GSFL 2025: Josh Caddy makes welcome return to footy, booting three goals as a deep forward in Royals debut

Richmond premiership player Josh Caddy kicked three goals on his return to footy, running out for Royals in the Great Southern Football League on Saturday. Caddy, who won AFL flags with the Tigers in 2017 and 2019 but retired from the top level in 2022 after 174 games, has not played since August last year in Victoria. He was announced by the Lions as their boom mid-season signing during the week and was a five-point player in Country Football WA’s player point system. A strong crowd was on hand at Collingwood Park with plenty of eyes on Caddy but North Albany spoiled the party as they caused a major upset to win their first game of the season. Caddy played the entire game as a deep forward and kicked goals in the first, second and third quarters and should have finished with four – if not for blemish from 15m out almost directly in front in the third. The 32-year-old finished with 11 disposals and five marks and his first kick in country WA was a goal, dribbling through the Lions second major from close range after a handball over the top from one of his new teammates. Caddy’s first possession of the game was a clever handball to clear congestion that resulted in Nic Ashford converting. The Lions however couldn’t celebrate their big recruit’s debut with a win, as they were thumped by 51 points in the end. Caddy was opposed to lightly framed Kangas defender Tomas O’Farrell throughout the round nine fixture. O’Farrell was able to spoil well in a few one-on-one contests but Caddy used his smarts and size to perfection on a couple of occasions. He gave plenty of advice to young Lions and could be heard telling to his teammates to look for the space and to block and run for each other. Caddy spoke to the Advertiser post-game and said it was nice to pull the boots back on again after moving to WA and starting a new job selling insurance for Lions coach and Claremont legend Darrell Panizza. He signed autographs for several young kids after the final siren before enjoying a beer with his teammates in the change rooms. The GSFL has two former AFL players running around, with Caddy now joining former St Kilda and Fremantle midfielder Brett Peake who plays for reigning premiers Albany.