GSFL 2024: Albany respond after slow start to beat Royals in epic qualifying final to book grand final berth

Albany has advanced straight through to their third successive Great Southern Football League grand final after emerging 16-point victors over Royals in a brilliant qualifying final at Retravision Stadium on Saturday. In a hugely contested match littered with repeat stoppages in heavy conditions, it was always going to be a matter of who made the most of the strong breeze. The Lions looked like they had done just that, keeping the Sharks scoreless and booting five first-quarter goals with two to Corey Ward and Nic Ashford with three goals. Kleemann Medal contender Declan McNamara then kicked truly from beyond the arc on the stroke of quarter time to take a 32-point lead into the first break. But when it was the Sharks’ turn, the reigning premiers booted seven unanswered to take a 10-point lead into halftime as they flicked the switch. The Sharks got the perfect start in the second when Bailey Taylor manufactured a goal from nothing in the goal square before Sean Plaisted trophy winner Brett Peake and Harry Hordacre combined in a minute to make it three goals in quick succession. Approaching half time, Brock Anning finished off a brilliantly worked coast-to-coast goal marking seven straight for the Sharks who had grappled back the lead. But a stellar third term from the Sharks, who were led by their star-studded midfield, was where the game was won against their arch rivals. Fighting tooth and nail against a strong icy breeze, the Sharks held the Lions goalless while booting one themselves to take a 14-point lead into the final stanza and set up the 9.6 (60) to 6.8 (44) win. Kaleb Germain was the beneficiary of a brain fade from Lion Quinn Bird who failed to hand Germain back the ball following a free kick, resulting in a 50m penalty and walking the young forward to the goalline. Experienced forward Isaac Baum starred in the greasy conditions and was seemingly involved in every one of the Sharks’ offensive passages. Intercepting defender Kane Pinney was instrumental across half-back, rebounding tirelessly and was clean with his distribution and was assisted by versatile utility Bailey Taylor who was swung into defence and played a key role on Lions tall Hamish McMorran. Despite Lion ruck Stephen Beal winning most of the hit-outs, clearance machine Bryce Blaszkow, physical midfielder Marlin Bennett and winger Anning assumed control of the midfield. Ashford converted his third during the last quarter to spark a comeback before Peake kicked his second to seal victory and send his side into the grand final in a fortnight. Corey Ward was terrific through the midfield and kicked two vital goals while Ben Altus and Michael McGlade were also superb for the Lions. The Lions lost star big man Brock Higgins to a hamstring injury in the first term and despite him trying to return to the field with it heavily strapped, the former WAFL ruckman didn’t play any further part after half time and his season appears done. A resolute Railways knocked off the Lions on their home turf to waltz into the reserves grand final after clinching a 16-point victory on Saturday. The Tigers were staunch in defence and did not concede a goal through the opening three terms but were not able to punish the Lions for their front-half dominance. The Lions kicked two crucial goals in the last sparking a late comeback before Trent Herbert fortuitously wobbled one through to clinch the 5.6 (36) to 2.8 (20) win. In the colts qualifying final, the Lions advanced directly through to the big dance after defeating minor premiers the Sharks by eight points. A pair of rare goals into the teeth of a strong breeze in the third quarter proved crucial for the Lions who took the winning advantage into the last change. Competing against the determined Sharks and a gusty wind, the Lions were resolute in defence in a scoreless final stanza to book a grand final berth. In a game where goals were hard to come by, the Lions made the most of their opportunities booting six goals from their seven attempts in the 6.1 (37) to 4.5 (29) win as Buddy Robinson finished with three majors for the winners. The Tigers were the first team through to the 16s grand final, prevailing over Denmark-Walpole in wet and windy conditions on Saturday morning. The Magpies got the early jump with two goals in the first term but the Tigers fought back to lead by four points at the main break. The margin was only 10 points in favour of the Tigers at three quarter time but two majors in the last sealed the 24-point triumph as they progressed directly through to the decider. The 6.9 (45) to 3.3 (21) result was the Tigers 10th win on the trot, having finished on top of the ladder and their last loss coming back in round six. Beau Veldman kicked three goals as the Tigers held the Magpies goalless in the last half.