Mt Barker boost finals aspirations, dominant third term helps Lions edge past Kangas and Tigers remain on top

Reigning premiers Royals outstayed a gallant North Albany outfit to record their eighth win of the season in round nine of the Great Southern Football League today. The 21-point win at Collingwood Park in NAIDOC Round helped the Lions move four games clear in second spot with six rounds to play in the regular season. The Kangas led by a single point at half-time but couldn’t hold off the reigning premiers who piled on six goals in the third stanza to set up the 13.7 (85) to 9.10 (64) victory. Declan McNamara returned to the Lions outfit and got over the back in the opening 30 seconds of the third term to soccer through the first major of the half out of mid-air. David Parker broke clear and streamed inside 50 to hand the visitors two goals in the opening few minutes before debutant Cameron Lazar pushed the margin out to 17 points. The Kangas responded through Lachy Hansen but the Lions kicked the last three goals of the term to hold a 28-point advantage at the last change. The Lions pushed the margin out beyond five goals early in the final term, putting the game out of reach for the Kangas who kicked the last two goals of the game. Brayden Parker was everywhere across half-back while Cameron Allison was solid through the midfield and youngsters Ben Altus and Lorcan McNamara were also strong contributors. Lazar, Cooper Childs, Hamish McMorran and Declan McNamara kicked two goals each. Mitch Lenegan was a standout for the Kangas while Rhori Williams-Jolley kicked three goals and was very good all day. Midfielders Jacob Crowe and Nathan Crudeli worked hard. Mt Barker boosted their finals aspirations with a spirited 16-point victory over Albany at Centennial Stadium yesterday. The Bulls notched their second win of the season and moved within one game of fourth spot after finishing 16.12 (108) to 13.14 (92) victors. Former AFL player Nathan Krakouer made a shock appearance for the Bulls and finished with three goals. Krakouer played 82 AFL games for Port Adelaide and Gold Coast before making a one-off appearance for the Bulls in 2019. He tried to transfer to different leagues in WA and South Australia earlier this year but both clearances were denied. The visitors set up the victory in the first half as they led by 14 points at the main break. Ex-AFL player Brett Peake kicked the first goal of the game for the Sharks before the Bulls responded with the next three. The Sharks hit back with two of their own but a second goal to Josh Price helped the visitors take a six-point advantage into the first change. Price kicked the opening two goals of the second quarter as his side booted five goals to three to stretch their lead to just over two goals at the main break. The third stanza was very even at four goals apiece with the Sharks kicking the first four goals including a fourth to Jesse Barrett to help his side take a nine-point lead midway through the term. The Bulls slotted the last four goals of the term including back-to-back goals to Steven Scott, holding onto a 15-point buffer at the main break. The margin blew out to 28 points early in the fourth and despite the Sharks whittling it down to 17 midway through the term, they were unable to overrun a desperate Bulls outfit. Josh Price finished with four goals, while Sam Lehmann and Nathan Krakouer kicked three each. Jack Horrocks, Scott Price, Joel Gray and Keegan Berry were also standout performers. Barrett finished with four majors and was outstanding all day while Peake (two goals), Sam Christo (2) and Robbie Lee were also among their best. Railways marched to their seventh straight victory of the season after easily accounting for Denmark-Walpole at McLean Park yesterday. The Tigers sit at the top of the standings and boast a very handy percentage after their commanding 86-point victory against an undermanned Magpies. Key quartet Shayne Zanetti, Ash McGrath, Ash Smith and Angus Allen were all unable to play for the home side due to the Perth and Peel lockdown while locals Alec Haskins, Tyler Stone, Ryan Gaerth were also missing. The Tigers jumped out of the blocks and lead by 21 points at the first change after kicking four goals in the first term. Young key forward Coen Jackman kicked his second goal of the match after the half-time siren to push the margin out to 31 points by the main break. The Magpies were held scoreless in the third stanza as the visitors piled on five unanswered goals including a second to captain Bodhi Stubber, with the margin blowing out to 68 points heading into the final term. Todd Brown kicked the Magpies second goal of the game in the last term but the Tigers added three of their own to finish 14.18 (102) to 2.4 (16) winners. Jackman and Doug Roberts finished with three goals while Stubber added two. Kane Shephard was a strong contributor and Craig Frost worked hard. Brown and Cody Bennell were the only goal kickers for the Magpies who were best served by Barry Roberts, David Scriven, Sam Finigan and Simon Barker.