GSFL grand final: Railways claim back-to-back league premierships after outlasting gallant Albany Sharks

Railways secured back-to-back Great Southern Football League premierships after outlasting a gallant challenge from Albany in front of a big crowd at Collingwood Park on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers were forced to dig deep to claim their fourth GSFL flag and seventh premiership in history, kicking clear in the third term and then withstanding strong pressure in the fourth to win by 29 points. There were seven lead changes in a thrilling opening half as former AFL player Brett Peake ignited the Sharks to life early on. The Sharks kicked the first two majors of the third to level scores but the crucial period in the game came after that as the Tigers piled on the next five goals to set up a match-winning advantage at three quarter time. Tigers star and dual Kleemann medallist Matt Palfrey booted three goals to help his side gain control and majors to Mohit Jaggi and hardworking wingman Dylan Schorer pushed the Tigers’ lead to 29 points by the last change. The resilient Sharks were not done with yet though and five minutes into the fourth Matt Galantino kicked his second from close range. The margin was reduced to 17 when a minute later Brock Anning slotted another for the Sharks and then Robbie Lee missed a shot on the run. However the Tigers responded as Jaggi kicked a steadying major but that was cancelled out when Peake booted his fifth of the game at the 18-minute mark of the fourth and he let the Tigers defenders know all about it. Galantino missed a chance to get the deficit under two goals and the Tigers made them pay as Clay Michael kicked a clever goal out of mid-air and then Beau Ewen capped a stellar game with his third to seal the 15.8 (98) to 10.9 (69) victory. Ewen won the Alan Barnett Medal as the best player on the ground for his tremendous clearance work in the midfield and three critical goals. Palfrey was yet again a key part of the Tigers’ premiership win, booting four goals and producing a couple of clutch moments in the middle of ground in the second half. Midfielder Logan Stubber was prolific around the stoppages, Schorer provided superb drive and the Tigers’ defensive unit was rock solid. Matt France held Matt Martin goalless, Haydn Sproxton hardly put a foot wrong and captain Bodhi Stubber intercepted well and propelled the ball forward on numerous occasions. Michael and Jaggi were also multiple goal kickers for the winners. The Sharks had a terrific start, mainly thanks to Peake who kicked the first two majors of the game. Opposed to Fraser Grant, the 39-year-old kicked a brilliant dribble goal from the boundary to start the game, slotted a second soon after and then kicked a third on the run as his Sharks led by 12 points at one stage. The Tigers led by six points at the first break only after Peake had what appeared to be a fourth goal touched by an opponent and deemed a point. The Sharks led at three different occasions in the second term but the two majors from Ewen and one from Schorer ensured their side took an 11-point buffer into the long break. Midfielders Fraser Eaton and Isaac Baum were outstanding in a losing affair and Peake wowed the big crowd on hand with his early heroics. Peake finished with 5.4 and had a number of other shots fall short in a dazzling display. The Sharks also had strong contributions from Marlin Bennett and defensive pair Kane Pinney and Kieran Zilm. A dominant second quarter helped Royals upset Denmark-Walpole in the colts grand final, handing the Magpies their sole loss of the season with an 18-point victory. The Lions trailed by eight points at the main break but three goals to Rory Luscombe in the second half set the Lions on their way as they surged home to a 12.5 (77) to 8.11 (59) premiership victory. Magpies big man Todd Brown won the Panizza Brothers Medal for a glittering performance through the middle in a losing affair. The Lions bounced back from a lacklustre first quarter to outlast the Tigers in a fiery encounter, emerging as nine-point winners against their cross-town rivals in the reserves grand final. The Lions trailed by 23 points at the first break but a determined second half was the catalyst as they stormed home to a famous 12.10 (82) to 11.7 (73) victory. Lions forward Cleve Humphries won the Jim Hull Medal as best-afield in the win. The Sharks led at every change to emerge as dominant 47-point winners over the Lions in the 16s grand final. A strong start helped the Sharks open up a 27-point lead at the main break and they never looked back, holding the Lions to just two goals for the entire contest. Kaleb Germain (three goals) was named best on ground in the 9.9 (63) to 2.4 (16) victory.