Heavy loss puts dent in GSFL’s division 2 campaign

The Great Southern Football League’s hopes of going one better in division 2 at the Landmark Country Football Championships this year have been significantly dented after their 60-point loss on Friday night.

With the new format of the championships featuring a regional fixture in round 1, the GSFL hosted rivals Ongerup Football Association at Sounness Park before the final two round robin matches will be played in Perth next month.

With eight teams in division 2, the winner of the South zone and the winner of the North zone will play off in the grand final, but the GSFL’s hopes of getting there now rely on other results.

The South zone consists of the GSFL, OFA, Eastern Districts Football League and newly formed team Regional Allstars, who are not allowed to compete in the final.

The GSFL will need to win both their matches in Perth on July 9 and hope OFA lose to either Regional Allstars or EDFL if they are a chance to reach the final.

GSFL coach James McRae said although it was disappointing not to get the win, he refused to say their title hopes were over.

“That has certainly put us on the back foot,” McRae said.

“It’s going to be a real challenge but it’s not all over.

“We need to get better, simple as that.”

McRae praised the OFA for their performance, saying their midfield was hard to stop.

“That was always the concern, we didn’t want a wrestle,” he said.

“After quarter time we lost our run and they played very good footy, their tackling was ferocious.

“We didn’t use the ball well going forward and we didn’t get it in quick enough.”

Last year the GSFL lost the division 2 grand final by two points to Lower South West Football League, but in a side lacking a host of first-choice players they failed to match the OFA after quarter time.

Rebounding defender Ben Gray was a shining light for the GSFL, his run and carry with the ball again superb as he enhanced his chances of playing for the State country side next month.

Co-captain Bodhi Stubber also stood firm, veteran Dionne Woods found plenty of the ball, Logan Stubber was influential up the ground and at half forward, while midfielders Craig Frost and James Eaton worked hard throughout.

The GSFL started impressively with key forward Zak Hortin booting two goals and ex-Collingwood rookie Brenden Abbott kicking a wonderful goal in the first term, but they struggled after that, kicking three goals in the next three quarters.

The regional fixtures don’t however, count for percentage as they are full four quarter games, which means the GSFL didn’t lose critical percentage on the OFA in the standings.