GSFL 2023: Kangas overcome big early deficit to notch second win of season after beating Lions in NAIDOC Round

An eight-goal second half has lifted North Albany to their second win of the Great Southern Football League season, upsetting Royals in NAIDOC Round to keep their slim finals hopes alive. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma praised his side’s resilience, conceding six goals in the first term and trailing at every change before a powerful final quarter helped secure a thrilling six-point win on Saturday. The Lions led by 11 points at three-quarter-time but they were overrun in a pulsating final term as the visitors piled on five goals, including one from the boot of highly influential veteran Matt Orzel, to celebrate premiership defender Adam Ditchburn’s milestone 150th game in style. “The game could have been different after the first quarter,” Bootsma said. “The boys responded to what we talked about at quarter-time and stuck in the game. “There is a bit of resilience there now.” A host of NAIDOC activities were a pre-game highlight before the Lions and Kangas round 10 clash at Retravision Stadium, including a didgeridoo performance and Indigenous dance from players. The Lions lost key trio Steven Beal, Sam Holmes and Steven Edwards late in the week but regained Tyreice Brown and they started on fire, kicking six goals in the opening term to take a 26-point lead into quarter-time. That momentum was stemmed by the Kangas in the second term as majors to Graham Ross, Kobi Keen and a third of the game to Angus McKercher trimmed the margin to 15 points. Lions forward Jayson Ford came alive in the third and produced two class finishes while Jaiden Alison also found the big sticks but the Kangas kept coming and they were beginning to control the middle of the ground. Led by chief ball winner Orzel and co-captain Nick Barrow the Kangas conjured goals through Kiya Jellay, Lucas Ravenhill and Calum Dixon to importantly win the quarter. The margin could have been closer than 11 points at the final change though, with Alison kicking a set shot after the three-quarter-time siren that was not contested on the goal line by the Kangas. Orzel kicked the first goal of the final term to start the Kangas’ run and they finished with five goals to two on their way to a narrow victory. McKercher kicked his fourth, Ross slotted a second and singles to Barrow and Jyrin Woods guided the Kangas to their second win of the season. The 13.5 (83) to 11.11 (77) result keeps the Kangas slim finals hopes alive, 2½ games adrift of the Lions and Bulls with five games to play. Orzel was a deserving best on ground and won the NAIDOC match ball and jumper for his powerful performance at the stoppages, winning countless clearances and driving his team forward on a number of occasions when the game was on the line. McKercher finished with four goals in a terrific display up front, Barrow and Woods had vital moments for the winners while Regan Lloyd and Ditchburn were rock solid in defence. “Matty really stood up in the last quarter, his leadership and hardness and he laid a couple of big tackles,” Bootsma said. “You never want to give a season in and it’s still possible (finals) but still a long way away. “As a club what we are looking for is that we keep building. . . this journey we are on to get back to where we were five or six years ago.” The Lions were left to rue kicking only four goals after half-time in their fifth loss of 2023. Joel Flick was superb across the afternoon, kicking three goals in the first half, and doing plenty of damage going inside-50, while brother Ryan Flick was also impressive in the midfield. Corey Ward battled valiantly at the stoppages, especially in the last half, while Connor Lazar was important in defence, Lorcan McNamara won plenty of the ball and Ford returned three goals. “It was disappointing to start like that and then fade away,” Lions coach Andrew Ruck said. “Losing those three (players) late threw us a little bit and we went in a bit underdone with height. “We just haven’t had any luck. . . hopefully we get a few back (after the bye) and can get third or fourth and get fit at the right time.” The Lions lost defender Braden Murphy to a foot injury and Greg Colbung went down with a hamstring strain while star David Parker didn’t finish the game after a head knock.