GSFL 2023: Impressive Albany side remain undefeated after strong final quarter helps defeat North Albany

Albany outlasted a stubborn North Albany side to emerge with a 46-point win at Retravision Stadium in round three of the Great Southern Football League on Sunday. In a game that was evenly fought for most of play, it was the Sharks who got on top of their counterparts with a six-goal to nil final quarter, helping them notch a third-straight win in 2023. Battling injuries, the Kangas trailed by 11 points at the last break but couldn’t find the answers as the game finished 16.11 (107) to 9.7 (61) at the final siren. Sharks coach Jamie Ramm said he was pleased with how the contest played out. “It was a good result in the end, they (North Albany) were very good today,” he said. “Their pressure was there all day and they were really accurate kicking at goal. “We had a lot good performers, Lewis (Bosch) helped us turn the game around and Isaac (Baum) was great as well. “It’s still early in the season, teams have got guys coming in and out so it’s a hard gauge at this point but it’s pleasing for us at this stage. “We ran out the game really well and finished strong, our fitness was reasonably good late in the game.” The Sharks missed a few chances early and Jackson Cosh and Lucas Ravenhill were able to capitalise at the other end for the Kangas, putting through the first two majors of the game. Lewis Bosch continued his electric form in 2023, providing plenty of drive in the opening stages with his first goal of the contest followed by a major to Jayden Zilm as the Sharks wrestled the lead back. In a seesawing second term both sides traded goals and Kangas veteran Graham Ross came alive with three pivotal goals in the quarter. However, a clever crumb and snap from Bosch followed by a classy running goal from George Bockman ensured the Sharks went into the main break with a one-goal buffer. Despite a blistering start by the Kangas in which swingman Nick Barrow set up Lucas Ravenhill for the first goal of the quarter, the Sharks kept finding answers. Having been shut down for large periods of the game by Harrison Smith, Brett Peake finally had his first major in the dying stages of the third quarter as the Sharks pushed the margin back to 11. The Sharks shifted into top gear in the last term with Peake adding two more to go with majors from Taj Williams, Jack Beeck, Connor McCandless and Harrison Hordacre. It was a cruel outcome for the Kangas who won clearances for large parts of the match and peppered the Sharks’ defensive arc all afternoon. Sharks’ Kane Pinney was at his usual best, cutting off multiple entries, while Tait McLean used the ball exceptionally well off half-back. Bosch gathered a plethora of possessions while Isaac Baum’s second-half work at stoppages was outstanding and Peake finished with three majors. Barrow was damaging for the Kangas, playing through midfield and up forward while Ravenhill worked well up the ground all afternoon, taking contested marks at crucial stages. Jyrin Woods was at his best along with Smith, who put in an outstanding defensive display on Peake, while Ross kicked four goals. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said despite a valiant effort, it was an unfortunate way to finish the game after a hard-fought affair. “It was a disappointing last quarter but I said to the boys after the game, it shows that our good footy really stacks up,” he said. “We just have to sustain that for four quarters which is our challenge and at the moment we’re not doing that. “We let them have two late goals in the first and second quarter which gave them a bit of a momentum swing and you can’t give good teams those kind of opportunities. “We just have to get better in certain areas and we’ll work towards that. . . all in all I was happy with the way we played.”