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West Australian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GNFL round four wrap: Brigades and Railways headline game of the round while Mullewa break losing streak
Round four of the GNFL included a major upset that saw Mullewa break a 750-day winless streak and a tight tussle between Brigades and Railways. Touted as game of the round, the battle at GBSC Sports Park was an arm wrestle between the Hawks and Blues on Saturday, before the Blues ran away with it in the last quarter. However, that match was arguably overshadowed by Mullewa's shock 10-point win over Towns at Wonthella Oval. The contest between Brigades and Railways marked a special occasion for two individuals with Brigades captain Mick Quick chalking up his 100th league game and umpire Steve Pratt officiating his 300th. Quick ticked off the 100-game milestone after debuting in 2011. It has been a long journey for Quick with a stint in the Army and a knee reconstruction along the way, as well as issues with concussion. Pratt's milestone was reached when he umpired the match between Brigades and Railways. Widely known in the football community for his communication skills with players and consistency week in week out, Pratt is a well-respected character in the GNFL. It was the battle out of the midfield that got the fans excited with last year's JJ Clune medallist Hayden Johnson rucking against Railways' Flynn Dillon. The pair went to war all day with neither looking to give an inch. Railways' captain Jesse Adamini led front the front yet again with an impressive four-goal bag while vice-captain Elliot Delaney booted two. Among the best on ground for Brigades were Izac Ronan, Joel Pattrick, Dylan Ralph, Quick and Klay Sipila while for Railways it was Matthew Kimberley, Dillon, Adamini, Drew Tunbridge and Darcy Rowe. The first half was a deadlock, with neither team able to draw away to much of a margin in between the breaks. Brigades drew first blood in the first term through Daniel Leach before Railways bounced back in the second quarter kicking three goals. After the third there were only four points in it in a low-scoring affair, with the scoreboard reading, Brigades 3.9 (27) to Railways 3.5 (23). However, an onslaught in the final term from Railways saw the Blues run away with it with a seven-goal term, kicking to the northern end of the ground and winning by 35 points. The final scores were Railways 10.9 (69) to Brigades' 4.10 (34). Also on Saturday, a massive upset unfolded at WA Country Builders Stadium with Towns going down at home to Mullewa. Prior to the weekend, the Saints had not had a win since round one in 2023, a 42-point victory over Towns. It means the Saints went 750 days between wins, in a victory the club will hope is the first of many going forward. In a much-needed boost for the Saints, Mullewa got the four points, 9.12 (66) to Towns 8.8 (56). In the other league game of round four, Rovers hosted Chapman Valley at Greenough Oval, with the Royals running over the top of the Demons in a 94-point win, bouncing back after their loss at home to Railways. The final scores were Rovers 2.5 (17) to Chapman Valley 16.15 (111). AROUND THE GROUNDS WOMEN Chapman Valley def. Rovers: 19.13 (127) to 0.1 (1) Brigades def. Railways: 4.5 (29) to 2.3 (15) BYE: Towns and Northampton RESERVES Chapman Valley def. Rovers: 8.11 (59) to 0.2 (2) Railways def. Brigades: 9.9 (63) to 5.6 (36) Towns def. Mullewa: 14.8 (92) to 2.5 (17) BYE: Northampton COLTS Rovers def. Chapman Valley: 13.6 (84) to 6.5 (41) Railways def. Brigades: 11.5 (71) to 4.1 (25) Mullewa def. Towns: 9.13 (67) to 4.2 (26) BYE: Northampton
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GNFL round 4 preview: Railways prepare to face Brigades after downing reining premiers
After downing reigning premiers Chapman Valley last round, Railways turn their attention to Brigades this Saturday as they meet in the game of the round at GBSC Sports Park. Star signing during the off-season from Northampton, Flynn Dillon, was judged one of Railways' best on ground last weekend against Chapman Valley in his first real test of the season. Railways coach John Reynolds said Dillon was fitting right into the squad and the club as he continued to improve in the Blues' midfield group alongside captain Jesse Adamini. 'Flynn has been great for us so far, obviously he has played five years at Northampton so he is still getting used to our style,' Reynolds said. 'He has come forward though with some great ideas in our mids group and continues to gel well with the rest of the boys. 'Playing alongside Jesse helps too, his leadership all season has been great. 'Especially at half-time in the Royals game, I went to (Adamini) and said I needed more out of the mids and he took that and ran with it and led from the front. 'He was a big part of the shift in momentum that you saw in the third quarter, which allowed us to defend in the last term.' Dillon now gears up to face last season's JJ Clune medalist Hayden Johnson in the ruck battle this Saturday. Reynolds said it will be a great match-up for both teams collectively. 'I think we match up really well, we both play a similar style so it will be interesting,' he said. 'There are things we want to work on that will we be taking into Saturday's game and some individual match-ups too that we have our eyes on. 'One is obviously the ruck battle between Flynn and Spud (Hayden Johnson) and I think that will be one to watch.' Railways went on a goal surge in the third quarter against the Royals in the Valley, flexing their muscles against the reigning premiers in what was a big win by the visitors. The first half against Chapman Valley was an arm wrestle with neither team able to pull away on the scoreboard, an outcome that Reynolds said was something his side had prepared for. 'We came into that game understanding that it was going to be a really contested battle and high pressure,' he said. 'Coming in with that mentality, understanding that it was just going to be toe to toe all day until we could open the game up a little bit. 'So we were quite happy to go toe to toe with them until we could find that bit of rhythm and then and get the right match-ups where needed to be, to be able to open it up.' Judged best on ground in Brigades' 64-point win against Mullewa last round was Dillon's former Rams teammate Dylan Ralph, who has proven to be a livewire for his new side in season 2025 so far. The crafty mid will be working alongside Johnson as the duo prepares to face off against Adamini and Dillion. Bounce down is at 2.30pm. The women's game of the round will also be at GBSC with bouncedown at 1pm when Brigades face Railways, with both teams still on the hunt for their first win of the year. Railways will be looking to bounce back from their loss last week at the hands of Chapman Valley as they face off against Brigades, who come off the bye. AROUND THE GROUNDS Saturday, May 17 LEAGUE Rovers v Chapman Valley (2.30pm, Greenough Oval) Towns v Mullewa (2.30pm, WA Country Builders Stadium) Bye: Northampton WOMEN'S Rovers v Chapman Valley (1pm, Greenough Oval) Byes: Northampton, Towns RESERVES Rovers v Chapman Valley (11.30am, Greenough Oval) Brigades v Railways (11.30am, GBSC Sports Park) Towns v Mullewa (11.30am, WA Country Builders Stadium) Bye: Northampton COLTS Rovers v Chapman Valley (9.30am, Greenough Oval) Brigades v Railways (9.30am, GBSC Sports Park) Towns v Mullewa (9.30am, WA Country Builders Stadium) Bye: Northampton
