Top four within Railways’ sights after big win against Albany

Railways’ hopes of clinching a place in the Great Southern Football League finals series were given a sizeable boost with a much-needed percentage-boosting 98-point win over Albany, lifting them within striking distance of the top four.

The Tigers season took its most significant turn, stringing back-to-back wins together for the first time in this campaign to leave them only one win and percentage away from fourth-placed Denmark-Walpole, who succumbed to North Albany down the road in thrilling fashion.

In front of a lowly home-crowd on Sunday, the Tigers were slow out of the blocks but did enough to kick clear of the Sharks who brought renewed vigour to the early contests.

Big men Rick Wallis and Etienne Vorster gave the Sharks first use but the Tigers sharked their hit-outs at will and found key forwards Coen Marwick (seven goals) and youngster Jordan Hounsfield (three goals), who provided the home fans with a glimpse of the future in a lively first half.

The Tigers led by 53 points at the major break to sew up the result and powered on in the slippery second-half conditions to kick their biggest score of the season.

They were well led by vice-captain Craig Frost, the enigmatic Matt Van Schayk and unheralded small defender Ethan Knee.

Staring down the barrel with a 2-6 win-loss record, Tigers coach Wayne Stubber said the two important wins had given his side hope after being savaged by early season injuries. “We are slowly starting to get a bit of a base there and making only three or four changes each week instead of eight or nine so it’s been pleasing,” he said.

“It was good to come out and have a win, and have 34 shots on goal so that was good as we have really struggled going forward.

“I guess it was some of our lesser players that haven’t played a lot of league football who were our better players.”

The Tigers’ run home, however, will be without reigning Kleemann medallist Zane Marwick, who played his last game for the club this season, having moved to Melbourne for work, with Stubber heaping praise on the 22-year-old’s 98 games for the Tigers post- match. Sharks coach James Eaton said turnovers hurt his side who could not capitalise on their lively start and were then held goalless for more than 40 minutes.