Tigers record second straight win

Railways recorded a second consecutive victory to consolidate their position in the top four, running out comfortable 121-point winners over Albany in round 3 of the Great Southern Football League at Tigerland on Saturday.

The two sides met for the first time in 2017 and both made a stack of changes to their line-ups, which included Tigers premiership player Nathan Woods returning to his original club, the Sharks.

The Sharks started brightly again, kicking the first two goals of the game, with Michael Simpson and Shaquille Narrier lively up forward, and trailed the home side by just 21 points at the first break.

But the Tigers kicked clear in the second term, booting six goals — including two from reborn forward Haydn Sproxton — as they extended their margin to 46 points.

Woods was given a yellow card early in the second quarter, and nearing half-time both sides were reduced to 17 men when Sharks’ Jordan Garrood and Tigers’ Nathan Penn received red cards for striking one another.

The Tigers midfield dominated after quarter-time as chief ball-winners Zane Marwick and Logan Stubber were superb around the stoppages and Joel Want and Jarrod Whittle also stood out.

Full forward Coen Marwick had the yips early, but then found his range, kicking three majors in the third term and finishing with a bag of seven goals as the Tigers cruised home, 24.16 (160) to 6.3 (39).

In another performance sure to attract Kleemann Medal votes, Zane Marwick gathered 35 possessions and kicked five goals, while Stubber (two goals) and Want found plenty of the ball. Young pair Tom Wolfe and Jack Steel also impressed for the Tigers in their third win of the season.

“They got the jump on us but then our mids got their hands on it and took control,” Tigers coach Craig Frost said.

“We are not turning the ball over as much and using the footy smarter which is pleasing.”

The Sharks were well served by Simpson (two goals), ruckman Stewart Davies and the exciting Narrier (three goals) but another knee injury to Jack Banks added further pain to the winless side.

“Fitness hurt us again, we had no bench in the last quarter,” Sharks coach Scott Sedgwick said.

“We just ran out of legs in the second half and as the game goes on our structure breaks down.”