GSFL 2023: Red-hot Lions make it five straight after seeing off Kangas in close home-and-away season

Royals will head into the Great Southern Football League finals as the form team of the top four after skipping to a 37-point victory over North Albany at Collingwood Park on Saturday. The Lions kicked the first five goals of the contest and then withstood a strong challenge from the Kangas in the third term to claim an impressive 15.15 (105) to 10.8 (68) result in round 15. Lions coach Andrew Ruck lamented a frustrating third quarter but praised his side’s persistence as they finished comfortable winners. “We dominated the first quarter and the second quarter and maybe missed a few chances to seal it in the third,” Ruck said. “It was really just a game that we had to get the job done and after a really frustrating third quarter, I was proud of the boys in the way they finished it off. “Dave (Parker) had two 10-minute patches which were brilliant, when the game is on the line he’s always our go to. “Fordy (Jayson Ford) just has that cream and our wingers did a great job, Flicky (Ryan Flick) and Ben Altus. “Any team can win on their day, we’ve got some quality back on the park and we’ll have a good crack in the final next week.” Ford finished with a bag of five goals and had three first quarter majors as part of a rampant opening with Nic Ashford and Adrian Hardy also chipping in as they jumped to a 32-point lead at the first break. Brandon Elliott snapped truly early in the second and things looked all but over when Ashford converted a simple major from 30m out. But Kangas spearhead Graham Ross broke the drought, playing on from a mark in the goal square to convert the home side’s first and Zac Lake added another after Ashford kicked his third. Trailing by 40 points, the third quarter proved fruitful for a determined Kangas side as they clawed their way back within reach. Nick Barrow slotted a goal on the run but Ford had his fourth at the other end from a clever snap. A miss-kick into the Kangas’ forward line fell fortunately to Jyrin Woods who made no mistake from close range. Ross cut the margin back to 30 from a close range set shot after he was awarded two consecutive 50m penalties. Corey Linthorne was then penalised for a deliberate rushed behind and Barrow kicked truly from the goal square to bring his side within four goals. Chandler Askevold-McDonald stemmed the flow at the other end, marking 40m out before he was awarded a 50m penalty following a Kangas violation for running through the mark. Just before the end of the term, Kangas’ Calum Dixon was tripped in front of the big sticks and helped bring his side back to within 25 points at the last change. The Lions’ class and experience shone through in the latter stages however, and despite an opening goal courtesy of Kangas’ Jackson Wray, the Lions kicked the next four. Parker intercepted a Kangas kick-in and sailed through his first before goals to Coel Hunter, Ryan Flick and Steven Edwards put the game out of reach. Ross and Lake scored their second for the Kangas respectively but Ford put the cherry on the cake, splitting the middle for his fifth goal after the siren. Classy midfielder David Parker was outstanding and stood up in all the key moments, Brayden Parker showed poise off half-back while Hardy and Ford were also electric in the forward half. For the Kangas Kobi Keen, Nathan Crudeli and Woods all provided drive through the midfield while Barrow showed his composure across the ground. Kangas tall Lucas Ravenhill did not finish the game due to a leg injury. Ashford was the Lions’ other multiple goal kicker with three while Ross, Lake, Barrow and Wray all kicked two each for the home side. After equalling the Lions’ league games record last week, veteran Ryan Kinnear played reserves in the final round. “We played well but the first quarter killed us again, we were five goals down and about four of them were from direct turnovers,” Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said. “We tried some players in different spots as the game wore on and that was good to see that some of that worked, it’s a bit of variety for us. “Although we lost, it was a pleasing way to finish the year off. “I’m proud of the players this year across the whole season, they stuck at it. “I hope they realise that when they play their best footy it stacks up with any side. “We’re looking forward to what we can do next year, hopefully we don’t lose too many (players) and we can gain a few as well.”