The past 12 months have been filled with inspiring stories of teams and athletes succeeding throughout Mandurah and the Peel region.
With the bumper year almost over, the Mandurah Mail is taking a look back at what made sports headlines in 2016.
Here is an overview of what we featured in our sports section in October.
What happened in October
FOOTBALL: Peel Thunder 2017 draft prospect Aaron Naughton put his best foot forward in a match held solely for the nation’s best 17-year-olds on AFL grand final day.
SURFING: Local lads Phoenix and Maverick Wilson performed well in Barton Lynch’s Blast Off event in Sydney.
FOOTBALL: Mandurah football product Brad Lynch played a crucial role in the Western Bulldogs’ VFL grand final win.
SAILING: Peel-based Paralympian Russell Boaden returned home with a gold medal draped around his neck after helping the Australian sailing team top the podium at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
FOOTBALL: Matt de Boer took out Peel Thunder’s Tuckey medal after a blistering season for this side.
BASKETBALL: Mandurah Magic women’s coach Randy Miegel signed on for the 2017 season.
BASKETBALL: Following on from Miegel’s decision to re-sign, the Mandurah Magic secured the services of former National Basketball League player Aaron Trahair as their men’s coach.
CRICKET: The Peel Cricket Association was able to play its first games of the season after rain washed out rounds one and two.
FOOTBALL: Peel umpiring product Nathan Williamson was selected to officiate AFL games in 2017.
FOOTBALL: Peel Thunderbirds trio Kira Phillips, Tayla Bresland and Demi Okely were drafted by Fremantle for the inaugural AFL Women’s season.
HOCKEY: Local hockey gun Hunter Banyard helped WA to a fifth-place finish at under 13s state hockey tournament.
NETBALL: More than 60 keen netballers took to the sand for the Pinjarra Netball Association’s first Nets by the River event.
Stay tuned to mandurahmail.com.au for the November edition of the sport year in review.