GSFL 2023: Albany continue their best-ever start to GSFL season with emphatic win in derby over Royals

Albany eased past Royals in the Retravision Stadium derby with a 61-point triumph on Saturday in round seven of the Great Southern Football League. After an evenly fought first quarter, the Sharks put together a dominant showing to keep their undefeated status intact. The Lions were held to four goals in the second half as the Sharks, welcoming back several key players, piled on nine goals to claim a 16.12 (108) to 7.5 (47) triumph and a second win against their co-tenants this season. Sharks coach Jamie Ramm said he was pleased with how his side performed after a slow start to the first quarter. “Our forward line to start out was average but our midfield played really well,” he said. “The forwards picked up after quarter-time and that made the difference really. “I think Stewart (Davies) did a really good job in the ruck, although they (Lions) didn’t have a ruck most of the game which made it harder for them.” Robbie Lee, Lewis Bosch and Stewart Davies all returned to the line-up as Harry Hordacre bagged four goals up forward. The Lions withstood a barrage of inside-50s in the first term and the Sharks could only find goals through Bosch and Hordacre before Lions’ James Watters kicked one late in the quarter. Hordacre poked one off the ground through the big sticks in the second term and both sides traded goals early but the Sharks were gaining the ascendancy. A late goal to Sharks’ Bryce Blaszkow from 35m out helped put his side up by 27 at the long break. The Sharks midfield was winning possessions and clearances while gaining metres and the side had three consecutive majors to start the second half. Brett Peake had his first through a piece of clever crumbing, Hordacre roosted his fourth from 50m and Peake snapped another from the boundary. Cameron Allison stemmed the flow for the Lions but goals to Taj Williams and Peake ballooned the margin out further nearing the final break. Sam Holmes was yellow-carded for rough conduct on Lewis Bosch late in the third term as punches were thrown after a scuffle on the boundary line. A late goal from Isaac Baum gave the Sharks to a 61-point lead at three-quarter-time. Things wouldn’t get easier for the Lions and despite a much better term, two goals to George Bockman and one to Bosch ensured the Lions suffered their third loss of the season. Holmes received his second yellow card of the contest towards the end of the final term, penalised for a late hit on Tait McLean. Hordacre was outstanding in the forward line while midfielders Blaszkow and Williams also shone. Lee was back to his best on the wing and Kane Pinney intercepted well at centre half-back over four quarters. Corey Linthorne defended well under immense pressure for the Lions while Allison and Holmes were also solid and Lorcan McNamara kicked three majors. The Sharks are now set to be without former WAFL player Jack Beeck for the rest of the season with the midfielder making the move overseas. Beeck has played a pivotal part in the Sharks’ first half of the season and was second in the GSFL Coaches’ Player of the Year honours before round seven. “It’s been great having him but we’ve got a pretty settled side all over the ground with a few to come in, so I think we should be fine,” Ramm said. “Taj (Williams) was very good in the midfield on Saturday. “That’s why we had a few different players in there (midfield) on the weekend because we won’t have Jack (Beeck) in there anymore.” Lions coach Andrew Ruck said a strong defensive display came undone in the second half. “We just don’t have the spread at the moment, we can only throw so many guys through the middle which is a luxury we’ve had available in the past,” he said. “Defence in the first half was huge and then we came out pretty slow after half-time, got on the back foot and after that the game was gone. “Their (Sharks) younger blokes have so much leadership available across the ground. “We’ve got to lick our wounds and get a few more on the park against Railways but we’ll definitely be looking forward to a couple of bye rounds coming up.”