1^st Semi Final Played at Kambalda West Oval Saturday Night August 23^rd.

Kambalda                    7.2                   12.3                 17.7                 20.10 (130)

Boulder                        2.2                   3.6                  4.6                  7.10  (52)

Goalscorers Kambalda: Troy Wilson 6, James Murray 5, Lorrence Farmer 3, Stephen Freemantle 2, Matt Freemantle, Tyron Ward, Michael Rodney & Sean Matheson 1.

Goalscorers Boulder: Chayne George & Tama Blackman 2, Chris Maguire, Colin Harvey & Brent Marra 1.

Best Players Kambalda: Tyron Ward, Stephen Freemantle, Gerald Hansen, James Murray, Lorrence Farmer, Jay Blechynden & Matt Johnston.

Best Players Boulder: Mana Blackman, Tama Blackman, Chayne George, Scott Worthington & Daniel Coughlan.

In perfect though cold conditions finals football came to Kambalda, with the locals hoping Kambalda could progress through the finals in the clubs 40^th year, whilst Boulder came down the road with good form and history in recent contests at the nickel town.  With the support of a strong, vocal and passionate crowd Kambalda blew the game away with an awesome first quarter set up initially by the ball winning abilities of Tyron Ward and the finish of young gun James Murray and the experience of Troy Wilson, despite scoring first the Tigers struggled to keep up with the fleet of foot Eagles and coach Brad George had every reason for concern facing a 30 point deficit. Though with the resumption of play it was again Kambalda who impressed all and sundry with their dedication to the cause and this momentum brought talented players into the game and allowed them to excel beyond their previous 2008 efforts none more so than Lorrence Farmer and Gerald Hansen who had starring roles throughout the night, and how important this was with the Eagles missing suspended big man Chris Skidmore, Boulder were simply not allowed to get into the game and this was reflective on the scoreboard being outscored 5 goals to 1.

Early in the third it looked as though the Tigers might engage into the contest and posted the half’s first major within moments of the resumption, but this once again ignited the Eagles flame who continued to win ball from half back via John Doran, Jay Blechynden & Adam Jukes which then set alight the classy Matt Johnston, the Freemantle Boys, and Michael and Lincoln Rodney who all enjoyed the football which was giving every opportunity to the dynamic duo in James Murray and Troy Wilson, the game was over at three quarter time as Kambalda led by 79 points.  Despite clawing back one point on the margin in the last it was an unceremonious dumping of the Tigers from the season and could have been a lot worse if not for the efforts of Mana Blackman, Chayne George and Scott Worthington while Centre Half Forward Tama Blackman tried hard and was basically a one man show with Chris Maguire having little influence on the match and sat out the last quarter with a groin complaint.

Kambalda’s performance was one to savor for a club which has battled for victories during this decade and the powerful nature of this result has attracted the attention of all in the GFL, and now progress to the Preliminary Final which is as deep as they have gone into the finals since their 1993 Grand Final loss to Mines.

And to continue the sweep of momentum gathered from the 1^st Semi Final performance with gun midfielder Matt Johnston having snared the individual double in 2008 with wins in both the Prestigious Mitchell Medal and the Kalgoorlie Miner Footballer of the Year Award.

As for Boulder the season turned upside down from midway when the started to slide from second position with recruits drifting away despite their reputations, the unavoidable transfer in employment for initial season Coach Shane Cable and some discipline problems highlighted by Damian Dunlea who kicked 28 goals for the season but finished the season in the reserves.