GSFL 2024: Mt Barker coach Brad Hook lauds “sensational” back line in elimination final win over Railways

Elated Mt Barker coach Brad Hook commended his “sensational” defence after a dominant elimination final victory over Railways in a spicy encounter at Tigerland on Sunday. Tasked with playing on their opponents’ home turf, the Bulls were clean in greasy conditions and poised when moving the ball in their comprehensive 40-point win in week one of the Great Southern Football League finals series. After conceding the first goal, the Bulls powered away, kicking the next seven majors through the following three quarters to open a 34-point lead during the third term on their way to the 8.13 (61) to 3.3 (21) win. Ash Wallam (three goals) was dangerous down forward and his herculean strength was on show throughout while at the other end, defenders Darcy Wallinger, Seb Ballard and Lee Pavlovich were prolific in thwarting the Tigers’ inside-50 entries. The home side were their own worst enemy at times, with frantic ball movement and sloppy skill allowing the Bulls’ half-backs to mop up across defence. “The back line was under siege at times and the ball was coming in a bit hot but (they were) just sensational,” Hook said. “We did get a little bit of a jump in the start, and then those last quarters were basically an arm wrestle and we really talked a lot about making an arm wrestle because we were worried about their pace. “At stoppages, we either win it or we kill it. So we wanted to put as much pressure on the ball-carrier and I was really proud of the boys to keep them under pressure for the whole four quarters.” The Tigers got the perfect start in front of a boisterous home crowd when Bailey Bennett opened his side’s account in the first minute, but from then on it was all the Bulls. After a heavily contested start, Dylan Gowdie kicked his first when Tigers’ Milan Jaggi conceded a clumsy free kick 10m out from goal before Wallam booted his first. Wallam walked into an open goal for his second when opponent Beau Ewen spilled a mark before Zach Jackson made it two in a minute to start the second. As tempers flared in the do-or-die clash, Tigers’ Kane Shephard was shown a yellow card for rough conduct on Brandon Ugle, who then rubbed salt in the wound minutes later when he converted from a tough angle to give his side a 27-point half-time lead. Zach Jackson wobbled through his second eight minutes into the third before Sam Lehammn handballed to a running Daniel Patching and the Bulls were charging towards a preliminary final. Rebounding Tiger Lorcan McNamara finally snapped Bulls’ seven straight goals on the stroke of the three-quarter-time siren but the damage had already been done. Patching was huge in the midfield before sitting off from three-quarter-time with a hamstring complaint, while Wallinger nursed a neck injury in the last. David Stone was telling in the ruck battle and Zach Jackson provided constant headaches for Tigers’ defenders. Milan Jaggi and Bennett played key roles for the Tigers and were clean by foot, and Ryley Valli competed strongly through the engine room. The Bulls will square off with Royals at Retravision Stadium next week in the preliminary final, with a spot in the decider on the line.