GSFL 2023: Denmark-Walpole held scoreless in first half as reinforced Royals storm to big win on the road

A much strengthened Royals kept an undermanned Denmark-Walpole scoreless to half-time to help set up a dominant 94-point victory at McLean Park on Saturday. The visitors welcomed back several handy additions, including former South Fremantle player Steven Edwards, in their 16.11 (107) to 2.1 (13) win in round nine of the Great Southern Football League. Lions coach Andrew Ruck was pleased with how the host of inclusions played, but said it would take time for them to find their feet. “We had six or seven genuine A-graders, so it was great to get them back in,” he said. “They were a little bit rusty, but we ran the game out well.” The Magpies faced an uphill battle from bouncedown with the destined wooden-spooners only able to field 18 players. Ruck commended the Magpies’ efforts but said that result aside, it was pleasing to see his team execute. “I thought Denmark really tried today, but it was nice to see our guys play our brand of football,” Ruck said. “We weren’t too worried about the scoreboard; it comes down to the way we wanted to play and get some run in the legs of the guys we brought back in.” Mercurial goal sneak Jayson Ford, who was among the list of inclusions for the Lions, was dangerous in the forward 50 finishing with a game-high three goals, despite an injury scare in the second quarter. Edwards was prolific all day providing trademark run-and-carry off half-back, before being rotated forward in the second half. The Lions commanded the first quarter but were wasteful in front of goal and it took five attempts before Ford kicked his first major of the game to open the account for the Lions. The cogs began to turn for the visitors in the second quarter, Jaiden Alison rectified his early kicking woes to convert and kick-start a five-goal onslaught while keeping the hosts scoreless. The home side’s lack of available rotations began to show in the final term, which allowed the Lions to kick seven unanswered majors. Ruck lauded Magpie’s on-baller Tyler Stone who provided grunt through the engine room all game. “Tyler Stone was brilliant today and is still one of the best players in the competition and probably had 40 disposals,” he said. The Magpies toiled all day and showed glimpses of a slow, methodical game style but a lack of polish was their undoing. Coach Brad Nisbett commended his side’s diligence to their game plan, despite the heavy defeat. “Although we lost, it was pleasing to see them stick to the strategy and it did work to a degree,” he said. The Magpies were able to celebrate their first score in the third quarter when debutant Tyler Crommelin converted his set shot. “Tyler (Crommelin) usually plays reserves, but it was good to see him come up and kick a goal,” Nisbett said. Player availability has been an issue for the Magpies all season but Nisbett said that has not hampered his team’s morale. “The effort is there and has been most weeks, it’s just tough when we don’t have enough players to select from,” he said. The result gave the Lions a handy 16.15 per cent boost to solidify third spot on the GSFL ladder, tightening their grip on a finals berth.