Mt Barker thrash a depleted Denmark-Walpole by 190 points as Zach Jackson stars with 12 goals

A brilliant 12-goal game from Mt Barker star Zach Jackson helped the Bulls jump to the top of the Great Southern Football League ladder after thumping a depleted Denmark-Walpole outfit by 190 points at Sounness Park on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls kicked 10 first-quarter goals to set themselves up for a demolition of the Magpies who had several missing players, including new player-coach Brad Nisbett. Jackson, a former East Fremantle player and brother of Melbourne premiership star Luke, kicked three majors in the first term and had four at half-time before adding eight in the second-half blitz. Bulls coach Dave Johnson was pleased with the way his side played. ‘We can’t really worry about the opposition today, that’s the league’s concern and for us it was just about our structure and our process,” he said. “We had to challenge ourselves, especially in that third quarter to keep that hard run going which is what got us through the first two games. “Zach was great, we had to manage him during the week with his hamstring but he wanted to play so not a bad effort for a bloke who had to go down to Perth to see the physio, he was terrific. “He also had great supply and it’s hard to look past our backs who had 20 entries. “I thought Lee Pavlovich was terrific as a rebound defender. “I was just really rapt with our discipline, we didn’t get carried away and we just talked about it’s not important who kicks the goals.” The Bulls dominated the struggling Magpies from the outset, piling on 10 goals in the opening term and finished with 10 majors in the fourth on their way to a thumping victory. Jackson playing as a deep forward booted five of his 12 goals in the fourth as the Bulls jumped to the top of the ladder with a percentage boosting win, 36.8 (224) to 5.4 (34). The margin was 96 points at half-time and it only got worse for the visitors from there. Josh Price was terrific on the wing for the winners along with midfield bull Bryce Blaszkow. Pavlovich was great in defence and Jackson, no surprise, was best-afield. In a low day for the Magpies, they were best served by Jaden Guidi, Ryan Gaerth and Tyler Stone (two goals). Magpies assistant coach Gaerth said player shortages made it tough for the Magpies. “Obviously we had a few guys doubling up today in reserves and we’re thankful they did, the twos had a good win so that’s positive,” he said. “A few guys pulled out late and we were already low on players anyway, Kadan (King-Davies) has done his wrist so he’s out for a couple of weeks. “When we’re already struggling a bit already and then you miss those guys it hurts, but it is what it is.”