Latest news with #GreatSouthernFootballLeague
West Australian
04-08-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GSFL 2025: Mt Barker rain on Denmark-Walpole's parade as they rampage to crushing 102-point round 11 victory
It should have been Denmark-Walpole's day, what with the charity fundraiser, a club stalwart's milestone game and the beautiful rainbow which graced McLean Park when it wasn't lashing down, but Mt Barker stomped all over that idea with a 102-point triumph, their second three-figure margin of victory in a row. Unfortunately for the Magpies they looked nothing like the side which ran the Sharks so close a week ago, while the Bulls looked exactly like the team who walloped Royals by 166 in round 11. There was just nothing the home side could do to stop the stampede as the visitors took Saturday's Great Southern Football League round 12 contest by the scruff of the neck to win 19.15 (129) to 4.3 (27). The feelgood factor was through the roof at first as Magpies' Cord Brunings celebrated his 300th game with a 37-point win in the reserves and then a succession of supporters and volunteers splash-landed in a tank of ice-cold water to raise $10,000 for Parkinson's WA. So far, so good and the applause was ringing around the ground. But once the game started the Bulls were all business racking up four goals before an incident of friendly fire robbed the already weakened Magpies of two key men. Tyler Stone and Simon Barker collided and were both poleaxed, Barker having to go to hospital with a suspected concussion and Stone also playing no further part. Unfortunately, as it turned out, that was only the start of things for the Magpies who went on to lose Dan Ryan, who rolled an ankle in the second quarter, Matt Clarke, who broke his nose in the third and Rory Dimmock, who suffered a cork and couldn't play in the fourth. Magpies coach Brad Nisbett admitted his side had suffered a damaging defeat. 'You never want to lose by that much,' he said. 'If you are going to lose, you want it to be by an acceptable amount. 'But they were a strong side, and we suffered a lot of injuries on the day, which didn't help. 'We didn't have anybody on the bench for the whole of the final quarter and it turned into a bit of a blowout.' He is hoping Clarke will be able to play in their key game against North Albany this Saturday but was sure Barker would be missing and probably Stone too. For Bulls coach Gary Pope, it was a potentially tough game that was well managed. 'They started off well but we just held our structures and created our attacks off our half-backs, as we usually do,' he said. 'I was especially pleased with the second half; we had two quarters of rain but our handling was good. 'We played the conditions really well and our forwards and midfield played well.' The Bulls controlled the proceedings with their relentless pressing, leaving the Magpies scrambling for crumbs. Alex Skinner, Tyreice Brown, Darcy Clarke and Mitch Jackson all fired majors in the first quarter, Toby LeFort the Magpies' sole scorer in that stanza as they trailed by 19 points at the first break. That was as close as they got as the Bulls struck again almost from the second-quarter's centre bounce and promptly added three more majors to lead by 35 at half time. That was when the Magpies' nightmare really kicked in; their skills went missing in the rain while the Bulls had hands of velcro, every mark sticking as they went on a second-half rampage. The home side conceded four goals in the third quarter, but it might have been worse as the Bulls were also wasteful, kicking three behinds when, with a bit more composure, they could have piled on the points. The visitors dominated the clearances, bullied the midfield and gave the Magpies' defence a torrid time. The one-way traffic continued in the final quarter with seven Bulls goals, the Magpies salvaging a modicum of pride with two of their own. The Bulls' key men were Brown, who ended with a personal haul of four and played splendidly while Clarke, Brent Parsons and Darcy Wallinger also starred. Camball McMahon also kicked four and took the mark of the day while Keane Griffiths and Skinner finished with twice apiece. Their only downside was a yellow card to Seth Jones for a late bump on Ryan Hick. The Magpies' best passage of play came late in the game, Jake Stewart finishing off a coast-to-coast move which briefly lifted the gloom before the final siren. Those who did best in a losing cause were Ryan Hick, Banjo Watkins and Stewart (two goals) and LeFort.
West Australian
12-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Country Championships: Great Southern named strong mix of youth and experience for division two title tilt
Great Southern Football League senior coach Glynn Verbruggen is confident his star-studded squad announced this week for next month's annual country championships is well-equipped to go all the way. The cherry-picked team features 44 players from all six GSFL clubs, albeit with members of Railways, Mt Barker and Albany doing most of the heavy lifting. The squad will start training next week in the build up to the 2025 Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships in Perth where Great Southern will step up to division two. 'The three stronger clubs have got the stronger representation in the squad definitely and I think that represents where we are in the ladder,' he said. 'We've got the best available talent and we're really looking forward to getting up there, competing in B-grade, and progressing ourselves. 'Obviously the standard will go up a bit, but I think we can handle it.' The squad's 2024 success has hauled them to division two, where they will compete with neighbouring rivals Ongerup and long-standing division one contenders Upper Great Southern alongside Central Midlands Coastal, North Pilbara and Eastern Districts . Verbruggen is optimistic about his outfit's chances, which represent the 'best of what the region has' to offer, in the more competitive grade. 'We're still going up there with the ambition to win B-grade,' he said. 'I don't think there's any reason that, if we play our best footy and have a good attitude, there's no reason we can't make the grand final.' The senior coach expects last year's championship all-star Bailey Taylor to be someone who leads from the front and again get big performances from guns Ryley Valli, Jayden Scott and Isaac Baum. Strong new inclusions to the team include Ballard brothers Tristan and Seb, star forward Hayden Parker and key ball winner Darcy Clarke. 'We've got some strong senior leaders but I'm looking for the younger age group to really step up and start shouldering a load for carnival footy going forward,' Verbruggen said. 'There's a strong cohort there with Valli, Wallinger and Keen — guys that should be looking to head up to carnival footy and establish themselves as stars for the league.' The Great Southern squad will start training on Monday, June 16 at Keep The Sheep Stadium starting at 6pm. Great Southern squad Nathan Powell, Cam Smith, Joel Flick, Corey Linthorne, Travis Conn, Nick Barrow, Kobi Keen, Matt Orzel, Jyrin Woods, Nelson Tulip, Brett Peake, Isaac Baum, Robbie Lee, Taj Williams, Ashely Ayles, Tait McLean, Bailey Taylor, Ryley Valli, Lachie Cale, Kane Shephard, Hayden Parker, Mohit Jaggi, Bodhi Stubber, Beau Ewen, Ryan Davies, Daniel Thomas, Jayden Scott, Daniel Patching, Brandon Ugle, Darcy Wallinger, Dante Wiseman, Camball McMahon, Darcy Clarke, Tristan Ballard, Seb Ballard, Brent Parsons, David Stone, Mitch Jackson, Tyreice Brown.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GSFL 2025: Clinical Railways wallop Royals as seven-goal Parker tries to steal the show on Stubber's big day
It was clearly Bodhi Stubber's day, but Hayden Parker did his best to steal the show with a seven-goal haul as Railways thumped Royals in the Great Southern Football League on Saturday. The Keep the Sheep Stadium was bathed in sunshine for Stubber's 200th league appearance as the Tigers maintained their unbeaten run, registering their seventh win on the trot 25.9 (159) to 6.4 (40). There was a brief spell at the end of the first quarter where the Lions pressed and should have scored more than the single behind they registered. And for three quarters they hassled and harried as best they could, but were no match for the Tigers as Parker ran riot and player-coach Stubber, who booted six, was a giant among men. The double act wearing the scoring boots were ably supported by Lachie Cale, Ryley Valli and Jayden Scott as the Tigers rampaged through the middle and up the wings, kicking goals at will. Jayson Ford kicked four for Royals, and celebrated each one magnificently, but elsewhere the cupboard was pretty bare and in the final stanza they were completely overrun. While Stubber enjoyed the victory, he suggested his side had not been at their best throughout. 'It was really good to get the win, but we didn't play our game style in the first half,' he said. 'We train really hard, we have a game plan and putting it in place is the aim. 'It came together more in the third quarter and it's really important that we can maintain that level.' Lions coach Darrell Panizza knew his side had come up against the best. 'They are the best team in the league and are favourites for the flag,' he said. 'We had a lot of players out, but we have a lot of work to do. 'We are still in the top four and we have to make sure it stays that way.' While the prolific Parker was a thorn in the Lions' side, Panizza felt Mitch Lenegan had done a decent job, shutting him down for long periods. 'He had moments where he scored three and then didn't do much, then scored three and was quiet again,' Panizza said. Parker nabbed the Tigers' first before Cleve Humphries replied from a set shot. However, that was as close as it got as Parker converted again and Stubber booted his first, finishing off a Tigers move which sliced the Lions right through the middle. Ford's first goal brought the Lions within eight points but by quarter time Scott's first had put the home side 13 points ahead. Parker struck again 33 seconds after the centre bounce at the start of the second quarter, Mohit Jaggi got on the scoresheet soon after and then Beau Ewen busted his way through two pairs of flailing Lions arms and slotted the Tigers' seventh major. Further goals from Parker, Valli and Bailin Curtis were interrupted by Ford's third but as the half-time hooter sounded the rampaging Tigers were 50 points ahead and looking unbeatable. The third quarter really hurt the Lions who were outscored by eight majors to two. Ford's fourth might have been the pick coming after he broke free, bounced three times and finished with a flourish but Parker's three goals extended the Tigers buffer to 87 points. The final stanza was all about Stubber whose four majors were a lesson in accurate goal-kicking in front of a big home crowd. Humphries may have had the final word with his major from the right pocket, but it was the Tigers who stayed on track for the flag and gave Stubber an afternoon to remember. Midfield trio Scott, Valli and Cale were all driving factors in the result while Stubber and Lorcan McNamara were also influential. The Lions were best served by Ford, Declan McNamara, Nathan Powell and Cameron Lazar.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GSFL 2025: Albany claim dominant victory over winless North Albany as Peake and Davies boot combined 11 goals
Albany kicked their biggest score of the season, marching to a 90-point victory over North Albany at Retravision Stadium on Saturday in round seven of the Great Southern Football League competition. The Kangas trailed by 36 points at half-time but conceded 13 goals in the second half as the floodgates opened. Brett Peake booted six and Morgan Davies bagged five, the pair hard to stop in the front half as the Sharks claimed a 22.18 (150) to 9.6 (60) triumph. The Sharks had six goals on the board at quarter-time and nine by the long break as the Kangas hung in there, with four of their own at half-time. However, the reigning premiers clicked up a gear in the last half, leading by 76 points by the end of the third term and adding another six goals in the final quarter to register their fifth win of the season. Bailey Taylor and Isaac Baum were terrific and both kicked four majors, while Brock Anning and Max Grimes also impressed. 'Our boys played well, as did North Albany,' Sharks coach Roy Addis said. 'They stayed with us well for the first half and applied pressure; we were able to maintain our style of play in the second half and absorb that pressure and run away with it.' Wingman Robbie Lee returned from concussion and Harrison Hordacre chipped in with four majors. Jyrin Woods was a strong contributor for the Kangas with three goals and well supported by Matt Orzel, David Arthur, Kobi Keen and Tomas O'Farrell in the back line, and Jackson Wray in the midfield. Veteran Graham Ross finished with four goals for the winless Kangas. The Kangas' woes continued with captain Nick Barrow suffering a hamstring injury that is likely to sideline him for at least a fortnight. Kangas coach Brad Bootsma said he was proud of the team's performance despite the loss. 'I think we played really competitively in the first half, but they just wore us down as the game went on,' he said. 'We showed our youth again on the weekend; I think their maturity and the stamina there got the better of us in the end. 'We struggled to stop their ball movements a lot of the time. We couldn't turn that momentum back around once it was going their way, but that just comes with maturity and experience and I was really proud of the way the boys played this week.'
West Australian
03-06-2025
- 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.
