GSFL 2023: Albany continue perfect start to GSFL season surging past the Bulls in final term of Belt-Up clash

Albany continued their best-ever start to a Great Southern Football League season with a hard-fought win over Mt Barker on Saturday, moving to a perfect five wins from as many games in 2023. The 52-point win at Retravision Stadium helped the Sharks consolidate top spot on the ladder as star forward Brett Peake bagged six goals in another strong individual display. The visitors responded to a goalless first term by piling on 10 goals in the second and third quarters to drag back the margin but the home side had all the answers in the crucial stages of the contest. The Bulls trailed by just 19 points heading into the final change but a five-goal to nil last quarter handed the Sharks a well-deserved 17.18 (120) to 10.8 (68) triumph. Sharks coach Jamie Ramm gave credit to a determined Bulls side that battled hard all day. “I thought we started well but to Mt Barker’s credit I thought they were very good,” Ramm said. “It was also nice once again to finish the game strong which is something we’ve been doing all year. “They’ve got some pretty quality players in the middle so our midfield group were always going to be challenged. “It’s good to be able to finish the game like that after being challenged but we still have a few things we need to work on, it wasn’t perfect. “Our start to the season allows us to plan ahead but all sides are going to have some players coming in and out including us. It’s a start which we’ve never had before, it’s good.” Things looked promising early for the visiting side with a few quick clearances and two inside-50s, but a set shot for Isaac Baum at the other end gave Sharks an early lead. Debutant Aiden Clark snagged his first ever league goal and players came from everywhere to celebrate with him before goals to Lewis Bosch and Connor McCandless helped the Sharks skip to a 25-point lead at the first change. Two early misses to Dylan Gowdie were punished by Jack Beeck at the other end as he put through his first major. Both sides went goal-for-goal with Gowdie making up for his early errors, booting three third-term majors to help keep his side within touching distance. After Shark Taj Williams slotted his first for the day, Bulls’ Alexander Skinner responded with a major before Gowdie put through one of his three in the final seconds as they clawed back to within 16 points at half-time. The third term was packed with end-to-end football, neither side allowing their opponent to gain momentum with a run of more than two goals. Peake and Zach Jackson engaged in a shootout, each kicking three goals apiece in a fiery quarter and the Bulls were still within touching distance towards the end of the quarter. Gowdie slammed home a major from 40m on an angle before Jackson put one through from a set shot 35m out just moments later. But Peake showed his experience with the last goal of the term, dragging his defender up the ground and finding a goal out the back to push the margin back to 19 at the final change. The Sharks finished in dominant fashion as two goals to Peake and single majors to Gus Bockman, Bryce Blaszkow and Baum sealed their fifth consecutive win. Baum and Blaszkow were outstanding in the middle and at stoppages along with Robbie Lee on the wing and Kane Pinney in defence. Peake was dangerous all afternoon and could have had more goals if not for some errant kicking, finishing with 6.7. Bulls defenders Darcy Wallinger and Lee Pavlovich played superbly under immense pressure while Jackson (three goals), Seth Jones and Gowdie (four goals) all toiled hard. Bulls coach Brad Hook remained optimistic after his side’s second loss of the season. “I think Albany and Railways are the two teams in front of everyone else at the moment and I was pretty happy with three quarters of the game,” he said. “The first quarter they got a bit of a jump on us but we missed a few really good chances and things could have been a lot different at quarter time. “We were able to match them and even out-score them in the second quarter. “It was disappointing to have a loss but overall we were pretty happy with the hit-out, especially with our young side.” “There’s a lot of promising signs and a lot of positives to take out of the game.”

GSFL 2023: Albany continue perfect start to GSFL season surging past the Bulls in final term of Belt-Up clash

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