When Barry Mitchell first picked up a camera 20 years ago to help raise the professionalism of the local footy awards night, little did he know he would be capturing a moment in AFL history. Since 2003, he has taken more than 200,000 photos of the Great Northern Football League, in Western Australia's Midwest, all as a volunteer. He has since captured all of the region's rising stars before they hit the AFL "big time".
A Legacy of Footy Stars
The Rams, and Northampton more broadly, have become famous as one of WA's most productive "footy factories" of the modern era. In addition to Cripps, the town has produced his cousin Jamie (St Kilda/West Coast), Harry Taylor (Geelong), Paul Haselby (Fremantle), Josh Kennedy (West Coast, Tarkyn (Collingwood) and Andrew (West Coast) Lockyer, Daniel Chick (West Coast), Liam Anthony (Gold Coast), Brynn Teakle (Port Adelaide/North Melbourne) and Julia Teakle (Port in AFLW.)
"Most of the local lads that are playing right now or recently retired like Josh Kennedy or Harry Taylor [are from here]," Mr Mitchell said. "I didn't get many [photos] of Harry because he got moving down to East Fremantle fairly early, Liam Ryan, Jamie Cripps, Paul Hasleby, all those guys were all juniors. [It] was quite good to take photos not knowing at the time that they were going to be stars."
Capturing Cripps' Early Days
When Patrick Cripps snared his second Brownlow Medal, Mr Mitchell was able to delve into the archives to find images of him as a junior in his Northampton Rams colours. He has a number of photos of Cripps aged 12 when he "had a field day" against Railways in 2007. "He would have got three votes that day," he said. "I actually do remember Patrick standing out. It's fun because he had those red boots on … he certainly stood out back then and I always remember whenever he's dominating, 'Oh I've got a photo of him'."
Mr Mitchell said there was lots of local pride in seeing him pick up a second Brownlow. "I think the whole town, I mean the whole of the Midwest, would surely be feeling a little bit proud," he said. "Just knowing the family two or three generations back, just everyday people, that someone can be outstanding at such a high level is just fantastic to see."
A Town's Pride
The emergence and return of top-flight stars also helps fuel the passion of the next generation of talent coming through the Rams' ranks. Taylor and Kennedy have both turned out for the Rams since retiring from the top flight, while Teakle and Melbourne's Judd McVee (a product of Geraldton club Rovers) turned up at a recent training session.
"We've all got bigger chests today, it's unreal," Northampton Junior Football Club President Chad Smith said. "In any farming town or community, when you've got a couple of icons who've played AFL, it's pretty good for the guys to look up to. We're pretty lucky to have 10 others going around, but we're pretty proud to say he comes from our little town."
He said Cripps' emotional tribute to his parents showed the hard work parents of country footballers put in supporting their children's dreams of playing at the highest level.
A Lasting Legacy
Mr MItchell said being behind the lens brought a great sense of reward. "It's funny how little things do, after all this time, give you a bit of a thrill and that's certainly one of them but there's many other opportunities," he said. "It can be a sad time where someone passed away and you've got some photos of their father or whatever from the early years. People appreciate all those things."
Mr Mitchell's dedication to capturing the spirit of the Great Northern Football League has preserved a valuable record of local talent and passion. From the young Patrick Cripps to the countless other stars who have emerged from the region, his photos provide a glimpse into the journey of these athletes, reminding us that even the greatest champions once took their first steps on a field in a small town.
