Railways primed to retain vast majority of premiership group next season

Rival clubs looking to make up ground on the success of 2024 premiers Railways next year in the Goldfields Football League could be in for an uphill battle.

Shortly after Railways had beaten Kalgoorlie in Saturday’s grand final and claimed a second flag in three years, dual premiership coach Rhett Pettit was already talking-up the prospects of a 2025 squad that could be relatively unchanged.

“I think at this stage, we’ll retain the majority,” Pettit said.

“There’s always going to be a couple (of losses) — I think Jed Edwards might be moving back to Geraldton and Leachy (Daniel Leach) probably moves back to Geraldton as well.

“But the majority should stay together and we have some really good young kids who missed out (playing in the grand final).”

On the prospect of going back-to-back in 2025, Pettit said the goal to start each season was the same.

“You start every season wanting to win the grand final,” he said.

“Obviously winning back-to-back (flags) would be awesome, but the priority I think has to be regrouping, and doing the hard work that has to be done.

“We know what work has to be done and we go to it from there.”

Railways’ grand final victory wasn’t sealed until 11 minutes into the last quarter, when captain Alex Stuart kicked a goal that extended the lead to a match-winning 20 points.

Kalgoorlie’s gallant grand final effort from fourth place earned high praise from Pettit.

“They (Kalgoorlie) are a very good team and not far off the mark, when they’re at full strength,” Pettit said.

“Credit probably goes back to (former coach) Justin Tarasinski, who really started last year playing kids and they’re probably seeing now the flow-on effect from that (because) Isaac Billing was very good, as was Ty Clark.

“Fourth place probably didn’t properly reflect where their talent is.”

Railways have played in each of the past three grand finals after appearing in 10 deciders between 2006 and 2017.