Country Championships: Electric start as Great Southern score two big wins to sit top of division three ladder

The Great Southern Football League have sent a strong message to the rest of their division three opponents with two crushing victories putting them in the box seat for a grand final berth. Their forward line was dynamic at one end while their defence was resolute at the other, conceding just one goal through their opening two matches of the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships at Gil Fraser Reserve on Friday. After thumping Onshore Cup in their opening match by 115 points they eased past North Midlands by 44 points in their second match to sit top of the division with a jaw-dropping percentage of 1866.67. However, Great Southern found themselves in an eerily similar position after day one of the championships last year, yet remarkably missed the decider. Coach Glynn Verbruggen said his side must focus on their recovery and remain steadfast on their mission if they are to avoid last year’s disappointing ending. “We need to really recover now and need to probably take on board what happened last year,” he said. “But it’s a new year and need to go in with a positive attitude. “We have got probably a fresher group coming off two games of footy. A few guys were a little bit sore, but having those fresher guys that only played one game today will help us out (on Saturday).” GSFL leading goalkicker Brett Peake and livewire Revis Alone starred inside-50 across both matches while Jayden Scott was prolific in the midfield with stints up forward. Ryley Valli was instrumental in the midfield alongside Bailey Taylor while defenders Kane Pinney, Brayden Parker and Cam Jones rebounded tirelessly in the back half. They will be sweating on the fitness of newly elected captain Isaac Baum who was subject to a concussion test and gun Zach Jackson who injured his knee in the opening game, for the second day of their championships. Great Southern started their 2024 campaign in devastating style with a 19-goal onslaught against Onshore Cup, keeping their weary opponents goalless in the process. They dominated from the opening bounce and pounded on four goals in as many minutes on their way to the resounding triple figure victory. Revis Alone was sensational in the forward half with special moments highlighting their 10-goal first half and finished with three majors in the opening period, including two spectacular snaps. Former North Fremantle forward Peake filled his boots on his old home turf with five majors while Jayden Scott thrived in the midfield and pushed forward to kick five majors. Ryan Davies and Robbie Lee’s speed around the ball proved pivotal in the 19.3 (117) to 0.2 (2) win and Zach Jackson excelled inside-50 with two majors. Onshore were best served by Owen Jones, Glen Sutton, Jordon Engle, Cody Bavoillot and Adam Worlley. Great Southern continued their blistering start against North Midlands with a resounding 8.3 (51) to 1.1 (7) victory later on Friday. Many of their attacks were set up by their star-studded half-back line who generated devastating counterattacks allowing Matt Martin (two goals), Peake (three) and Alone (two) to make the most of their one-on-one opportunities. Great Southern will play back-to-back games on Saturday morning at Fremantle Community Bank Oval starting at 10am against the only other undefeated team Esperance before facing Central Wheatbelt at 11am. A win in one of those two qualifying games will secure Great Southern a grand final berth on Sunday morning. “Really pleased with the boys, all three lines were really strong over both games of footy,” Verbruggen said. “100 per cent (the back-to-back games are a bonus), really excited for the two games, we will get out there and crack into the first game and then hopefully roll into the second one.”