GSFL 2023: Royals advance to preliminary final after gritty elimination final win against persistent Mt Barker

Royals have booked their place in the Great Southern Football League preliminary final after outlasting Mt Barker to claim a gripping 14-point win in the elimination final at Retravision Stadium on Sunday. It was a special day for the Lions faithful, with brothers David and Brayden Parker making their 200th and 150th league appearances, while Ryan Kinnear also broke the Lions’ club game record with a 276th league game. The form team of the competition made a big statement, fighting back from an early quarter-time deficit to snatch control and lead at both half-time and three-quarter-time as they claimed a gruelling 9.17 (71) to 7.15 (57) victory. Lions coach Andrew Ruck believes his side’s experience contributed to their success after quarter-time. “We have a group that have played in a lot of finals, which I think played a part,” he said. “Early days they (Bulls) could have probably put us away but in the second quarter we could have actually put them away, too. “It was just a brilliant contest, both teams had a few guys pretty sore and everyone cracked in hard. “After a bit of a flat first quarter the boys responded really well, credit to the Bulls because they have some genuine weapons in their side, the top six or seven players are outstanding.” The home side scampered for possession early with the Bulls gaining the ascendancy, but they missed their first three chances on goal. Scott Price snagged their first major from 10m out before Joel Gray and Price missed consecutive chances. Nic Ashford made them pay at the other end with an easy finish from a clever Jayson Ford assist, but the Bulls had the next two through Camball McMahon and a soccer goal from Price. The Lions stamped their authority immediately after the first break. Corey Ward snapped his first before Adrian Hardy nailed an attempt from 40m out to trim the margin back to three points. Ashford guided his second major of the day through to gift his side a narrow lead and Mitch Jackson was caught holding the ball in the goal square with Brandon Elliott saluting with a goal to extend the buffer to 12 points at the main break. After a flurry of missed chances either way, emerging forward Camball McMahon sailed through a crucial major on the run from 45m out before a piece of clever roving from Ben Kirkwood tied scores. Despite the breeze working slightly in the Bulls favour, Elliott ensured the Lions went into the last change with a slender advantage, nailing an attempt from 40m out to remain four points ahead. Ford came alive in the early stages of the final term, snapping truly from 30m out before just missing two chances in the minutes that followed. The Bulls were reinvigorated when Price worked his set shot from left to right to cut the margin back to seven, but that optimism would be shortlived. Ward gathered from a pack in the goal square to put through his second and after a few missed opportunities, Hardy then sealed the result with a snap. Price kicked his fourth late in the term but it was too late as the Bulls were bundled out of the premiership race and the Lions faithful were rejoicing. Ben Altus was superb on the wing, while Ward (two goals) and Steven Edwards also shone. Stephen Beal competed well in the ruck for the Lions while Elliott, Hardy and Ashford all finished with two goals each. “We’ll enjoy this now and then we’ve got a six-day break before the preliminary final,” Ruck said. “I think we’ll have a look at a few things this week, we’ve got a couple of gears to go through still but it’s just great to be back in a preliminary final after losing narrowly last year. “We’ve won seven of the last eight games, we think we’re going allright heading into next week against the Sharks. The Lions made two changes ahead of the elimination final as Daniel Archbold-Mortensen and Jordan Hulm made way for inclusions Taylor Powell and Kinnear. Lions midfielder Michael McGlade, who has been injured since the start of the season, played his first game of the year in the reserves qualifying final on Saturday. Bulls gun defender Darcy Wallinger missed with a knee injury along with Brent Parsons (hamstring) while Dylan Gowdie and Joel Gray returned to the line-up. For the Bulls, Daniel Patching gathered a stack of possessions while Zach Jackson, Nigel Penny and Price (four goals) also toiled hard.