GSFL 2024: Albany power past Railways, Royals thump Denmark-Walpole and Mt Barker celebrate milestone in style

Reigning premiers Albany maintained their spot at the top of the Great Southern Football League ladder, one of three teams to score percentage-boosting wins in round nine at the weekend. The Sharks were far too strong for their grand final opponent of last year Railways, notching a commanding 64-point win at Tigerland on Sunday to remain as ladder leaders. Meanwhile Royals and Mt Barker were also comfortable winners on Saturday. The Tigers got the ideal start when player-coach Bodhi Stubber slotted a long-range set shot in the opening minute but from then it was all the Sharks as the visitors plundered 13 of the next 15 goals on their way to a resounding 13.14 (92) to 3.10 (28) away triumph. The Sharks played the game largely on their terms with consistent contributors across all three lines, as they responded to last week’s loss to the Lions in impressive fashion. Aiden Clark and Kane Pinney were spectacular across half-back while Brett Peake was the beneficiary of their polished work higher up the field and finished with a game-high five goals. Harvey Taylor played an instrumental role up and down the ground with precise foot skills and Isaac Baum generated a lot of their dangerous attacks and finished with two goals. After Stubber’s opener, Baum and debutant Ned Shepherd (two goals) combined in quick succession before Lewis Bosch and Peake added their first majors nearing quarter-time to open up a 17-point lead. Peake then added his second and third at the beginning of the second quarter before Tigers’ Joel Want snapped truly for a much-needed goal that snapped a string of six unanswered goals. With a lead of 26 points at the long break, the same silky Sharks emerged after half-time as Pinney and Clark really began to impose themselves on the match. The pair thwarted numerous Tiger passages and launched their side’s offence. Haydn Sproxton and Angus Thompson each missed simple chances to score crucial goals for the hosts before Peake finished off a beautifully worked coast-to-coast goal for his fourth to rub salt into the Tigers’ wounds. The hosts’ back six were under siege all match but were best served by Declan Willey, Beau Ewen and Ryan Davies who were tasked with a mountain of work in the defensive half. The Lions kept themselves locked in the top two with a 96-point demolition of Denmark-Walpole at Retravision Stadium on Saturday. The Lions kicked five unanswered goals in the first term and added 12 more in a rampant second half, on their way to a seventh win of the season. Jaiden Mole, who had three majors to his name by quarter-time, kicked seven of the home side’s 20 goals while the work of midfield pair Zak Mola and Declan McNamara was instrumental. Mola and McNamara were clinical around the stoppages, ruck Stephen Beal (two goals) was again terrific and Jaiden Alison added four majors as the Lions coasted to a big win, 20.8 (128) to 4.8 (32). The Lions led by 29 points at the first change and extended that to 43 by the long break despite Josh Morris-Parmer breaking the visitors’ goal drought in the second. Mole took his tally to six by the last change as the Lions went up another gear, dominating the midfield battle and scoring efficiently. The Lions kicked 12 goals to three in the second half but the only concern was midfielder David Parker who copped an accidental boot to the head in the second term and didn’t play any further part in the game. Marlon Mastalerz was superb in a losing affair for the Magpies and was well-supported by Isaac Pomery, Banjo Watkins, Dermot Malone and Gus Brampton (two goals). Magpies’ Jesse Court and Brad Keast both received yellow cards in the the first half. Keast never returned after his 15-minute penalty while Morris-Parmer didn’t finish the game and the big worry for the Magpies was a knee injury to star Reagan Hutchinson. In the final game of the round, the Bulls bounced back onto the winners’ list after last week’s loss to the Tigers, with a resounding 123-point win over North Albany on Saturday. The Bulls, who welcomed back Mitch and Zach Jackson and coach Brad Hook, all from suspension, were every bit of their punishing best with a 13-goal to two second half to waltz to a 24.19 (163) to 6.4 (40) victory. Ashley Wallam (eight goals) and Zach Jackson (seven) filled their boots in the sensational win at Sounness Park on Saturday, with relentless inside-50s putting the Kangas defences under severe pressure. The Bulls swarmed the Kangas with their ravenous tackle pressure and brutal game style which has become a trademark of their season so far, forcing turnovers in crucial areas before punishing their opponents on the scoreboard. The result handed resolute defender Lee Pavlovich a winning milestone, as he was chaired from the ground after playing his 175th league game to earn life membership with the Bulls. Pavlovich and fellow defender Darcy Wallinger worked in tandem as a human fort in front of the Kangas’ forward line, rebounding tirelessly across half-back as Brent Parsons thrived in the middle. The Bulls have discovered a gem in Wallam, who impressed in only his third game for the club and has provided excellent cover for injured key forward Sam Lehmann. Wallam booted three of their seven opening-quarter goals as the Bulls charged to a 37-point lead at the first change. The Kangas showed resilience in the second with Barry Roberts thumping through two and Jyrin Woods one, but the hosts extended their lead to 47 points at the long break. After half-time, the Bulls powered past the Kangas again, fuelled by an exceptional quarter from star midfielder Zach Jackson who kicked the first four goals of the half, leading his team to seven unanswered majors. The floodgates remained open in the last with the Bulls booting seven goals including one from the boot of Pavlovich on his big day, drawing teammates from all over the round to celebrate. Kangas skipper Nick Barrow provided respite with his skilful line-breaking runs, while Kobi Keen’s impressive work rate was a focal point for the visitors. Barry Roberts finished with a team-high two goals and Drew Willcocks competed hard in the ruck all day.