GSFLW 2023: First week of finals awaits as trio of inaugural players reach 50-game milestones together

Three players will make history in the Great Southern Football League Women’s competition as they run out in their 50th games on Friday night in their respective semifinals. Royals’ Gracie Gibson and Hayley Ashboth will play in their milestone matches as teammates when they face Denmark-Walpole in the first semifinal on Friday night at Retravision Stadium. On the opposite side of Lockyer Avenue, Railways’ Ksharna Coyne will run out for her 50th game in Tigers colours as they tackle Albany at Tigerland in the other semifinal. Gibson has played for the Lions since the competition’s inception in 2019 and is looking forward to being part of the continuing rise in women’s football participation. “The opportunity just to be able to grow in the women’s game and to show that we are a big competition down here has been great,” she said. “It’s been really good to have played from the start, especially watching how the competition has grown. “We started off in a season that had about four rounds and it was all thrown together, to now playing a full 10 rounds plus finals — it’s huge. “I think I maybe missed one game with a calf injury. “I’m very lucky to have played pretty much all the games, especially because I was driving down from Perth last season, too. “The culture that has been created throughout the league in a short time has been great. To be a role model for the youth that is coming through now is amazing.” Gibson said her side would not take the Magpies lightly as they looked to complete a perfect season in the next fortnight. “We’re going to take it quarter by quarter and just see how we go but we’ve got a really strong core and we’re spoilt for choice with our players,” she said. “We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves but when we came into the season, we prepared for a 12-game season and we’ll be ready.” Ahead of her milestone game, Ashboth said she was looking forward to watching a new crop of exciting talent take the game to the next level. “Playing 50 games is an awesome feeling and I think for women’s footy, the best is really yet to come,” she said. “I’m for sure looking forward to playing on as much as I can. “I reckon I’ve got a few more seasons left as long as I get a good run with injuries. “Just watching some of the young girls coming up through Auskick now is great. “They are all super-athletic and fast. “It’s going to be good watching plenty more reach milestones.” The Lions head into the fixture undefeated, having won 10 games on the trot in 2023, while the Magpies have had five wins and five losses. The Magpies were held scoreless in both their previous fixtures with the Lions earlier in the season, going down by 28 points in round three and 19 points in round eight. “You never really know with footy — anything can happen,” Ashboth said. “We’ll be hoping for a win. “We’d be pretty upset if we went 10-10 and had a loss in the finals so we’re all ready.” Meanwhile, the Tigers will be looking to keep their dream of back-to-back flags alive. In their last meeting, the two sides played out a thrilling draw in a wet and windy round-eight contest, while the Sharks were 17-point winners against the Tigers in round three. Coyne, 19, said she was thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of the first group of players to reach the 50-game milestone. “It feels really good to be a part of the first three players to reach it and it’s good to see the game growing,” she said. “I’ve only missed one game since the start of the competition through COVID. “Hopefully we have a win on the weekend considering they won against us this year and there was a draw. I feel like the girls are in with a good chance. “They have quite a few options and they’re fit with a good midfield so it will be tough all game.” The two semifinals will start at 6.45pm.