Grand final agony for GSFL

Great Southern Football League’s senior team have fallen agonisingly short of winning the division 2 title at this year’s Landmark Country Football Championships, losing to the Lower South West Football League by two points at Medibank Stadium this afternoon.

After a brilliant beginning to the championships where they won all four round-robin matches, including a 14-point win over LSWFL, the result was a heartbreaking one for the GSFL who hit the front inside the final three minutes of the grand final.

The GSFL led by 18 points at quarter time and eight points at half-time before LSWFL fired back with two goals in the third to reduce the margin to a single point at the final change.

An early rushed behind in the final quarter levelled scores before livewire Arthur Bennell booted a clever goal in traffic to hand LSWFL a six-point lead.

LSWFL peppered the goal mouth but a couple of costly misses from set shots allowed the GSFL to stay in touch despite the ball being locked in their defensive 50.

A swift passage of play down the outer side of the ground led to GSFL full forward Glynn Verbruggen converting for his fourth major of the match to pull the margin back to three points.

Moments later Matt Galantino intercepted a pass at centre half forward before wheeling around a thumping through a long goal that handed the GSFL a three point advantage.

With time running out the GSFL defence stood firm and cleared the ball on a number of occasions before LSWFL captain Brett Dobson pounced on an errant kick to snap a goal with less than 90 seconds to play.

That would be the winning goal as the siren sounded soon after to hand LSWFL a thrilling victory, 7.13 (55) to 8.5 (53), over the gallant GSFL.

Defender Ben Gray was simply outstanding in the back half once again, saving numerous goals and providing great rebound, while Bodhi Stubber was also very damaging and courageous in the back half.

Ryan Kinnear racked up a plethora of possessions right across the ground and really stood up in the big moments as co-captain with Stubber and they were joined in the better players by Graham Ross, Dom Knight and Galantino.

Verbruggen kicked three goals in a brilliant opening term while Michael McGlade, who was in his first game of the carnival, finished with two majors to go with singles from Chayse Eades and Galantino.

LSWFL midfielder Robert Dawson was adjudged fairest and best player in the decider.