GSFL Round 10: Tigers and Bulls strengthen top two claims with strong wins, Lions snap four-game losing streak

A brilliant seven-goal haul from Zach Jackson fired Mt Barker to their sixth straight win in the Great Southern Football League, easily accounting for North Albany by 67 points in round 10 at Collingwood Park on Sunday. The result means the Bulls consolidate second spot on the GSFL ladder and they remain locked on 32 points with top side Railways, trailing narrowly behind on percentage. Despite the Kangas’ persistence, the Bulls finished strongly in the final quarter to run out decisive victors 18.8 (116) to 7.7 (49). The Kangas were buoyed by in-form goakicker Graham Ross, who calmly converted the first chance of the game. However the Bulls midfield pressure was relentless, with the ball locked in their offensive 50m arc for large periods of the first quarter before Jackson emerged to break the deadlock, kicking his first of the afternoon. Goals to Keegan Berry and Seth Jones helped the visitors to a nine-point advantage at the first change. The home side did their best to soak up the Bulls’ incessant pressure but two opening goals in the second quarter to Josh Price and Lincoln East had the Kangas on the back foot. Josh Price bobbed up again to convert a wonderful snap before the Bulls again won a quick clearance 30 seconds later to find the chest of a leading Jackson who slotted his second major. Ross stemmed the flow for the Kangas with his second but Jackson once again answered back to extend the margin to 25 points before Dylan Gowdie was yellow carded for rough conduct against Ross in the late stages of the second term. Jackson went to another level after the break, booting four goals in the third while David Stone also emerged to slot a rare goal as the Bulls pushed the margin to 50 points. Two late goals from Ben Dickinson and Woods gave the Kangas some life but the visitors outscored their opposition five goals to one in the last quarter to storm to an eighth win of the season and stretch their unbeaten streak to six games. Bulls Scott and Josh Price were prolific in the midfield while Joel Gray led from the front at stoppages. Jackson was unstoppable in the forward line as he finished with seven goals, defenders Camball McMahon and Darcy Wallinger were ever reliable in the back half and Keegan Berry chipped in with three majors. For the Kangas, Jyrin Woods was superb in the middle of the ground and Nathan Crudeli worked tirelessly. Alec Haskins toiled hard for the home side and Ross (three goals) was again a great target up front. Defending premiers Railways are closing in on a top two finish and finals double chance after an impressive 38-point win over Albany at Retravision Stadium on Saturday. The Tigers led at every change and set up their eighth win of the season with a powerful six-goal second term. However the win came at a significant cost, losing prime midfielder Logan Stubber to a serious finger injury and defender Mitch Green injured his hamstring. Matt Palfrey showed his class yet again, the talented former WAFL player producing another dominant display as the Tigers ran out winners 16.13 (109) to 10.11 (71). Two goals from Palfrey and singles from Stubber brothers Bodhi and Logan and small forward Jake Hunter helped the Tigers to a slender one-point lead over the Sharks at quarter time. Palfrey added a third in the second term, Logan Stubber kicked three majors while Isaac Williams and Mohit Jaggi also kicked truly as the Tigers stamped their authority on the contest. The six goals from the visitors were only halted by a Robbie Lee major but the Sharks trailed by 39 points at the long break. Star forwards Brett Peake and Matt Martin came to life in the third stanza as the Sharks got back into the contest. Peake booted three goals and Martin slotted two terrific set shots as the Sharks kicked five goals to two and trimmed the deficit to 20 points. Palfrey kicked two steadying goals in the third and added his sixth early in the fourth to stretch the visitors’ advantage to 26 points. The Tigers kicked the only two goals of the fourth, keeping the Sharks to only two behinds as they moved two games clear of their opponents in the top two as a result. Green and Logan Stubber (four goals) had a big impact on the result before their respective injuries while Palfrey was the most influential player on the ground with six goals. Wingman Dylan Schorer, midfielder Jayden Scott and Craig Frost were also solid contributors. Two poor quarters were again costly for the Sharks but they were best served by Peake with four goals while Lee and Cameron Jones both worked hard throughout the contest. A host of returning players helped Royals snap a four-game losing streak, cruising to a 90-point win over Denmark-Walpole at McLean Park on Saturday. Despite a resolute first half from the Magpies, the Lions exploded in the last two quarters to pile on 14 goals and record a fifth win of the season, 21.16 (142) to 8.4 (52). The home side was lively in the first term, hitting targets and taking uncontested marks, but the Lions held a slender three-point lead at quarter time. The Lions pressure ramped up in the second quarter and they quickly extended the advantage as goals to Regan Askevold, Jayson Ford and Nic Ashford opened up a 24-point buffer. The Magpies’ structure began to unravel as the Lions continued to hurt them with their spread and majors from Chandler Askevold-McDonald and Seb Stanton had the visitors firmly in control. However two quick-fire goals to the big-bodied Tyler Stone and then a superb goal on the run from Jaden Guidi cut the deficit to less than four goals at half time. But the floodgates opened in the second half as three quick consecutive goals to Askevold, Ford and Ben Altus set the Lions on their way. The visitors booted 10 goals to the Magpies three to run out convincing winners. Lions midfielders David Parker and Ryan Kinnear were damaging with their ball use while the returning Ford (three goals) offered plenty of pace and attacking pressure in the victory. Askevold led the way up front with four majors while Ashford and Askevold-McDonald kicked three goals each. The only sour point was returning midfielder Zak Mola getting knocked out in the fourth quarter after a tackle on the cricket pitch. An under-siege Reagan Hutchinson and Michael Hammond toiled hard for the Magpies in defence. Kadan King-Davies was also impressive in the losing side while Stone finished with four majors.