GSFL seniors fall at the final hurdle again

The Great Southern Football League have suffered grand final defeat in division 3 of the Landmark Country Football Championships for the second straight year.

In a fantastic four-quarter tussle the lead changed hands several times in the last half but Regional Allstars kicked the final three goals of the game to run out 13-point winners at Claremont Oval.

Former Claremont player Keifer Yu proved the difference for the winners, booting three class goals including a major after the three quarter time siren that gave his side the lead.

With John Lee in great touch up forward, the GSFL led by five points at quarter time after two majors from Lee and one from Rick Wallis.

Regional Allstars kicked the first two majors of the second but Wallis booted his second and the GSFL had a slender one-point advantage at the main break.

A wonderful snap from GSFL veteran Dionne Woods and then a Jake Becroft major were cancelled out by Alex Byrne and then the Yu goal after the siren, which came from a free kick 40m out directly in front.

The GSFL went six points ahead early in the final term after a lovely goal from Jack Steel on the run but Regional Allstars were not done with.

Yu’s influence continued to grow and his third followed by a major from Braydon Wood put Regional Allstars seven points up.

Michael Burgess sealed the deal, as Regional Allstars claimed the grand final 9.7 (61) to 7.6 (48).

Yu was clearly best-afield but the medal for best on ground adjudged by the umpires went to lead-up forward Byrne who was a constant headache for the GSFL.

Simple skill errors were very costly for the lack of a genuine key forward came back to hurt the GSFL.

Defenders Luke Hutcheson and Harrison Lill did well under plenty of pressure throughout the match while Joel Want, Alex Pearce and Hamish McMorran were also among the GSFL’s best.

Parker and Kane Shephard were rewarded with Landmark Allstars jumpers.