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West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
GSFL 2025: Albany back on winners list after thumping Denmark-Walpole as star Morgan Davies makes his return
Albany bounced back well from two straight losses, fielding a much stronger side in round six of the Great Southern Football League competition on Saturday to thrash Denmark-Walpole by 78 points at McLean Park . The Sharks were buoyed by the long-awaited return of former WAFL midfielder Morgan Davies and Claremont colts listed players Charlie Anning and Aiden Clark. Brock Anning and Jack Day were key inclusions for the reigning premiers and Hamish and Angus Bowles also played. The Magpies trailed by only 10 points at quarter-time but the visitors stretched the margin to 26 points by the long break. However a 13-goal to four second half put the game beyond doubt as the Sharks beat the Magpies for a second time this season. Brett Peake booted seven goals as the Sharks ran out big winners, 20.14 (134) to 8.8 (56). Davies in his first game of football since August 2023 and first for the Sharks since 2021, finished with three goals in a dazzling return. Isaac Baum (three goals), Angus Bowles (two) and Jesse Owens (two) also got in on the action. Brock Anning, Owens, Bryce Blaszkow, Davies, Baum and Clark were terrific contributors for the visitors, who responded well after losses to the top two sides in the previous fortnight. Sharks coach Roy Addis said it was a 'wonderful result' for the team. 'I think we played well and adapted to the conditions in the wet,' he said. 'It was a solid team performance overall, but we still have six players out to injury so we'll just keep ticking along and doing our thing with new inclusions. 'Eighteen out of the 22 players who were out for our side on the weekend have come up through the Sharks system of 16s and colts, so it's great to see our work and their work over the years paying off in that way, and it shows we've got options for the season as well, so we're not worried.' Simon Barker, Ryan Hick and Jaden Guidi (two) were influential for the Magpies and Tyler Stone finished with four majors.
West Australian
23-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GSFL 2025: Key position star Josh Bootsma among a number of strong inclusions for North Albany in new campaign
North Albany coach Brad Bootsma says his club are focused on being more competitive and staying in games longer as they enter the 2025 Great Southern Football League season. The Kangas finished fifth on the ladder last year and didn't play finals but endured some heavy defeats along the way. Bootsma was determined to make the Kangas better for longer in the new campaign. 'I'm not going to say we're going to make the four, I'm going to say we're going to win x amount of games,' he said. 'I'm just more confident, or more keen on making sure we can bridge that gap a little bit, and I feel like we will be in a better space this year.' The Kangas hopes of an improved win tally will be boosted by the return of former AFL player and club junior Josh Bootsma, who has spent the last few years playing for Corrigin. He will return to the red and white for the first time since 2011 and brother Jayden Bootsma is also back at the club. Returning players Anthony Coyne, Harry Smith, Jack O'Farrell and Jake Castle will add important depth and livewire Liam Bennell is also an inclusion. The Kangas confirmed the loss of Angus McKercher, Fynn Kelleher-Bird, Alasdair Holroyd, Brock Tiede, and Luke Mowaljarlai from last season. Bootsma said the club also had a strong pool of junior players ready to move up through the senior ranks, including Dylan Bennett, Reagan Christensen, Lachlan Gorman, Blake Tysoe, and last season's colts captain Jack Doak, who all snagged valuable experience with the league side during the 2024 season. He said he hoped some of the team's younger players would let the confidence and experience they gained in the previous season shine through this year. 'We've really worked on a lot of fitness this year and and some other other things as well to try and bridge that gap to be a bit more competitive,' Bootsma said. Bootsma said the club was hopeful veteran midfielder Matt Orzel might return to play this year but expected regular captain Regan Lloyd to spend another year on the sidelines as he works back from a serious knee injury. Nick Barrow will captain the Kangas again and Kobi Keen is the vice-captain. The Kangas will face Railways in the Anzac Day blockbuster to open their season on April 25 before their first home game in round two against defending premiers Albany. 2024 REWIND Finish: Fifth Best and fairest: Nick Barrow Highest Kleemann votes: Jyrin Woods (4) Leading goalkicker: Graham Ross (28) Biggest win: 70 points v Denmark-Walpole Worst loss: 161 points v Railways
