFL women's coach Daniel Cripps faces an ambitious challenge in his first year leading the program. Cripps' original 60 nominations across the Budget Car and Truck Rental A, B and C1 grades were whittled down to a game-day squad across just a handful of training sessions.

“The league's never been stronger and getting to put them all together in one team is pretty hectic, but I'm just really excited to see what quality of footy they can produce together.”

Two names excited Cripps from the moment nominations opened: the experienced and highly skilled Leanne Gubbins from Curtin Uni Wesley, and Tarnica Stewart, a former Fremantle player and Subiaco player who made the 2023 WAFLW Team of the Year.

"It's a really good mix of experience, but we've also got some young and exciting up-and-coming talent."

The squad boasts 9 players with prior representative experience, with Isabella Strnadica the most decorated, this weekend being her fourth representative game.

“With this level of talent that's in the team, we certainly want to be free-flowing, attacking, fast brand of footy, and make it a really exciting spectacle,” Cripps said.

WA State Country coach Sheridan Kowald, like Cripps, is also in her first year as head coach after three years as assistant. Kowald has built her squad through a rigorous cross-referencing process across every region in the state.

“I really wanted to get representation from every region this year. We didn't quite get there, as there's one region without a representative”

“There are only about six girls I haven't seen play before or don't know much about. Everyone else I've either played with, seen play, or they've been through the Country Football WA program in the last four or five years when I was assistant coach, and that should help a lot, given how little time we get together”

Kowald’s philosophy going into the game is built on giving her players clarity on the roles and physical pressure, using her experience in the WAFLW as a player and her previous games against the PFL.

“I haven't just picked 23 of the best players and hoped for the best. Everyone has been chosen for a role. I keep the structures minimal but effective, and then those roles should all connect.”

Kowald explained further her team choices, saying, “There’s not just one or two standout players — the whole team is connected. Our pressure, work rate and effort, it’s probably a little bit more dominant in the Country Footy game than what you see at the PFL level because they do have to work that little bit harder.”

“I think it'll just be a really good game of footy. Everyone who’s playing from both sides all want to work for each other and for themselves because they've all been recognised and acknowledged, and they'll all have that same mindset of I'm going to prove myself.” Kowald added.

If you're not able to make it to HIF Health Insurance Oval this Friday, it will be live-streamed via the Perth Football League YouTube channel, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWQxGmGQe_0

Written By Oliver Mcfarland