GSFL Preliminary Final: Albany Sharks into historic first grand final after emphatic victory over Mt Barker

Albany produced an inspired preliminary final performance to create history, progressing to a maiden league grand final after proving far too strong for Mt Barker at Sounness Park on Sunday afternoon. The Sharks have come from fourth place to reach their first Great Southern Football League grand final, accounting for Royals in an elimination final and now brushing aside the Bulls by 46 points to set up a showdown with Railways for the 2022 premiership. Classy trio Isaac Baum, Matt Martin and Brett Peake combined for 12 goals as they powered the Sharks to a 17.8 (110) to 9.10 (64) triumph and the Bulls were bundled out of the finals in straight sets after finishing second on the ladder. The GSFL preliminary final was played in front of a large crowd but the home supporters were silenced early in the game as a rampant Sharks outfit piled on seven goals kicking to the end favoured by the wind. Key forward Matt Martin was on fire in the first term as he marked everything that came his way and slotted four majors to help the Sharks open up a 30-point lead. The Bulls clicked into gear in the second, as Lincoln East and Steven Scott each kicked two goals, and the four unanswered majors helped trim the deficit to just two points. But it was a determined Sharks side that regained control early in the second half, Baum kicking a huge long-range goal from the boundary and then Peake slotted two in quick succession both from free kicks. Another quick transition led to Baum snapping his third and when he dribbled through a fourth the Sharks had quickly pushed the deficit back beyond 30 points. Matt Galantino made things increasingly harder for the home side when he put the Sharks 39 points in front but the Bulls went into three-quarter time with a glimmer of hope after late majors from Scott Price and veteran Sam Lehmann. The Bulls needed a massive final term to overhaul a 28-point deficit and Sharks midfielder Marlin Bennett drew first blood when he launched one from the 50m arc and it bounced through. Lehmann, who tried valiantly all afternoon in attack, brought the margin back to 27 points when he jailed his fourth goal but it was all the visitors from that point on. The Sharks kicked the final three goals of the game, including a fourth to a fired-up Peake, sealing their place in the decider. The visitors were clear winners in the middle of the ground, winning the majority of the clearances and pounding the ball forward time and time again. Baum was outstanding around the stoppages and kicked four goals when pushing forward, to be one of the most influential players on the ground. The Sharks got great contributions from Jake Louthean in the midfield, Bennett was hard at the ball at day and Robbie Lee was again damaging on a wing. Cameron Jones was rock-solid in defence for the winners, while twin spearheads Martin and Peake finished with four goals each. The Bulls had one of their worst performances of the season in the cut-throat final and were left to rue kicking two goals in the first term and adding just one major in the last. Lehmann tried his best to will the home side over the line, kicking four quality goals and presented hard in attack all day. Midfielder Joel Gray won a stack of possessions and provided great drive while Kleemann medallist Zach Jackson also worked hard and played mainly in the middle of the ground. Lee Pavlovich, Bryce Blaszkow and Josh Price were also strong figures for the Bulls in the defeat. The Bulls regained young intercept defender Darcy Wallinger from a calf injury for the preliminary final and also brought in Clayton Wood with Brent Parsons (knee) and Jack Horrocks making way. The Sharks also made two changes with captain Tait McLean recovering from a hamstring injury and Jack Day returned to replace Jayden Zilm (groin) and Simon Mason. In the minor grades, Royals were dominant winners in the sixteens preliminary final defeating Railways by 55 points while the Lions also enjoyed a thumping 65-point win in the colts against the Tigers. In the reserves preliminary final, the Tigers led at every change in a comfortable 34-point win over North Albany and reach the grand final.