GSFL 2024: Albany remain at the top of the ladder after 64-point demolition of grand final rivals Railways

Reigning premiers Albany maintained their spot at the top of the Great Southern Football League ladder after a percentage-boosting win over Railways on Sunday. The Sharks were far too strong for their grand final opponent of last year, notching a commanding 64-point win at Tigerland to remain as ladder leaders. The Tigers got the ideal start when player-coach Bodhi Stubber slotted a long-range set shot in the opening minute but from then it was all the Sharks as the visitors plundered 13 of the next 15 goals on their way to a resounding 13.14 (92) to 3.10 (28) away triumph. The Sharks played the game largely on their terms with consistent contributors across all three lines, as they responded to last week’s loss to the Lions in impressive fashion. Aiden Clark and Kane Pinney were spectacular across half-back while Brett Peake was the beneficiary of their polished work higher up the field and finished with a game-high five goals. Harvey Taylor played an instrumental role up and down the ground with precise foot skills and Isaac Baum generated a lot of their dangerous attacks and finished with two goals. After conceding a sluggish start cost them the result against Royals last week, Sharks captain Kane Pinney said there was a huge emphasis on getting a fast start against the Tigers. “That was our focus coming into it,” he said. “We wanted to get on the scoreboard early and put them under pressure. “It was a good response, I thought all the young players that came in were good. “We took the game on this week, which was a lot more pleasing.” After Stubber’s opener, Baum and debutant Ned Shepherd (two goals) combined in quick succession before Lewis Bosch and Peake added their first majors nearing quarter-time to open up a 17-point lead. Peake then added his second and third at the beginning of the second quarter before Tigers’ Joel Want snapped truly for a much-needed goal that snapped a string of six unanswered goals. With a lead of 26 points at the long break, the same silky Sharks emerged after half-time as Pinney and Clark really began to impose themselves on the match. The pair thwarted numerous Tiger passages and launched their side’s offence. “We kind of knew that they like to use the ball through Want and (Kane) Shephard a lot,” Pinney said. “So if you could shut them down, then a lot of their forward entries would be under a lot of pressure.” Haydn Sproxton and Angus Thompson each missed simple chances to score crucial goals for the hosts before Peake finished off a beautifully worked coast-to-coast goal for his fourth to rub salt into the Tigers’ wounds. The hosts’ back six were under siege all match but were best served by Declan Willey, Beau Ewen and Ryan Davies who were tasked with a mountain of work in the defensive half. Stubber said their disappointing result was a “line in the sand moment” for his side who are slid to fourth on the ladder following the loss. “We were very disappointed and one thing we really pride ourselves on is bringing effort and after the first goal we didn’t bring it at all,” he said. “It was a bit of a line in the sand moment so I’ve put it back on the buys and hopefully they respond well. “Credit to them (Albany), they’re a very well-drilled side, and they played really well and they put a lot of pressure.”