GSFL 2023: Brilliant six-goal first term helps Railways book berth in grand final after disposing of Albany

Railways are the first team into the 2023 Great Southern Football League grand final after producing a brilliant start in Saturday’s qualifying final against minor premiers Albany. The Tigers have won the past two premierships and their quest for an elusive three-peat will go to the final day of the season after running out 30-point winners at Retravision Stadium. The reigning premiers entered the finals series with some question marks, having won one of their past four games and with doubts on the fitness of key personal, but they quickly quashed that with a dominant first term. Six goals to one in a rampant opening set the tone for the Tigers, marching to another grand final appearance as they proved too strong for an inaccurate Sharks side. Captain Bodhi Stubber and clean ball user Mitch Green were outstanding while key forward Zak Hortin bagged four goals to guide the Tigers to an emphatic win, 11.5 (71) to 5.11 (41). The move to start Green in the midfield alongside milestone man Craig Frost worked wonders as the Tigers skipped to a 26-point advantage at quarter-time. The Tigers kicked six straight in the first and despite an early major from Jayden Zilm in the second, a second goal from Hortin made it seven for the visitors. Harry Hordacre, one of five inclusions for the Sharks, brought the margin back to 17 points with a late major but the home side was left to rue missed opportunities after kicking 1.4 in the first and that was 3.8 by half-time. Twice the margin got beyond 30 points in the third term as Ray Daniels kicked his second and Hortin jailed his third and fourth majors. Goals to Hordacre and then one out the back to speedster Mitch Collier ensured the Sharks had a glimmer of hope, trailing by 25 points at the final change. The final term was a grind but a goal in the seventh minute from the boot of Haydn Sproxton ultimately sealed the win and a third consecutive grand final appearance for the Tigers. There was a costly miss soon after the Sproxton goal from Isaac Baum and late in the quarter Brock Anning received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Tiger Lachlan Cale, but the result was never in real danger. Green and Frost were electric in the first half and Bodhi Stubber was resolute in defence, taking countless intercept marks. To go with a stack of possessions, Green kicked two majors in the first term that gave the Tigers an ideal start to the big final. Hortin was well supported in the front half by Daniels (two goals) and Sproxton (two) while Josh Duffield rucked all day to be a key contributor for the Tigers. Logan Stubber and Jayden Scott had vital moments, Toby Hall held Sharks star and the competition’s leading goalkicker Brett Peake to one behind and Jaxon Lombardini also provided great drive. It was a day to remember for Frost, chaired from the ground after the win by his teammates after playing his 150th league game for the club. The Sharks were best served by Robbie Lee, Bryce Blaszkow, George Bockman, Cameron Jones and Jayden Zilm (two goals). Harry Hordacre also kicked two, Kane Pinney was busy after quarter time and Brock Anning also won plenty of the ball. Earlier in the day there were three terrific games in the minor grades. Royals got through to the colts grand final after a shot from the Sharks after the siren missed, the Lions hanging on to win by three points in a thrilling qualifying final. The Tigers kicked two late goals in the final term to snatch victory in the 16s and beat the Sharks by two points. In a low-scoring reserves qualifying final the Sharks came from three points down at three quarter time to claim a tense two-point win over the Lions.