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Yarran bags 10 goals in special memorial game for late Panthers star

Neale HarveyKalgoorlie Miner
Railways’ Alex Stuart during round 11 of the 2024 Goldfields Football League.
Camera IconRailways’ Alex Stuart during round 11 of the 2024 Goldfields Football League. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner/Kalgoorlie Miner

As a cumulative force, Railways shone in an inaugural memorial clash honouring the club’s late triple premiership star Shane Properjohn and Chris Yarran provided the individual fireworks in a big Goldfields Football League victory on Saturday against Kalgoorlie, 18.12 (120) to 6.5 (41).

In a fitting tribute to the memory of his father, who died last year aged 49, Jake Properjohn — in a one-off senior appearance for his old junior club — kicked the last goal of the match with less than five minutes left.

It was perfect ending to an occasion that honoured a beloved figure among both camps, spanning 164 games for Railways and 32 for Kalgoorlie.

Yarran’s flair for the dramatic shone through with his 10 goals as Railways retained a three-game lead in the standings.

Kalgoorlie had big hopes in Steven Simpson’s 200th game, but were severely under-manned.

The Roos were outscored to half-time, 13 goals to five, and were held to 1.4 after the main break.

“Yaz (Yarran) was unreal again, after his first three kicks all hit the post,” Railways coach Rhett Pettit said.

“Our last quarter was pretty much focused on getting Jake Properjohn on the scoreboard which was a great moment.

“I was lucky enough to play against Propers (Shane Properjohn), before I came across to Railways and it was mentioned numerous times that he was hard at it and skilful (on the field), but also a gentleman who cared about everyone.

“That’s what we want to be as a football club and it was just such a great night up there (at the club) on Saturday with his family there and us all watching a special sideshow.

“It was beautiful.”

The downside to Railways’ victory was a hamstring injury to Jordon Reid.

“It (Reid’s return) will be a while — maybe four to six weeks at least, I’d think,” Pettit said.

“That would rule him out of the WA country (carnival) and a couple of games after that.

“But we’ve probably got the time now to make sure that his recovery is done properly (because) there’s no real need to rush him back.”

Kalgoorlie coach Rick Butterfield missed the clash, but said he looked forward to the return of a host of impressive youngsters who were missing last weekend due to representative duties for the GFL at the annual Great Southern Colts Carnival in Kulin.

The Roos were also minus a string of senior front liners and co-captain Jack Varian sustained a hamstring strain.

Glen Gascoyne kicked three goals for Kalgoorlie.

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