2021 Western Premier League season explained

Competition:WPL
Season:2021
Winners:Not awarded
Premiers:Not awarded
League Topscorer:10 goals - Alec Bateson (Parkes Cobras)
Jacob Soetens-Chidiac (Panorama)
Biggest Home Win:Orana Spurs 6–0 Lithgow Workmen's (31 July)
Biggest Away Win:Mudgee Wolves 0–7 Barnstoneworth United (22 May)
Highest Scoring:Orange Waratahs 8–5 Macquarie United (17 April)
Matches:68
Total Goals:300
Prevseason:2020
Nextseason:2022

The 2021 Western Premier League, also called the Burmac Western Premier League for sponsorship reasons, was the 21st season of the Western Premier League (WPL), the top football league in the Central West region of New South Wales. It was the second consecutive year that the competition ran, after an eight-year hiatus. Dubbo Bulls were the defending champions after defeating city rivals Macquarie United in the grand final at Apex Oval,[1] whilst Macquarie United were the defending premiers.

The season saw the competition expand to nine teams for this season, two more than last year, with the addition of four-time champions Orange Waratahs,[2] who last played in the WPL during the 2012 season, and Mudgee Wolves,[3] who last played in the WPL during the 1997 season.

The season was ultimately cancelled after 17 rounds due to COVID-19 lockdown and no title was awarded.[4] At the time of the competition's cancellation, Orana Spurs lead the competition two points ahead of Orange Waratahs, with just one round to play before finals.

Season summary

The 2021 season kicked-off with an Orange local derby when Orange Waratahs, who was making its return to the WPL, played Barnstoneworth United at Waratah Sports Ground. The match finished 1-all.[5]

In July, following a COVID-19 lockdown for the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne local government areas,[6] the round 15 match between Panorama and Barnstoneworth United was postponed, with Macquarie United and Parkes Cobras postponed too, as the latter had a number of players living or working in the Cabonne area.[7]

The entire final round of the competition, scheduled to be played on 14 August, was postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Dubbo.[8] [9] The final round was originally pushed back by one week but as the Dubbo lockdown continued and all of New South Wales was put into lockdown on 14 August, the competition was postponed indefinitely. After the announcement that the lockdown for regional New South Wales would be extended to September,[10] the competition was ultimately abandoned on August 26.[11] While Orana Spurs lead Orange Waratahs by two points on the ladder, no title was officially awarded.

Teams

Home venues and locations

TeamLocationHome ground
Barnstoneworth UnitedOrangeJack Brabham Park
Dubbo BullsDubboLady Cutler Oval
Lithgow Workmen'sLithgowMarjorie Jackson Oval
Macquarie UnitedDubboHans Claven Oval
Mudgee WolvesMudgeeGlen Willow Regional Sports Stadium
Orana SpursDubboLady Cutler Oval
Orange WaratahsOrangeWaratah Sports Ground
PanoramaBathurstProctor Park
Parkes CobrasParkesWoodward Oval

Personal and kits

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerKit sponsor
Barnstoneworth UnitedJosh WardDuncan LoganKonQaTilstons Electrical
Dubbo BullsJames Leonard
Kobe Rapley
James Leonard
Kobe Rapley
Lindsay Mumford Suzuki
Lithgow Workmen'sBrad LukaBrad LukaKookaburraHunter Mining Methods
Macquarie UnitedPaul Crain Rhys OsbornePumaCastlereagh Hotel, Dubbo
Mudgee WolvesChristopher Clegg
Harry Hall
Chad Bowmaker
Lindsay HendersonGiocaKelly's Irish Pub, Mudgee
Orana SpursBenjamin Mason Jared CorbyPumaSouth Dubbo Tavern
Orange WaratahsAdam ScimoneAdam ScimoneCountry Fruit Distributors
PanoramaBrent OsborneRicky GuihotNikeAgile Arbor Tree Services
Parkes CobrasMeghan KempsonBrent TuckerGooseyCoachman Hotel Motel, Parkes

Regular season

Results

Top goal scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Alec BatesonParkes Cobras10
Jacob Soetens-ChidiacPanorama
3Brody AustinDubbo Bulls9
Justin GibsonOrana Spurs
Craig SugdenOrange Waratahs
6Guy BurgessOrange Waratahs8
8Joel SuttonMacquarie United7
Kenny McCallBarnstoneworth United
Joel TongueOrana Spurs
Jake FergusonOrana Spurs

Notes and References

  1. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6944217/fantastic-mr-fox-delivers-again-as-bulls-claim-western-crown/ Scott Fox scores twice as Dubbo FC wins Western Premier League grand final
  2. https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/7077381/a-new-mentor-sky-blues-sign-scimone-ahead-of-anticipated-wpl-return/ Adam Scimone is excited to get to work at Waratahs FC
  3. https://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/7101964/wolves-to-descend-on-wpl-competition-for-the-first-time-in-20-years/?cs=1611 Mudgee Gulgong Wolves FC to play in Western Premier League competition
  4. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/7403839/i-feel-for-everyone-involved-western-premier-league-season-abandoned/ Western Premier League season abandoned due to COVID lockdown
  5. https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/7203400/no-love-lost-derby-delivers-as-rivals-come-to-blows-in-heated-season-opener/ Waratahs FC and Barnstoneworth United FC fought their way to a stalemate in the WPL opener
  6. https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/7350451/orange-lockdown-made-to-protect-community-as-daily-nsw-covid-cases-at-110/ Orange COVID lockdown needed to 'protect the community'
  7. https://www.westernadvocate.com.au/story/7350134/making-the-call-competitions-around-region-forced-into-a-decision/ Lockdown in Orange, Blayney and Cabonne forces Central West competitions into postponements, cancellations
  8. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/7380856/dubbo-to-go-into-lockdown-from-1pm-heres-what-we-know/ Lockdown confirmed for Dubbo after positive COVID-19 cases
  9. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/7382734/almost-telepathic-understanding-to-help-spurs-as-wpl-season-is-pushed-back/ Western Premier League season pushed back one week
  10. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/premier-gladys-berejiklian-tipped-to-lift-regional-nsw-lockdown-as-cases-explode/news-story/fcb95e1d9a4b7258cba448121fb7ee1c Premier Gladys Berejiklian extends regional NSW lockdown as cases explode
  11. https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/7403839/i-feel-for-everyone-involved-western-premier-league-season-abandoned/ Western Premier League season abandoned due to COVID lockdown