GSFL 2023: Kangas notch first victory, Sharks win feisty derby over Lions and Tigers make it two straight

North Albany forward Graham Ross booted eight goals as his side demolished Denmark-Walpole by 104 points in round two of the Great Southern Football League at Collingwood Park on Sunday. A 12-goal to four first-half helped set up the win for the Kangas and despite a resilient and determined Magpies, they dominated the contest for the majority of play to prevail 21.15 (141) to 5.7 (37) at the final siren. The Kangas kicked nine goals without a blemish in the first quarter to the Magpies’ two, skipping out to a 41-point lead at the first break after a rampant opening period. The visitors showed grit to stay in the contest throughout the second quarter as Reagan Hutchinson and Bradley Cochrane snagged clever goals to stay within 50 points at the main break. However six unanswered goals to the home side in the third quarter compounded the Magpies anguish as the game slipped further out of reach. Despite a late goal to Simon Barker, Ross booted two final-quarter goals along with Jackson Cosh to push the margin out to triple figures as the Magpies fell to a second straight defeat. Ross booted a game-high eight goals and could have had plenty more, finishing with 8.6 in an outstanding display. Cosh (three goals) was damaging on the wing and in the forward line to finish as a multiple goal-kicker along with Lucas Ravenhill (three) and Jyrin Woods (three). Woods was damaging with clearances alongside Nathan Crudeli, while Harrison Smith worked hard to set up his teammates from defence. Jackson Davidson showed class with the ball and co-captain Nick Barrow caused plenty of problems playing primarily as a half-forward. For the Magpies, Josh Thompson was their best contributor, marking well overhead across the ground in all four quarters, while Barry Roberts showed plenty of dash off half-back on a difficult day. The Magpies have lost by a combined 286 points in the first two rounds of the new season. Albany are on top of the GSFL ladder after withstanding a strong challenge from Royals in a fiery Retravision Stadium derby on Saturday. Sharks star and former St Kilda and Fremantle player Brett Peake was sensational with eight goals, as he antagonised the Lions in the 25-point win. Peake was on fire in a high-scoring second term kicking four majors and one which sparked a scuffle early on but the Sharks put seven on the board to open up a 26-point buffer. That proved decisive as the Lions had to do a mountain of work to get back into the game from that point. The Sharks lost ruckman Stewart Davies to a calf injury before the main break and the Lions dominated the stoppages and the ruck battle in the last half as they mounted a comeback. Taylor Powell kicked two in quick succession and when small forward Justin Galos dribbled through his second the margin was back to seven points midway through the third. Peake provided a steadying goal for his side and then Isaac Baum converted and there were more words spoken after Peake slotted his seventh nearing three-quarter-time with the buffer back to 22 points. The Lions weren’t done with, however, as ruckman Nathan Powell continued to give his midfielders first use but they managed only three behinds early in the fourth. That run of misses was broken by Joel Flick who got it back to 13 points but again it would be Peake who stood up. The 118-game AFL player slammed through his eighth and again there was more push and shove between the two sides while the ball was being returned to the middle. The margin got back to 13 points after Nick Ashford kicked a set shot but majors from impressive recruit Harry Hordacre and then youngster Connor McCandless sealed the 16.6 (102) to 11.11 (77) win for the Sharks. Kane Pinney was superb as an intercepting defender while Kieran Zilm was also influential in quelling Taylor Powell to only two goals. Robbie Lee provided drive throughout the day, Hordacre kicked three in a lively display and Bryce Blaszkow was busy in the opening half during the battle of the co-tenants. The Lions were best served by Nathan Powell and young ball winner Ben Altus. Joel Flick was also prominent and Ryan Flick was damaging when pushed up the ground, while Ryan Kinnear (two goals) and Corey Ward tried valiantly to get their side back into the contest. Railways continued their perfect start to the 2023 season with a commanding 82-point win over Mt Barker at Souness Park on Saturday. The Tigers showed no signs of a premiership hangover against the Bulls, making it back-to-back wins to start their season undefeated. Both sides traded goals in the opening term and it looked as though, for the second week running, the Bulls were a fighting chance against the odds. However the reigning premiers outscored their opposition 16 goals to three in the final three quarters, streaming away with a 19.12 (126) to 6.8 (44) victory. Tigers’ Joel Want and Bulls’ Daniel Patching both stepped up in the first term, kicking two goals each in a tight opening but the Tigers led by a point at the first break. Six majors for the Tigers in the second term put the clamps on and to make matters worse, star midfielder Scott Price went down with a nasty rib injury as a result of a tackle and failed to return to the game. Despite an even third quarter, the Tigers kicked nine of the last three goals as Clay Michael (five goals) came alive, kicking four of those. The Bulls had something to cheer about when Camball McMahon rose on the back of Jaxon Lombardini in the forward line, taking a spectacular mark early in the third quarter but he failed to convert the shot at goal. A late goal to Tigers youngster Toby Hall lifted the energy of his teammates early in the final term, nailing a stunning check-side kick from a tight angle in the pocket. Want was terrific for the second week in a row, leading well at half-forward to finish with five majors, while small forward Steel bagged three and the returning Dylan Holt added two. Jayden Scott won plenty of clearances and the outside run of Mitch Green and Ryan Davies caused problems for the opposition all day. Lombardini and Tom Gawned provided a strong marking presence across the ground, while Josh Duffield was also serviceable in the ruck. Despite the hefty margin, Lee Pavlovich was outstanding in the Bulls’ defensive arc, cutting off multiple entries and setting his side up the other way. Patching (two goals) toiled hard in the forward half while pacy midfielder Joel Gray (two) also shone.