GSFL 2024: Seven goal to nil blitz after fast start leaves Railways too hot to handle for North Albany

A fast start and then a dominant third quarter was the catalyst for Railways’ fourth win of the season on Saturday, pushing them back into the top two after six rounds of the Great Southern Football League competition. The Tigers produced a sublime quarter on their way to a comfortable 44-point win over North Albany at Tigerland. The margin appeared destined to finish beyond 100 points as the home side put the fifth placed Kangas to the sword with seven unanswered goals in a clinical third term. Star ball winners Ryley Valli and Bailey Bennett were in dominant form again, as they helped the Tigers get a fast start with the first five goals of the game. The Tigers kicked with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening term but two goals from Bennett and two from player-coach Bodhi Stubber gave them a 34-point half time buffer. The Kangas started to win some of their own ball in the second term but they didn’t make the most of the breeze and the Tigers kicked the final two majors of the first half to maintain their ascendancy. The third term was all one way traffic, as the home side bullied their opponents around the stoppages and were rewarded forward of centre. Young key forward Brock Lathbury kicked three goals, including a brilliant snap from the pocket, Stubber added his fourth and fifth of the game while the relentless Bennett and Valli also added majors. However the Kangas were determined to restore some pride in the fourth and they kicked six goals in a row to at one stage get the margin under seven goals. Kangas pair Jyrin Woods and David Spangenberg booted two goals each in the visitors’ free-flowing run but a steadying major from Tigers 100-gamer Shane Braimbridge solidified the 19.15 (129) to 13.7 (85) victory. Stubber said his side’s quick and direct ball movement from their midfield stronghold was a key factor in the game. “I was real happy with our fast start again, it set us up a little bit,” he said. “I challenged the boys at three quarter time and they didn’t respond in the way I hoped and that’s two weeks in row we’ve let teams kick a few goals on us. “Our (midfielders) are really fit and we’ve got plenty of them so when they get their hands on the footy and kick it long it makes a fair bit of difference. “Its all about opportunity and not just win, loss at this time of year…we are trying a few different things and finding out a fair bit.” Valli continued his superb season with another best-afield display, racking up possessions at will and kicking two goals. Bennett (four goals) was also superb, his line-breaking run and clean skills on show in the opening half, while Stubber booted five majors and defensive pair Leighton Smith and Beau Ewen were rock solid. Kangas junior and now West Coast Eagles WAFL player Rhett Lloyd was a welcomed inclusion for the visitors and he won plenty of ball while Nick Barrow and Kobi Keen were also influential, forwards Jyrin Woods (three) and Brandon Woods (two) were effective and Angus McKercher were impressive in defence. With a host of changes prior to the Tigers clash, the Kangas also had to contend with the late withdrawal of Barry Roberts and then lost Christoff Cronje to an ankle injury in the second term. “It took us a bit to get into the game, in 15 minutes I don’t think we’d scored and they had four,” Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said. “We probably didn’t capitalise in the second with the bit of breeze, I think we had a bit of ball but they did take their opportunities, went down and scored into the breeze. “The third quarter got away from us a bit and then in the last I asked for a response and to see what sort of pride we had in the jumper…it was good that they fought it out. “I don’t think we are far off, we just turn ball over in crucial spots and hurts the feeling of the group sometimes.”