GSFL 2023: Mt Barker stitch up finals spot with 48-point win over Denmark-Walpole

Mt Barker sealed a top-four spot in the Great Southern Football League with a comfortable 48-point win over Denmark-Walpole at McLean Park on Saturday. The win puts them 14 points ahead of fifth-placed North Albany with two rounds left to play in the season. Despite a much-improved second-half, the Magpies were left to lament an eight goal to two first half as the Bulls coasted to a 14.9 (93) to 7.5 (47) victory. Bulls coach Brad Hook said securing a finals berth was a testament to the hard work of the playing group after the club endured an uncertain lead-up to the 2023 season. “It’s a great result for the club that the league side is going to play finals considering everything earlier in the year,” he said. “Next week our reserves side has a chance to secure a spot too. “It’s been a huge effort from all the players across the season to get to this point. “They (Magpies) really hung in there on the weekend, it was pretty even around stoppages and it was actually a good competitive game. “We rested a couple of guys so we were really happy with how the young guys stood up in the midfield, Ben Kirkwood, Camball McMahon and Alex Skinner all spent some time in there. “We thought we’d give them a red hot crack and I was really pleased with how they went.” Forward combination Brandon Ugle and Sam Lehmann booted five goals each in a terrific offensive display as the Magpies fell to their 12th loss of 2023. The home side drew first blood through Jack Hickey, who snapped a close range effort to open scores, but it was the Bulls that answered back with four consecutive majors. Ugle slotted his first before Lehmann bobbed up with two set-shot conversions and Adam Large saluted with a well-taken roost from 45m out. The Magpies went further behind in the second quarter as Ugle utilised some clean ball use to snap two quick goals while Mitch Pearce and Lehmann also joined the party. Bradley Cochrane gave the Magpies their second on the cusp of half-time and the margin was trimmed to 37 at the long break. Lehmann had his fourth within 30 seconds of the third quarter but the Magpies hit back with Jhett Morrison-Carter slotting a long-range bomb from 50m out before Kallan Buttel made it back-to-back goals for the home side. McMahon answered at the other end and Ugle put through his fourth from 50m to extend the buffer to 46 points. The home side found majors through Cochrane, Cody Kerr and Tyler Stone as part of a promising finish but Lehmann and Ugle both kicked their fifth majors of the afternoon with Zach Jackson also bagging his first as the Bulls claimed a sixth win of 2023. Ugle and Lehmann were brilliant up forward and had plenty of support from Zach Jackson and Keagan Taylor. For the Magpies, Cochrane (two goals) tried hard along with Morrison-Carter, Stone and Kerr. “It was good to see us have a strong second half after a disappointing game against North Albany last week,” Magpies coach Brad Nisbett said. “I think the boys played well and we managed to run the game out which is something we’ve struggled with a lot this year.”