GSFL 2024: Sharks red-hot start continues, Lions win thriller after siren and Bulls escape with lucky victory

Albany’s blistering start to the 2024 Great Southern Football League season continued with a crushing 98-point win over North Albany in trying conditions at Retravision Stadium on Sunday. As the rain poured so did the inside 50s in the way of the reigning premiers who put the Kangas’ defence under siege for most of their 16.18 (114) to 2.4 (16) victory. The ball seemed to live in the Kangas’ defence after quarter-time as the Sharks powered away with 13 unanswered goals in the final three terms. Sharks’ star duo Brett Peake and Taj Williams (both four goals) were ominous deep in their forward line but were met with a defiant Kangas defensive pair of Nick Barrow and Regan Lloyd. The Sharks owned the midfield slog-fest with Kaleb Germain showing polish and floating forward for two majors, while Isaac Baum (two goals), Robbie Lee and Brock Anning were all clean below their knees. Gun recruit Bailey Taylor’s physical presence was tough for the Kangas to match in the middle before he rotated forward for a well-deserved rest and finished with a goal. Despite the margin encroaching on triple figures in the final quarter, the Kangas still fought hard to the end and were by no means meek in defeat. Travis Conn and Jyrin Woods were the Kangas’ sole goal kickers in the heavy defeat, while Dawid Spangenberg and Kobi Keen toiled hard in the engine room. Royals secured a thrilling win over arch rivals Railways to start the new campaign with consecutive victories, this one coming thanks to a kick after the siren on Saturday. It took a cool, calm and collected Hamish McMorran to slot a difficult set shot after the siren for the Lions who mounted a spectacular comeback win against the Tigers. After missing a shot for the lead merely 30 seconds earlier, Lions’ co-captain McMorran (three goals) looked destined to rue his late chance of snatching the advantage late in the piece. Sitting four points in arrears to the Tigers as the seconds trickled down, the Lions went coast-to-coast from defensive 50 and McMorran clunked a strong mark in front of Tigers’ Tyson Beattie, gifting him another opportunity to be the hero. As the home-crowd car horns echoed across the ground, McMorran strolled in and kicked truly from about 40m out on a tough angle and the Lions faithful were in raptures in their 8.7 (55) to 6.17 (53) win at Tigerland. The Lions hit the lead midway through the last term when Nic Ashford (three goals) and Jaiden Mole combined in quick succession. But with less than five minutes to go, Zak Hortin wobbled one through from long range courtesy of a friendly bounce as the home side snatched a five-point lead. The Tigers had their fair share of opportunities in front of goals, particularly in the first quarter when they had a generous wind advantage and dominated possession but kicked a wasteful 2.8, both majors coming from the boot of player-coach Bodhi Stubber. The Tigers led by 13 points at half-time but wayward kicking left the door open and the visitors kicked three goals to two in the third to trim the deficit to nine points at the last change. Corey Ward was instrumental in the high-half-forward role, winning plenty of the ball and using it smartly to also kick a vital goal while Zak Mola was dogged in the midfield in his first game back. In a gritty, hard-fought game played in tight congestion and contests, Tigers’ Jayden Scott was found at the bottom of almost every pack while Bailey Bennett offered plenty on the outside. Hortin and Stubber kicked two goals each for the losing side, while Beau Ewen thrived in the wet and Lorcan McNamara was poised in the back half. The other round two clash on Saturday came down to the wire as well, as Mt Barker escaped with a one-point victory over Denmark-Walpole at Sounness Park. The Magpies produced a terrific final term to hit the front but the Bulls, who had been dangerous around stoppages all day, surged the ball forward and veteran Sam Lehmann used all his smarts to get out the back and kick the winning goal inside the final couple of minutes. A vastly changed Magpies outfit started strongly and led narrowly at quarter-time but the Bulls stormed back into the contest in the second term, booting four goals with the breeze. In heavy conditions Mitchell Pearce bobbed up with two goals while Lehmann and Camball McMahon also kicked truly to ensure the home side took a 16-point lead into the long break. Only three goals were kicked in a dour third term but an ill-disciplined Bulls side gave up a 100m penalty that gifted Revis Alone a major from the goal square as the Magpies snuck closer. The Magpies took that momentum into the final term as first Gus Brampton kicked slammed the ball on his boot into a vacant goal square and then Bailey Bennett kicked his third from a set shot to get them within three points at the 15-minute mark. Ben Olden was then awarded a free kick in the 21st minute and he kicked truly to put the Magpies in front by five points. Less than a minute later however the Bulls got an immediate response as the ball went over the back of a pack deep in the forward line and Lehmann happily strolled in to kick his third and snatch back the lead. Returning forward Brodie Duffield had a shot on goal late in the piece which landed short but it didn’t matter as his side hung on desperately for a 7.11 (53) to 8.4 (52) triumph. Midfield pair Daniel Patching and Tyreice Brown were superb in the Bulls’ first win of the season, Zach Jackson had his moments but spent the second half forward nursing a pectoral injury while Brent Parsons and Darcy Wallinger also had plenty of influence. The Magpies were wonderfully served by Reagan Hutchinson who controlled the game across half-back and gave plenty of drive. Marlon Mastalerz was dominant around the stoppages all afternoon, while fellow youngsters Noah Madaffari and Brampton also impressed and Banjo Watkins started strongly before a finger injury left him sidelined in the second half.