Mt Barker’s winning streak stretches to six games as star Zach Jackson boots seven to sink North Albany

Mt Barker coach David Johnson believes the performance of his younger crop of players was a key factor in the Bulls’ 67-point win over North Albany at Collingwood Park on Sunday. A fantastic seven-goal haul by Zach Jackson helped fire the Bulls to their sixth straight win in the Great Southern Football League, consolidating them in second spot on the ladder only 1.07 per cent behind Railways. Despite the Kangas’ persistence, the Bulls finished strongly in the last quarter to win 18.8 (116) to 7.7 (49). “We were pleased with the effort; we had eight changes from our last game and we had to dig deep in the reserves,” Johnson said. “I was concerned with their (Kangas) form and their improvement, so it was a bit of a danger game, I thought. “Our younger crew today really stepped up. Young Camball McMahon was outstanding, along with some others. “The young ones really stood up and probably drove the older ones as well. “The midfield was pretty good. “They (Kangas) got a couple out the back and we had to tighten our defensive structure up but we were pretty pleased overall and we had a good spread of goals in the end.” The Kangas were buoyed by in-form goal kicker Graham Ross, who calmly converted the first chance of the game. However, the Bulls’ midfield pressure was relentless, with the ball locked in their offensive 50m arc for large periods in the first quarter before Jackson emerged to break the deadlock, kicking his first of the afternoon. Goals to Keegan Berry and Seth Jones helped the visitors to a nine-point advantage at the first change. The home side did their best to soak up the Bulls’ incessant pressure but two opening goals in the second quarter to Josh Price and Lincoln East had the Kangas on the back foot. Josh Price bobbed up again to convert a wonderful snap, then the Bulls won a quick clearance 30 seconds later to find the chest of a leading Jackson, who slotted his second major. Ross stemmed the flow for the Kangas with his second but Jackson once again answered to extend the margin to 25 points before Dylan Gowdie was yellow-carded for rough conduct against Ross in the late stages of the second term. Jackson went to another level after the break, booting four goals in the third, while David Stone also emerged to slot a rare goal as the Bulls pushed the margin to 50 points. Two late goals from Ben Dickinson and Woods gave the Kangas some life but the visitors outscored their opposition five goals to one in the last quarter to storm to an eighth win of the season and stretch their unbeaten streak to six games. Bulls’ Scott and Josh Price were prolific in the midfield, while Joel Gray led from the front at stoppages. Jackson was unstoppable in the forward line as he finished with seven goals, defenders McMahon and Darcy Wallinger were ever reliable in the back half, and Keegan Berry chipped in with three majors. For the Kangas, Jyrin Woods was superb in the middle of the ground and Nathan Crudeli worked tirelessly. Alec Haskins toiled hard for the home side and Ross (three goals) was again a great target up front. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said turnovers continued to be an issue for his side. “Unfortunately we just keep butchering the ball and giving it back to the opposition,” he said. “Until we rectify that, which hurts ball movement and all those sorts of things, we’re going to keep being hot and cold.” Bootsma said it was also difficult having an ever-changing team. “It’s definitely not an excuse but having another four or five changes every week doesn’t help,” he said. “We’ve played nearly 40 players in the league this year, which is massive, but it’s probably no different to any other side. “We’re getting a lot of games into the young kids, which is great for the future, so we know where we are.”