GS Storm colts pipped in grand final

The Great Southern Storm colts side have gone down by 16 points in the Landmark Country Football Championships grand final against South West Football League at Medibank Stadium today.

After an even first half SWFL broke the game open in the third quarter with four goals to one and the Storm were never able to peg back advantage with a final score of 9.5 (59) to 6.7 (43).

The first half was tight most of the way as neither team were able to gain the ascendancy.

Both teams managed one major in the opening term with Ethan Burton kicking the Storm’s first courtesy of a free kick 20m out.

After the Storm kicked the first of the second SWFL managed three goals in succession and looked to be on the box seat, however late goals to Corey Linthorne and Declan McNamara put the Storm up by two points at the half.

The third quarter was again hotly contested and after SWFL got the first, Jaike Dale responded following a 50m penalty.

After that it was one way traffic for the rest of the quarter as SWFL slammed home three late goals to be up by 17 points at three quarter time.

The Storm threw everything at SWFL in the final quarter but could not produce any scoreboard pressure and eventually went down by 16 points.

McNamara was dominant through the midfield all day while Hamish McMorran played well in the ruck and took a number of contested marks.

Rhett Lloyd and Jordan Reid were solid in the backline and Mitch Lenegan was good at centre half forward.

With heavy rain falling throughout the day, the ground resembled a lake and the GSFL couldn’t get any traction in their final pool game of the championships.

Regional Allstars gun Scott Worthington kicked the first goal of the game, his side kicking with the aid of a stiff breeze before Jack Martin pushed the margin to 13 points.

The GSFL through Ben Grey, Alec Haskins and Graham Ross defended gallantly to prevent Regional Allstars from inflicting any more damage.

Trailing by 18 points at the break the GSFL needed a big last half and they began well to produce a number of opportunities forward of centre.

Slowly though Regional Allstars began to control the game once again with Dillan Jones and Jesse Hawkins running rampant.

Dylan McCutcheon kicked truly and moments later Worthington bobbed up with his second to end any hopes of a GSFL fightback, the new team to the championships winning 4.7 (31) to 0.2 (2).

Grey was terrific across half back while co-captain Ryan Kinnear was prolific through the middle of the ground.

Shayne Zanetti dominated the ruck but the GSFL midfield couldn’t take full advantage.

The result was the GSFL’s second loss of the championships which effectively ended their hopes of reaching the grand final.

Regional Districts although undefeated in their three games, under championship rules can’t play in the final leaving GSFL, Ongerup Football Association and Eastern Districts Football Association to fight out the south pool.

In a titanic struggle all three finished with one win apiece after EDFL won a dire final contest this afternoon over the OFA.

As a result the EDFL finished top of the south pool with a percentage of 109.76 to put them ahead of the OFA (62.34) and the GSFL (55.10).

Earlier in the day the GSFL won a gritty contest against the EDFL with Coen Marwick booting three of the four goals kicked by the winners.

The GSFL led 18 to nil at half time and went on to prevail, 4.1 (25) to 3.0 (18), and win their only game of the championships.

Craig Frost was superb along with Logan Stubber, Haskins, Matt Orzel, Zanetti and Dionne Woods.