GSFL 2024: Top four battle heats up with Royals and Railways wins, Denmark-Walpole notch first victory of 2024

Relentless rain and greasy conditions did not extinguish the heated battle between the top four as Royals and Railways each secured victories and Denmark-Walpole notched their first win of the season.

Just four points separate the top four teams in the Great Southern Football League after the Think Mental Health Round on Saturday.

An impressive Lions held off a fast-finishing Sharks under lights on Saturday night to clinch the Retravision Cup by seven points and move them to an equal 6-2 record.

In trying conditions, the Lions jumped the ladder leaders with five first quarter-goals, with three coming from the boot of key forward Nicholas Ashford (four goals), who has not played since round five.

Ashford registered his name on the scoresheet in the opening minutes before slotting back-to-back set shots mid-way through the term while mercurial forward Jaiden Mole (three goals) booted two himself.

After their explosive start at one end, they bolstered their defence at the other, holding the Sharks scoreless in the second term — marking the first time this season that the reigning premiers failed to score in a quarter.

Brock Higgins (three goals) converted his first, extending their lead to 23 points at the half and setting up the 11.8 (74) to 10.7 (67) victory.

Zak Mola was a bull in the engine room and received the match ball for his best-on-ground performance while Teague Valli played a pivotal role on the wing.

Defender Brayden Parker relentlessly rebounded all game and was buoyed by fellow defender Corey Linthorne, who kept Sean Plaisted trophy leader Brett Peake goalless until the last quarter.

Despite the greasy conditions, Lions backed in their three ruckmen with Brock Higgins (three goals) playing as a pure forward before a shift into the middle in the last as Nathan Powell and Stephen Beal shared most of the ruck duties.

However, as the game wore on and the ground dried up, so did their scoring chances and the Sharks began to swing momentum their way.

After a slow first half, Sharks midfield star Bailey Taylor began to impose himself on the game and help turn the Sharks’ cogs.

Despite conceding goals to Ryan Lazar (one goal) and Higgins at the start of the last quarter, the Sharks shifted the ball with speed and precision creating dangerous chances for their forwards.

Peake and Cooper Sandy slotted their firsts in less than a minute before Peake, who finished with 1.4, miraculously shanked a glorious chance wide.

Lions’ Beal steadied the ship minutes later before Sharks’ Mitch Collier added his third and fourth either side of a sublime Bailey Taylor snap.

But their late run was brought to an end by the final siren, and handed the Lions a 2-1 lead in the Retravision Cup ledger.

Stand-in Sharks captain Kane Pinney competed strongly in the back half all game while Collier and Isaac Baum were dangerous forward of centre.

The Lions’ win came at a cost, with Connor Lazar leaving the field before half-time with a hand injury.

Earlier in the day, the Tigers mastered the horrendous conditions at Tigerland to notch an emphatic 35-point victory over Mt Barker, snapping their opponents’ four-game win streak in the process.

After conceding the first two goals of the match in the opening five minutes, Railways booted the next seven to stroll to a resounding 7.12 (54) to 2.7 (19) victory.

As both sides contended with the heavy ground, spotty showers and a howling breeze blowing across the ground, Bulls’ Ashley Wallam slotted two set shots to give his side the early advantage.

But from that point on it was all the Tigers as their inside midfielders seized control of the engine room allowing them to dominate field position and apply extreme heat on the Bulls’ back six.

In an absolute slog-fest, Ryley Valli was superb in the centre and was rightfully awarded the game ball for his best-on-ground performance.

Co-captain Jayden Scott thrived in the wet alongside Ryan Davies who was excellent across half-back accumulating countless intercepts and thwarting any rare clearance the Bulls found.

Jaxon Lombardini (one goal) was industrious in the forward half while returning player-coach Bodhi Stubber and Haydn Sproxton booted two crucial goals.

The Tigers’ first two majors came from crafty soccers from the boots of Sproxton and Shane Braimbridge (one goal) before Stubber launched his first from long range in the second.

Tom Geddes (one) and Sproxton then combined in quick succession approaching half-time to give their side a 24-point lead to the main break.

As the arduous nature of the game took its toll on both sides neither team could get on the goal sheet in the third before Stubber broke a 35-minute goalless drought early in the last.

Tasked with constant pressure in defence, Darcy Wallinger was a shining light on a gloomy day for the Bulls and Daniel Patching toiled hard in the midfield scrap.

Lee Pavlovich and Brent Parsons were also solid contributors for the Bulls.

Bulls’ hard-nosed utility Brandon Ugle was taken to hospital in the first quarter after suffering a nasty head knock during a contest.

The Magpies finally broke the drought and notched their first win of the season in their annual Benno Napier Tribute Match, celebrating their biggest day of the season with wins across all grades.

In their retro Giants guernsey for the 20th anniversary of their 2004 colts premiership, the Magpies defeated North Albany 10.9 (69) to 8.11 (59) at McLean Park on Saturday.

After trailing by nine points at half-time, the hosts piled on five goals to the Kangas’ one to clinch an 18-point lead heading into the final stanza.

Despite conceding four goals in the last quarter to the visitors, the Magpies dug deep in pursuit of a long-awaited win and converted their only three last quarter-chances into much-needed goals.

Reagan Hutchinson was prolific for the Magpies and won the best-on-ground medal while Tyler Stone was pivotal in their triumph with three majors.

Lincoln East booted a game-high four goals for the home side and Brad Keast was vital to their victory.

Earlier, the Kangas were wasteful in front of goals in the first quarter booting 1.6 to the Magpies’ two straight.

Kangas skipper Nick Barrow was again a reliable contributor, supported soundly by midfielder Kobi Keen, while Graham Ross kicked a game-high three goals.