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.
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.
Patrick Cripps with ball in hand for the Northampton Rams at age 12. (Supplied: Barry Mitchell Snapaction Sports photography)
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.
Cripps played his formative years for the Rams, before moving to East Fremantle to play colts football. (Supplied: Barry Mitchell/Snapaction Sports photography)
“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.
“It’s quite good to be able to look back and go, ‘Gosh, I’ve got a picture of that kid when he was a junior’, and of course we’ve got Patrick Cripps now, which is fantastic.”
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’.”
‘Whole of the Midwest’ proud
Like many regional students, Cripps went away to Perth as a boarder in his high school years.
A 12-year-old Cripps evades a tackle. (Supplied: Barry Mitchell/Snapaction Sports photography)
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.”
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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.”
Inspiration for juniors
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.
Cripps kicks long for the Rams during the game in 2007. (Supplied: Barry Mitchell/Snapaction Sports photography)
“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 10others 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.
