New recruit Matthew Martin bags four as Albany Sharks hold off determined Denmark-Walpole in season-opener

Albany coach Jamie Ramm believes there are good signs for the Sharks going forward after they produced a solid performance against Denmark-Walpole at Retravision Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks were convincing 42-point winners in the opening round of the Great Southern Football League season, dominating the contest for large patches against a determined Magpies to prevail, 15.9 (99) to 8.9 (57). A nine goal to five first-half set up the Sharks’ opening win of the 2022 campaign and star recruit Matthew Martin booted four majors in his first GSFL appearance. Ramm was pleased with the result but said there was still plenty his side can be better at for the remainder of the season. “It was a good win but we’ve got a bit to improve on yet,” he said. “It’s the first game of the year, so both teams are a bit rusty but all we can do is aim to improve. “Kane Pinney was good at centre half-back along with Max Baker and Cameron Jones. “I thought (Denmark) fought really hard all day and it was a good game of footy.” The Sharks produced an impressive team performance, spreading the ball well across the ground, winning plenty of clearances and peppering the ball inside 50 all day. Zac Pearson (four goals) was lively early on, kicking three goals in a high-scoring first term as the Sharks hit the front early. Former AFL player Brett Peake enjoyed a dazzling second quarter, kicking two significant goals in quick succession to put the pressure on the Magpies. The Sharks put their foot on the gas in the third term, and two goals to Martin and a major to Jones halted any momentum the Magpies hoped to generate. Pinney was solid at centre half-back showing composure throughout the contest, Jones battled hard in the midfield while Fraser Eaton and Robbie Lee were also impressive. The Magpies were best served by midfielder Chris Miller and Michael Hammond who won plenty of the ball along with Kadan King-Davies and Jaden Guidi. The Magpies toiled hard all day, refusing to let the margin blow out as Miller and debutant Hammond were determined in their attack on the ball. The visitors tried to hit back in the fourth with goals from Tyler Stone and Daniel Rowling but the Sharks had the answers as Marcus Gleave, William Morris and Pearson’s fourth sealed the result. Stone took a spectacular mark on the wing in the fourth quarter, rising up on the back of a Sharks opponent. New Magpies player-coach Brad Nisbett said he was happy with his side’s effort under trying circumstances, despite the result. “I was pretty happy with the performance, and we managed to just scrape a team together,” he said. “We had to cancel our reserves game, so it could have been a lot worse. It wasn’t too bad from the boys, they had a crack which is the main thing. “Our new player Chris Miller was good and Michael Hammond played really well across half-back.”