GSFL 2023: Royals coach Andrew Ruck laments early season form after gripping preliminary final loss to Sharks

Royals’ brave run in the 2023 Great Southern Football League competition is over, falling short in a pulsating preliminary final against Albany on Saturday. The Lions had won six straight games heading into the final on Saturday, including a 33-point win over the same opponent in round 12. The Sharks however emerged with a 12-point win, holding off a gallant Lions fightback in a tense final term to progress to the grand final. Lions coach Andrew Ruck lamented a shaky start to the regular season in the aftermath of the preliminary final defeat that spelt an end to their 2023 campaign. In their first 10 home-and-away fixtures, the Lions won only four of those games which Ruck cited as a significant stumbling block in their bid to reach a grand final. “You really need to win those early games in the season and the last couple of years we haven’t been able to and that’s what happens unfortunately,” he said. “You don’t get that double chance, credit to the Sharks who did and they made the most of it. “To get to this stage we used a fair bit of gas, the five-day turnaround maybe played a part and a few other 50-50 calls on the day just didn’t seem to go our way, that’s just footy.” Ruck reflected on a frustrating day where Sharks prolific forward Brett Peake kicked six goals, the same number he kicked against the Lions in the 2022 elimination final. “Obviously we’re really disappointed, it felt like we couldn’t get a bounce, there was millimetres in a few things,” Ruck said. “Stuff like that happens, we didn’t seem to get the rub of the green but it was just one of those days for us I think. “We didn’t get blown away, we thought it was tight but giving them six straight goals in the first quarter was a bit flattening and deflating for the boys. “Peakey made the most of the chances which is why he’s on the big bucks. “Tait (McLean) did a good job on (Jayson) Ford so we had to throw him in the middle, (Nic) Ashford did a great job forward but just couldn’t find the big ones. “Just before the game (Brayden Parker) got a tight hamstring, I thought to get within a kick with 10 minutes left was huge, you have to be proud of them.”